Once in a Lifetime (1994 film)
Encyclopedia
Once in a Lifetime, also known as Danielle Steel's Once in a Lifetime, is a 1994
television film directed by Michael Miller. The film is based on the 1982 novel of the same name written by Danielle Steel
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, where she is tutored by Dr. Matthew Dane. Meanwhile, inspired by her loss, she starts writing a novel called Autumn Years.
Over the years, Diane grows to be an overprotective mother. Unwanting to enroll him in a New York public school, she enters him in a special boarding school for deaf children, located in New Hampshire. Able to focus on her freelance writing career, she debutes with a bestseller and hires her best friend Barbara as her assistant. She refuses to do any promotion or tours, though, not wanting to be inable to visit her son at any time. She often visits his school and grows close to its principal, who happens to be Matthew. She forbids herself from being involved with him, though, feeling that she should remain faithful to Jeffrey.
Meanwhile, she learns that the rights of her second novel Apache has been sold and that it will be turned into a movie. She reluctantly heads to Hollywood, where she falls in love with Justin Wakefield, who is starring in the film adaption. Already after one romantic night, he tells her that he is in love with her. She loves him a lot, but soon notices that he takes little interest in her home life, not enthusiastic about meeting Andrew. Nevertheless, she accepts his marriage proposal and relocates to Los Angeles with her son.
Upset over Justin's lifestyle, coming and going when he feels like it and refusing to be a traditional husband, Daphne breaks off the engagement. She returns home and tries to declare Matthew her love, but finds out he has been dating another woman. Back in present life, Matthew rushes to the hospital to see Daphne, who still is in a coma. As she awakens, he admits that he is in love with her, and they get engaged.
1994 in film
1994 was a significant year in film.The top grosser worldwide was The Lion King, which to date stands as the highest-grossing traditionally-animated film of all time...
television film directed by Michael Miller. The film is based on the 1982 novel of the same name written by Danielle Steel
Danielle Steel
Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schuelein-Steel , better known as Danielle Steel, is an American romantic novelist and author of mainstream dramas....
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Plot
Daphne Fields is a world famous novelist from New York City who one night is hit by a car. She lands in a coma and flashes back her memory eight years earlier, when she was happily married with Jeffrey and had a loving daughter, Aimee. Her perfect life falls into pieces when she suddenly loses her husband and daughter in a fire. Nine months later, she gives birth to a son, Andrew, who turns out to be deaf. Daphne decides to learn sign languageSign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
, where she is tutored by Dr. Matthew Dane. Meanwhile, inspired by her loss, she starts writing a novel called Autumn Years.
Over the years, Diane grows to be an overprotective mother. Unwanting to enroll him in a New York public school, she enters him in a special boarding school for deaf children, located in New Hampshire. Able to focus on her freelance writing career, she debutes with a bestseller and hires her best friend Barbara as her assistant. She refuses to do any promotion or tours, though, not wanting to be inable to visit her son at any time. She often visits his school and grows close to its principal, who happens to be Matthew. She forbids herself from being involved with him, though, feeling that she should remain faithful to Jeffrey.
Meanwhile, she learns that the rights of her second novel Apache has been sold and that it will be turned into a movie. She reluctantly heads to Hollywood, where she falls in love with Justin Wakefield, who is starring in the film adaption. Already after one romantic night, he tells her that he is in love with her. She loves him a lot, but soon notices that he takes little interest in her home life, not enthusiastic about meeting Andrew. Nevertheless, she accepts his marriage proposal and relocates to Los Angeles with her son.
Upset over Justin's lifestyle, coming and going when he feels like it and refusing to be a traditional husband, Daphne breaks off the engagement. She returns home and tries to declare Matthew her love, but finds out he has been dating another woman. Back in present life, Matthew rushes to the hospital to see Daphne, who still is in a coma. As she awakens, he admits that he is in love with her, and they get engaged.
Cast
- Lindsay WagnerLindsay WagnerLindsay Jean Wagner is an American actress. She is probably best known for her portrayal of Jaime Sommers in the 1970s television series The Bionic Woman , though she has maintained a lengthy career in a variety of other film and television productions since.-Early life:Wagner was born in Los...
as Daphne Fields - Barry BostwickBarry BostwickBarry Knapp Bostwick is an American actor and singer. He is known for playing Brad Majors in the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, replacing Peter Scolari as Mr. Tyler in the sitcom What I Like About You, and playing mayor Randall Winston in the sitcom Spin City...
as Dr. Matthew 'Matt' Dane - Duncan RegehrDuncan RegehrDuncan Peter Regehr is a Canadian writer, multi-media artist, and film and television actor. He has also been a figure skater, an Olympic boxing contender, and a classically trained Shakespearean stage actor in his native Canada, before heading to Hollywood in 1980...
as Justin Wakefield - Amy AquinoAmy AquinoAmy Aquino is an American television, film, and stage actress.-Background and education:Aquino is the daughter of Adele and Salvatore Aquino...
as Barbara Brice - Rex SmithRex SmithRex Smith is an American actor and singer. Smith debuted in the Broadway play Grease in 1978. He is noted for his role as Jesse Mach in the 1985 television series Street Hawk, as well as being a singer and stage actor. During the late 1970s, Smith was popular as a teen idol...
as Jeffrey Fields - Darrell Thomas UtleyDarrell Thomas UtleyDarrell Thomas Utley was born on October 3, 1981 in California, USA. He played Benjy Hawk on Days of our Lives from 1988 to 1989, then returned in 1990. He has appeared in Beverly Hills, 90210, Once in a Lifetime, Family Ties, and Pacific Blue....
as Andrew Fields (Age 8) - Nicholas Petrie as Andrew Fields (Age 4)
- Fran BennettFran BennettFran Bennett is an American actress born in Malvern, Arkansas. From 1996 to 2003, she was head of the performance program in the School of Theater at the California Institute of the Arts...
as Dr. Liz Wells - Jessica Sinegal as Aimee Fields