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Northern Lights
Directed by Linda Yellen
Produced by Warren Carr
Written by John Robert Hoffman, Kevin Kane
Starring Diane Keaton, Maury Chaykin
Music Composer(s) Patrick Seymour
Distributed by Disney Channel
Release date(s) August 23, 1997
Running time 111 min.
Language English
IMDb profile

Northern Lights is a 1997 television film based upon the 1988 stage play of the same name by John Hoffman. It was produced for the Disney Channel and premiered on August 23, 1997. It starred Academy Award Winner Diane Keaton.

Some sources identify Northern Lights as the first Disney Channel Original Movie[1], 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.[2]

Plot Summary[]

A stranger's call informs Roberta that her estranged brother has died in a small town under bizarre circumstances. Ben, his best buddy from college, also gets the call.

Arriving just in time for his funeral, it becomes quickly obvious to them that the little slice of small-town America in which they find themselves is like an episode of the Twilight Zone featuring Frank's eccentric friends, his amazing secrets and his stunning final request.

Both Ben and Roberta are shocked to discover that Frank not only had a child, but that he has left them responsible for his son's care. Through a series of comic events, each tries to foist off responsibility on the other.

Cast[]

  • Diane Keaton - Roberta Blumstein
  • Maury Chaykin - Ben Rubadue
  • Joseph Cross - Jack
  • Kathleen York - Daphne
  • John Robert Hoffman - Joe Scarlotti
  • Crystal Verge - Aggie
  • John R. Taylor - Arthur
  • Sheila Patterson - Arlene
  • Frank C. Turner - Willard
  • Thomas Cavanagh - Frank
  • Peter Wilds - Ratman
  • Chilton Crane - Margaret
  • Sheila Moore - Louise
  • Alexander Pollock - Billy
  • Leam Blackwood - Emily
  • Zahf Paroo - Young Manager (as Zang Haju)
  • David Paul Grove - (as Beck)
  • Phillip Hazel - Sterling

See also[]

Preceded by
The Paper Brigade
Disney Channel Original Movies Succeeded by
Under Wraps
This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).
List of Disney Channel Original Movies
1997-1999 Under WrapsYou Lucky DogBrink!HalloweentownZenon: Girl of the 21st CenturyCan of WormsThe Thirteenth YearSmart HouseJohnny TsunamiGeniusDon't Look Under the BedHorse Sense
2000-2009 Up, Up, and AwayThe Color of FriendshipModel BehaviorAlley Cats StrikeRip GirlsMiracle in Lane 2Stepsister from Planet WeirdReady to RunQuintsThe Other MeMom's Got a Date With a VampirePhantom of the MegaplexThe Ultimate Christmas PresentZenon: The ZequelMotorcrossedThe Luck of the IrishHoundedJett Jackson: The MovieThe Jennie ProjectJumping ShipThe Poof PointHalloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge'Twas the NightDouble TeamedCadet KellyTru ConfessionsGet a ClueGotta Kick It Up!A Ring of Endless LightThe Scream TeamYou Wish!Right on TrackThe Even Stevens MovieEddie's Million Dollar Cook-OffThe Cheetah GirlsFull-Court MiraclePixel PerfectGoing to the MatZenon: Z3Stuck in the SuburbsTiger CruiseHalloweentown HighNow You See It...Buffalo DreamsKim Possible Movie: So The DramaGo FigureLife Is RuffThe Proud Family MovieTwitchesHigh School MusicalCow BellesWendy Wu: Homecoming WarriorRead It and WeepThe Cheetah Girls 2Return to HalloweentownJump In!Johnny Kapahala: Back on BoardHigh School Musical 2Twitches TooMinutemenCamp RockThe Cheetah Girls: One WorldDadnappedHatching PetePrincess Protection ProgramWizards of Waverly Place: The Movie
2010-2019 StarstruckDen BrotherCamp Rock 2: The Final JamAvalon HighThe Suite Life MovieLemonade MouthSharpay's Fabulous AdventurePhineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd DimensionGeek CharmingGood Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!FrenemiesRadio RebelLet It ShineGirl vs. MonsterTeen Beach MovieCloud 9ZappedHow to Build a Better BoyBad Hair DayTeen Beach Movie 2DescendantsInvisible SisterAdventures in BabysittingThe SwapTangled: Before Ever AfterDescendants 2Z-O-M-B-I-E-SFreaky FridayKim PossibleDescendants 3
2020‍-present Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 2Upside-Down MagicSpinUnder Wraps (2021)Christmas AgainZ-O-M-B-I-E-S 3Under Wraps 2Prom PactThe Slumber PartyThe Naughty NineBig City Greens: The MovieDescendants: The Rise of Red
Upcoming From the Desk of Zoe Washington
Unofficial DCOMs Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars16 WishesMy Babysitter's a Vampire

References[]

  1. Grant, Stacey (June 15, 2016). "Why Is The Disney Channel Original Movie Marathon Missing One Major Film?". MTV News. 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."
  2. 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...