''Northern Lights'' is a 1997 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 ...

based upon the 1988

stage play A play is a work of drama, usually consisting mostly of dialogue between Character (arts), characters and intended for theatre, theatrical performance rather than just Reading (process), reading. The writer of a play is called a playwright. Pla ...

of the same name by John Hoffman. Directed by

Linda Yellen Linda Yellen is an American director, producer and writer of film and television, (born in New York City). As a producer some of her credits are '' Playing for Time'' (1980), ''The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana'' (1982) and ''Second Serve' ...

, the film stars

Diane Keaton Diane Keaton ('' née'' Hall, born January 5, 1946) is an American actress and director. She has received various accolades throughout her career spanning over six decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Gl ...

Maury Chaykin Maury Alan Chaykin (July 27, 1949 – July 27, 2010) was an American–Canadian actor, best known for his portrayal of detective Nero Wolfe, as well as for his work as a character actor in many films and television programs. Personal lif ...

Joseph Cross Joseph or Joe Cross may refer to: People * Joseph Cross (actor) (born 1986), American actor * Joseph Cross (cartographer) (1821–1865), English cartographer * Joseph Cross (cricketer) (1849–1918), English cricketer * Joseph Cross (judge) (1843� ...

, and

Kathleen York Kathleen York is an American actress, screenwriter, and Oscar-nominated singer-songwriter recording artist. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for " In the Deep" from the 2004 film ''Crash.'' Life and career Actress Ac ...

. It was produced for the

Disney Channel Disney Channel, sometimes known as simply Disney, is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Compan ...

and premiered on August 23, 1997. Some sources identify ''Northern Lights'' as the first

Disney Channel Original Movie Many television films have been produced for Disney Channel, an American family-oriented basic cable channel and former premium television channel since its launch on April 18, 1983. Until October 1997, films were released under the banner nam ...

, though ''Northern Lights'' was not included in Disney Channel's 100 Original Movies celebration that aired in May–June 2016, and Disney Channel considers 1997's '' Under Wraps'' to be the first official Disney Channel Original Movie. Because her character was depicted as a heavy smoker, actress Diane Keaton thought production of the film was an odd choice for the Disney Channel.

Plot

Childless widow Roberta (

) receives news of the death of her estranged brother. Upon arriving in her hometown for her brother's funeral, Roberta receives an unexpected inheritance, her nine-year-old nephew Jack (

). Savvy and curious, Jack and Roberta struggle to find common ground.

Cast

as Roberta Blumstein *

as Ben Rubadue *

as Jack *

as Daphne *

John Robert Hoffman John Robert Hoffman, most often known simply as John Hoffman, is an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He wrote and co-starred in the Disney Channel original film '' Northern Lights'' (1997) and has written many unproduced scree ...

as Joe Scarlotti * Frank C. Turner as Willard *

Thomas Cavanagh Thomas Cavanagh (born October 26, 1963) is a Canadian actor. He is known for a variety of roles on American television, including starring roles in '' Ed'' (2000–2004), ''Love Monkey'' (2006) and '' Trust Me'' (2009), and recurring roles on ...

as Frank *

Alexander Pollock Alexander Pollock is a Canadian realtor and former actor. He is best known for his roles as Corky in ''Big Bully'', Scotty Brody in ''Cats & Dogs'', and Richie/Elf Tight End in ''The Santa Clause 2''. Career He made his debut in 1996 as Corky ...

as Billy *

David Paul Grove David Paul Grove (born December 10, 1958) is a Canadian actor. Career Grove has voiced Jonny 2x4 in ''Ed, Edd n Eddy'' and played one of the Dwarfs, Doc, in ''Once Upon a Time''. He has appeared in several Christmas films like ''Elf'' and ''The ...

as Buck * Crystal Verge as Aggie * John R. Taylor as Arthur * Sheila Patterson as Arlene * Peter Wilds as Ratman * Chilton Crane as Margaret * Sheila Moore as Louise * Leam Blackwood as Emily * Zahf Paroo as Young Manager (as Zang Haju) * Phillip Hazel as Sterling

Recognition

* 1998,

Young Artist Awards The Young Artist Award (originally known as the Youth in Film Award) is an accolade presented by the Young Artist Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1978 to honor excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young ...

for 'Best Performance, Leading Young Actor' for

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Northern Lights (1997 Film) Disney Channel original films American television films 1997 television films 1997 films Films directed by Linda Yellen 1990s English-language films 1990s American films