''Diamond Girl'' is a 1998 Canadian-South African romance drama

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

directed by Timothy Bond and starring

Jonathan Cake Jonathan James Cake (born 31 August 1967) is an English actor who has worked on various TV programmes and films. His notable screen roles include Jack Favell in '' Rebecca'' (1997), Oswald Mosley in '' Mosley'' (1997), Japheth in the NBC telev ...

Joely Collins Joely Collins (born Joely Meri Bertorelli; August 8, 1972) is a British-Canadian actress and producer. She is the daughter of Andrea Bertorelli and of English musician Phil Collins. Early life Born and raised largely in Vancouver, British Columbi ...

, and Kevin Otto. Written by Charles Lazer and based on the novel ''Diamond Girl'' by Diana Palmer, the film is about a young paralegal who is secretly in love with her boss, a carefree lawyer who manages his family's

Napa Valley Napa Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Napa County in California's Wine Country. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) on January 27, 1981. Napa Valley is considered one of the premier ...

vineyard. While he negotiates the sale of the vineyard, his high-powered attorney brother arrives from London and takes control of negotiations. As the deal progresses, the paralegal's affections are torn between the two brothers.

Plot

Claire Barnard (

), an unassuming paralegal, works in a small law office for Denny Montana (Kevin Otto), a carefree lawyer more interested in playing tennis and chasing women than he is in his work. Claire's quiet efficiency is largely responsible for Denny's successful law practice. After her parents died in a car accident, Claire has looked after her younger brother Sean. In the four years she's worked for Denny, Claire has kept her romantic feelings for him to herself. Denny's haughty older brother Regan Montana (

) arrives from

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

and quickly takes over Claire's office and the planned merger negotiations. Fearing his younger brother has been talked into a poor agreement by attractive real estate broker Margo De La Vera, Regan knows he can get a lot more money for his family's award-winning Napa Hills winery. Regan soon learns that Claire was responsible for drafting the details of the proposed merger, and realizes that he will need her help. He is suspicious of the motives of the prospective buyer, Jean-Marc Bernier. To impress Bernier, he takes Claire to a makeover spa and provides her with expensive stylish clothes, transforming the unassuming paralegal into a glamorous woman. Denny and Margo are both impressed and surprised by her transformation. Regan explains to Claire that Margo has Denny unwilling to hold out for more money. Regan proposes a plan intending on using Denny's competitive nature to his advantage by pretending to be in love with Claire, which he knows will turn Denny's attention away from Margo and to Claire. Claire and Regan conclude that Bernier intends to bottle cheap wine from his other holdings with the Napa Hill label. As their charade continues, Claire begins to fall in love with Regan. Meanwhile, Denny grows increasingly jealous and when Regan leaves town for a few days, Denny asks Claire to dinner. During the romantic dinner, Regan shows up unexpectedly and breaks up the date—clearly jealous. Bernier eventually agrees to Regan's demand for an additional two million dollars. At Napa Hills, Regan confesses to Claire his unhappiness with selling the property that was first purchased by his grandfather. Regan's mother Abby (

Dyan Cannon Dyan Cannon (born Samille Diane Friesen; January 4, 1937) is an American actress, director, screenwriter, producer, and editor. Her accolades include a Saturn Award, a Golden Globe Award, three Academy Award nominations, and a star on the Holly ...

) hopes that they will not sell and that Regan will stay and manage the vineyard himself. Regan shows Claire the property, and the two share an intimate kiss. Later, however, Claire is heartbroken when she overhears Regan tell his mother that he plans to leave for London. Denny arrives to see Claire crying and confesses that it was competition with Regan that drove him to pursue her. He talks her into pretending to be in love with him in order to make Regan jealous. At the closing, Regan makes additional demands and negotiations eventually fall apart. That night, after seeing his brother kiss Claire, Regan comes to Claire's room and the two make passionate love. The next morning, Regan attempts to leave for London—unable to commit to his feelings for Claire—but Denny talks him into returning to her, telling him that he has to stop running away from the things that he loves. Back at the vineyard, Regan finally confesses his love to Claire, and the two begin a new life together at Napa Hills.

Cast

Production

Filming

''Diamond Girl'' was filmed on location in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

, Ontario, Canada and

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

, Western Cape, South Africa.

Releases

''Diamond Girl'' was released on DVD on February 6, 2008 by Lionsgate as part of the Harlequin Romance Series.

References

External links

* * * {{AllRovi movie, 412778, Diamond Girl 1998 television films 1998 films English-language Canadian films Canadian drama television films Films shot in South Africa Films shot in Toronto Films directed by Timothy Bond 1990s Canadian films