''Midnight Bayou'', also known as ''Nora Roberts' Midnight Bayou'', is a 2009

made-for-TV movie 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

Ralph Hemecker Ralph W. Hemecker is an American director, writer, and producer. He directed episodes of the drama series ''Once Upon a Time'' and ''The Flash''. Career In 2000, Hemecker founded Mythic Films, a full service feature film, TV and commercial produc ...

, which stars

Jerry O'Connell Jerry O'Connell (born February 17, 1974) is an American actor and television host. He is known for his roles as Quinn Mallory in the television series '' Sliders'', Andrew Clements in ''My Secret Identity'', Vern Tessio in the film '' Stand by ...

Lauren Stamile Lauren Stamile (born September 12, 1976) is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Nurse Rose on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC series ''Grey's Anatomy'', Michelle Slater on the National Broadcasting Company, NBC series '' ...

, and

Faye Dunaway Dorothy Faye Dunaway (born January 14, 1941) is an American actress. She is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Faye Dunaway, many accolades, including an Academy Awards, Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, three Golden ...

. The film is based on the 2001

Nora Roberts Nora Roberts (born Eleanor Marie Robertson on October 10, 1950) is an American author of more than 225 romance novels. She writes as J. D. Robb for the ''in Death'' series and has also written under the pseudonyms Jill March and for publication ...

novel of the same name and is part of the Nora Roberts 2009 movie collection, which also includes '' Northern Lights'', '' High Noon'', and ''

Tribute A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of land which the state conqu ...

''. The film debuted on March 28, 2009, on Lifetime.

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 higher le ...

-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 New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...

, 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 The Cajuns (; French: ''les Cadjins'' or ''les Cadiens'' ), also known as Louisiana ''Acadians'' (French: ''les Acadiens''), are a Louisiana French ethnicity mainly found in the U.S. state of Louisiana. While Cajuns are usually described as ...

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

as Declan Fitzpatrick *

as Lena Simone *

as Odette Simone * Isabella Hofmann as Lilibeth Simone, Lena's mother *

Alan Ritchson Alan Michael Ritchson (born November 28, 1982) is an American actor, model, singer and songwriter. He made his acting debut as Aquaman / Arthur Curry on The CW superhero series ''Smallville'' (2005–2010), where he appeared as a guest star betw ...

as Lucian Manet * Ashley LeConte Campbell as Josephine Manet * Alejandro Rose-Garcia 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 Howard Peter Guber (born March 1, 1942) is an American business executive, entrepreneur, educator, and author. He is chairman and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment. Guber's most recent films from Mandalay Entertainment include '' The Kids Are All ...

, who also 'e.p.-ed' seven other Roberts films for Lifetime in 2007 and 2009.

Filming locations

The "manor" scenes were filmed at Oak Alley Plantation in

Vacherie, Louisiana Vacherie is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated community in St. James Parish, Louisiana, St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area . The name of the place derives from the :wikt:vacherie, Fren ...

. The major "city" scenes were in

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...

. 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