Northern Lights (1997 film)

Northern Lights
Film poster
Based on	The 1988 stage play by John Hoffman
Screenplay by	John Hoffman Kevin Kane
Directed by	Linda Yellen
Starring	Diane Keaton Maury Chaykin Joseph Cross Kathleen York John Hoffman
Music by	Patrick Seymour
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Diane Keaton Robert Lantos Bill Robinson Meg Ryan Nina Sadowsky Laura Pozmantier
Producer	Warren Carr
Cinematography	Joseph Yacoe
Editor	Jan Northrop
Running time	111 minutes
Production companies	Alliance Communications Blue Relief Productions Walt Disney Television Prufrock Pictures[1]
Original release
Network	Disney Channel
Release	August 23, 1997 (1997-08-23TUnited States)

Northern Lights is a 1997 drama television film based upon the 1988 stage play of the same name by John Hoffman. Directed by Linda Yellen, the film stars Diane Keaton, Maury Chaykin, Joseph Cross, and Kathleen York. It was produced for the Disney Channel and premiered on August 23, 1997.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Some sources identify Northern Lights as the first Disney Channel Original Movie,[7][8] though Northern Lights was not included in Disney Channel's 100 Original Movies celebration that aired in May–June 2016,[9] and Disney Channel considers 1997's Under Wraps to be the first official Disney Channel Original Movie.[10][11]

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.[12]

Plot

Childless widow Roberta Blumstein (Diane Keaton) 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 (Joseph Cross). Savvy and curious, Jack and Roberta struggle to find common ground.

Cast

• Diane Keaton as Roberta Blumstein
• Maury Chaykin as Ben Rubadue
• Joseph Cross as Jack
• Kathleen York as Daphne
• John Robert Hoffman as Joe Scarlotti
• Frank C. Turner as Willard
• Thomas Cavanagh as Frank
• Alexander Pollock as Billy
• David Paul Grove 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 for 'Best Performance, Leading Young Actor' for Joseph Cross

Reception

References

1. Scott, Tony (August 25, 1997). "Review: 'Northern Lights'". Variety. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
2. Heffley, Lynn (August 23, 1997). "Keaton Makes Cable Baby Film Worth It". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
3. Mink, Eric (August 22, 1997). "Diane Keaton Lights Up Dim Disney Film". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
4. Kelleher, Terry (August 25, 1997). "Picks and Pans Review: Northern Lights". People. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
5. Joyner, Will (August 22, 1997). "A Boy Alone, and 2 Adults With a Lot to Learn". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
6. Crook, John (August 17, 1997). "Keaton shines in 'Northern Lights'". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
7. Moore, Caitlin (May 27, 2016). "Disney Channel made the same 'original' movie 100 times. That's why we love them". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 14, 2017. Since debuting with the Diane Keaton-starring "Northern Lights" on Aug. 23, 1997, this series of made-for-TV films has been usually digestible, often cheesy, sometimes awful, and always a delightful way to escape reality for a little bit.
8. Grant, Stacey (June 15, 2016). "Why Is The Disney Channel Original Movie Marathon Missing One Major Film?". MTV News. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2017. The 1997 film Northern Lights, which is widely considered to be the first Disney Channel Original Movie, is not on the list. Some fans, however, peg the DCOM Under Wraps, about a mummy brought back to life, as the first-ever DCOM. Either way, Under Wraps is certainly more well-known than Northern Lights, which starred Diane Keaton.
9. Rackham, Casey (May 24, 2016). "The Complete Disney Channel Original Movie Schedule Is Here And It's Amazing". BuzzFeed. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
10. Hipes, Patrick (April 20, 2016). "Disney Channel Original Movie 'The Swap' Set As Network Plans 100-Pic Celebration". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 27, 2016. The news comes as Disney Channel today unveiled plans for the 100th DCOM Celebration, a summer programming marathon centered on the airing of the network's 100th original move since 1997 — the first movie was Under Wraps, and the 100th will be a reimagining of the 1987 film Adventures In Babysitting which doesn't have an airdate yet.
11. Snetiker, Marc (June 22, 2016). "Disney Channel Original Movies: 12 little-known stories". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 26, 2016. Disney Channel considers 1997's Under Wraps as its first official DCOM...
12. "Keaton pushes the envelope in Disney TV film". Boca Raton News. August 17, 1997. Retrieved March 12, 2015.

External links

• Northern Lights at IMDb