''Midnight Bayou'', also known as ''Nora Roberts' Midnight Bayou'', is a 2009
made-for-TV movie directed by
Ralph Hemecker, which stars
Jerry O'Connell,
Lauren Stamile, and
Faye Dunaway. The film is based on the 2001
Nora Roberts novel of the same name and is part of the Nora Roberts
2009 movie collection, which also includes ''
Northern Lights'', ''
High Noon
''High Noon'' is a 1952 American Western film produced by Stanley Kramer from a screenplay by Carl Foreman, directed by Fred Zinnemann, and starring Gary Cooper. The plot, which occurs in real time, centers on a town marshal whose sense of ...
'', and ''
Tribute''. The film debuted on March 28, 2009, on
Lifetime
Lifetime may refer to:
* Life expectancy, the length of time a person is expected to remain alive
Arts, entertainment, and media
Music
* Lifetime (band), a rock band from New Jersey
* ''Life Time'' (Rollins Band album), by Rollins Band
* ...
.
Plot
The film revolves around
Harvard
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of hig ...
-educated lawyer Declan Fitzpatrick (O'Connell), who impulsively gives up his settled life to buy Manet Hall, a newly restored plantation manor near
New Orleans, which he has always been drawn to.
Local legends claim that the house is haunted, and shortly after Declan moves in, he begins hearing voices and seeing things. Declan is also distracted by an undeniable attraction to
Cajun local, Lena Simone. Lena was raised on the bayou by her grandmother Odette (Dunaway), and has her own deep connection with the manor.
While living in the house, Declan begins to have visions from a century past and details of events that took place in the mansion. With the help of Odette, Declan and Lena realize that they are inextricably linked with Manet Hall, and uncover a shocking secret that has been hidden there for more than 100 years.
Cast
*
Jerry O'Connell as Declan Fitzpatrick
*
Lauren Stamile as Lena Simone
*
Faye Dunaway as Odette Simone
*
Isabella Hofmann
Isabella Hofmann (born December 11, 1958) is an American actress known for her portrayal of Kate in '' Dear John'' (1988–1992), ''Megan Russert'' in '' Homicide: Life on the Street'' (1994–1997), and Dr. Renee Dunseith in ''Providence'' (200 ...
as Lilibeth Simone, Lena's mother
*
Alan Ritchson as Lucian Manet
* Ashley LeConte Campbell as Josephine Manet
*
Alejandro Rose-Garcia
Shakey Graves (born Alejandro Rose-Garcia; June 4, 1987) is an American Americana musician from Austin, Texas.
His music combines blues, folk, country, and rock and roll. Rose-Garcia received his stage name at Old Settler's Music Festival in 200 ...
as Julian Manet
* Bianca Malinowski as Abigail Manet (as Bianca Malino)
*Chris Lindsay as Remy
*Ciera Payton as Effie
Production
The film was executive produced by Stephanie Germain and
Peter Guber, who also 'e.p.-ed' seven other
Roberts
Roberts may refer to:
People
* Roberts (given name), a Latvian masculine given name
* Roberts (surname), a popular surname, especially among the Welsh
Places
* Roberts (crater), a lunar impact crater on the far side of the Moon
;United Stat ...
films for Lifetime in 2007 and 2009.
Filming locations
The "manor" scenes were filmed at
Oak Alley Plantation
Oak Alley Plantation is a historic plantation located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, in the community of Vacherie, St. James Parish, Louisiana, U.S. ''Oak Alley'' is named for its distinguishing visual feature, an alley (French ...
in
Vacherie, Louisiana. The major "city" scenes were in
New Orleans, Louisiana. Even though the film depicts the two locations as not that far apart, in real life Vacherie and New Orleans are approximately apart.
References
External links
*
Official website
{{Nora Roberts
2009 television films
2009 films
2009 romantic drama films
American romantic drama films
Films based on American novels
Films about reincarnation
Films directed by Ralph Hemecker
Films set in New Orleans
Films shot in New Orleans
Lifetime (TV network) films
American thriller television films
Films with screenplays by Stephen Tolkin
American haunted house films
American drama television films
2000s American films
2000s English-language films