One Special Night
One Special Night is a 1999 American made-for-television drama film directed by Roger Young, adapted by Nancey Silvers from the play A Winter Visitor by Jan Hartman, and starring James Garner and Julie Andrews. The plot involves two strangers, a construction contractor (Garner) and a Pediatric Cardiologist (Andrews), who take refuge in a small abandoned cabin during a stormy winter night and, despite their many differences, they become undeniably drawn to one another. This was Garner's and Andrews' third film pairing as romantic leads, after The Americanization of Emily (1964) and Victor Victoria (1982).
| One Special Night | |
|---|---|
| Based on | A Winter Visitor play by Jan Hartman |
| Written by | Nancey Silvers |
| Directed by | Roger Young |
| Starring | James Garner Julie Andrews |
| Music by | Richard Bellis |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Jim Green Allen Epstein Mark Bacino |
| Producer | Albert Salzer |
| Cinematography | Guy Dufaux |
| Editor | Ben Weissman |
| Running time | 92 minutes |
| Production company | Green/Epstein Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | November 28, 1999 |
Plot edit
On Thanksgiving Day both Dr. Catherine Howard and Robert Woodward wind up at the same nursing home. She is still missing her husband who died a while ago, he visiting his ill wife. Although they have lived within miles of each other for years, they have never met.
Outside, snow has begun to fall heavily and, despite a brusque first encounter, Catherine offers Robert a ride home when she learns that he is stranded. The pair gets off to a rocky start as Catherine tries to maneuver the car through what is now a blizzard and Robert barks directions.
Suddenly, the car careens off the road into a snow bank. They trudge through the blizzard and discover an empty cabin. They wait out the storm and begin to break through each other's shells.
First thing the following morning they are discovered by one of his daughters and her husband. They give Catherine a drive back to her home and they agree to meet the following Sunday.
On the following Sunday Catherine drives to Murray's. It is a restaurant they both know and frequent. She orders his suggested Chocolate Chip pancakes and waits for him. He too drives to meet her that Sunday morning. However, when he gets to the front of Murray's, his cellphone rings. His wife has had another attack.
Robert hosts the wake for his wife, who passed on that Sunday. Both of his daughters are there and the pregnant one Lori sits on the floor in the kitchen and cries. Her sister Jaclyn comes over and comforts her. Lori is eight months pregnant and has discovered her husband has been cheating.
Later, beyond the funeral, Dr. Howard receives a telephone call to let her know that a young lady is going into a troubled labor. She drives to the hospital only to find that Robert is the one who called her. She is asked if it was okay, she then stands to head to see the daughter
Robert asks Catherine if she went to the diner that Sunday. Lying, she replies that she didn't, that she had been too busy. When she asks if he did, Robert explains he did go, but was called away before he could go inside. Then she discovers that his wife died that day.
Robert says that he would like to show her something, so they go out to where his truck is parked. He pulls out a box with a necklace inside. Explaining that it is exactly like the one she lost the night they went off the road, she asks where he bought it. Robert explains that it is the necklace she lost, then shows her the scarf she'd tied on the tree near where she lost it.
Robert asks her if she has a few moments. Catherine says that, as it is Christmas Day, her schedule is free. They both get into his truck and drive through the icy roads. Sure enough, his truck gets stuck right near where they broke down before. Catherine looks to the roof of the cabin and smoke is coming from the chimney.
They both walk to the front door and Catherine knocks. When nobody answers, Robert walks around and breaks another window. He comes to the front door and opens it. She is curious about why they are here again. Robert explains that the previous owners of the cabin actually sold it to him this past year. Now he has a place to go into whenever he is stuck on this road.
The last scene is Catherine and Robert standing in the living room of the log cabin, kissing.
Cast edit
Julie Andrews as Catherine Howard
Patricia Charbonneau as Lori
Stacy Grant as Jaclyn Woodward
Stewart Bick as Jeff
Daniel Magder as Michael
Sheena Larkin as Marybeth Woodward
Kim Roberts as Nurse Sara
Gary Plaxton as Dr. Michaels
Belinda Hum as New Hospice Nurse
Kerrilyn Keith as O.R. Nurse (billed as Kerilyn Keith)
Sasha Wentges as Nursery Nurse
Annabelle Torsein as Young Hospice Nurse
Frank Cavallero as TV Reporter
External links edit
- One Special Night in the Internet Movie Database