''Secrets'', also known as ''Danielle Steel's Secrets'', is a 1992 American
made-for-television
A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...
directed by
Peter H. Hunt. The film is based upon the 1985 novel of the same name written by
Danielle Steel
Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schuelein-Steel (born August 14, 1947) is an American writer, best known for her romance novels. She is the bestselling living author and one of the best-selling fiction authors of all time, with over 800 milli ...
. The drama centers on a television producer and his relationship with the star of his latest TV series.
The New York Times
/ref>
Plot
The film focuses on the cast and crew of a new TV series called ''Manhattan'', which is shot on location in New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. Mel Wexler is a successful producer who has become a workaholic since the death of his family in a plane crash
An aviation accident is an event during aircraft operation that results serious injury, death, or significant destruction. An aviation incident is any operating event that compromises safety but does not escalate into an aviation accident. Pre ...
. Trying to forget his loss, he throws himself on producing ''Manhattan''. For the lead role, he tries to cast the film star Sabina Quarles, who has a reputation of being hard to work with. She initially declines, explaining she is too good for television. However, because of her past with Mel, she finally accepts the role. They soon start a relationship, but he remains suspicious of her constant visits to San Francisco
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
. She is reluctant to explain why she is going there every month, which makes him think she is having an affair.
Meanwhile, playing her stepson in the series is Bill Warwick, an actor who is a sex symbol
A sex symbol or icon is a person or character widely considered sexually attractive and often synonymous with sexuality. Pam Cook, "The trouble with sex: Diana Dors and the Blonde bombshell phenomenon", In: Bruce Babinigton (ed.), ''British St ...
. He is married to Sandy, but because of his image, he has to keep their marriage a secret. Sandy was once a great actress, but her drug addiction
Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to use a drug or engage in a behavior that produces natural reward, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use can ...
has turned her into a street prostitute. He thinks a co-starring role could help her to get back on the right path, but she fails to show up at her audition. The role eventually goes to Gaby Smith, a rich actress who graduated from Yale
Yale University is a private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and one of the nine colonial colleges ch ...
. Bill is upset that his wife wasn't given the role and as a result, treats Gaby with some disdain.
The only colleague supporting her is Jane Adams, who at first hesitated to take the role, because it required her to move from Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
to New York City. Her husband Dan doesn't approve of her acting career and she is therefore a victim of domestic violence
Domestic violence is violence that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes r ...
. Her teenage daughter Alexa thinks Jane is the cause of the family falling apart and doesn't want to have anything to do with her. While shooting the series, Jane starts a relationship with co-star Zack Taylor, who also bears a dark secret. Three years ago, he spent the night with a girl. It later appeared her mother taped their night and that she was a minor. Since then, she has been blackmailing him for money. Jane feels bad for him and decides to get the video tape by posing as a cop and threatening to sue the girl's mother. It eventually turns out that the girl was already 18 years old.
One night, Sandy is in trouble with a drug dealer and calls Bill for help. He realizes she will never be the same and decides to file for divorce. However, the same night she is murdered and Bill becomes the prime suspect. Gaby tries to help him by giving him a false alibi, but that only makes him look more suspicious. Although she caused him more trouble, he apologizes to her for being mean and they eventually start dating. Meanwhile, the crew of ''Manhattan'' decide to shoot a death scene of Bill's character, in case he is found guilty. However, his innocence is eventually proven and he remains on the series.
Meanwhile, Jane is at one point held hostage by her ex-husband, because he found out about her relationship with Zack. Alexa, who was currently staying at Jane's, walks in on them and realizes that actually her father was the antagonist.
At the end of the film, Sabina admits to Mel that she was once impregnated by a politician and gave birth out of wedlock. The son turned out to be very sick and he required the best doctors, who were only available in San Francisco. When Mel finds out, he proposes to Sabina and invites them both to live with him.
Cast
* Christopher Plummer
Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer (December 13, 1929 – February 5, 2021) was a Canadian actor. His career spanned seven decades, gaining him recognition for his performances in film, stage and television. His accolades included an Academy Aw ...
as Mel Wexler
* Stephanie Beacham
Stephanie Beacham (born 28 February 1947) is an English actress. In a career spanning six decades, she has a wide number of credits to her name on film, television, stage and radio in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
Beacham beg ...
as Sabina Quarles
* Linda Purl
Linda Purl (born September 2, 1955) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Ashley Pfister (Fonzie's girlfriend) on ''Happy Days'' (she originally played Gloria as Richie’s date in season 2 episodes 1, 2, 6 and 7), Sheila Munroe in ...
as Jane Adams
* Gary Collins as Zack Taylor
* Ben Browder
Robert Benedict Browder (born December 11, 1962) is an American actor, writer and film director, known for his roles as John Crichton in '' Farscape'' and Cameron Mitchell in '' Stargate SG-1''.
Early life
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Browder ...
as Bill Warwick
* Josie Bissett
Jolyn Christine Heutmaker (born October 5, 1970), known professionally as Josie Bissett, is an American actress. She is known for her role as Jane Mancini on the television series ''Melrose Place'' (1992–1999), and for her television film appe ...
as Gabrielle "Gaby" Smith
* John Bennett Perry as Dan Adams
* Nicole Eggert
Nicole Elizabeth Eggert (born January 13, 1972) is an American actress. Her notable roles include Jamie Powell on the situation comedy ''Charles in Charge'' and Summer Quinn on the television series ''Baywatch''. She guest-starred in ''The Super ...
as Alexa Adams
* Brenda Bakke as Sandy Warwick
References
External links
*
{{Danielle Steel
1992 television films
1992 films
1992 drama films
Films about actors
Films about film directors and producers
Films about filmmaking
Films about television
Films based on American novels
Films set in New York City
Films directed by Peter H. Hunt
Films scored by Arthur B. Rubinstein
NBC Productions films
NBC original films
Films based on works by Danielle Steel
American drama television films
1990s English-language films
1990s American films
English-language drama films