Midnight Bayou
# Midnight Bayou

Midnight Bayou, also known as Nora Roberts' Midnight Bayou, is a 2009 made-for-TV movie directed by Ralph Hemecker, which stars Jerry O'Connell, Lauren Stamile, and Faye Dunaway. The film is based on the 2001 Nora Roberts novel of the same name and is part of the Nora Roberts 2009 movie collection, which also includes Northern Lights, High Noon, and Tribute. The film debuted on March 28, 2009, on Lifetime.

## Plot

The film revolves around Harvard-educated lawyer Declan Fitzpatrick (O'Connell), who impulsively gives up his settled life to buy Manet Hall, a newly restored plantation manor near New Orleans, which he has always been drawn to.

Local legends claim that the house is haunted, and shortly after Declan moves in, he begins hearing voices and seeing things. Declan is also distracted by an undeniable attraction to Cajun local, Lena Simone. Lena was raised on the bayou by her grandmother Odette (Dunaway), and has her own deep connection with the manor.

While living in the house, Declan begins to have visions from a century past and details of events that took place in the mansion. With the help of Odette, Declan and Lena realize that they are inextricably linked with Manet Hall, and uncover a shocking secret that has been hidden there for more than 100 years.

## Cast

* Jerry O'Connell as Declan Fitzpatrick
* Lauren Stamile as Lena Simone
* Faye Dunaway as Odette Simone
* Isabella Hofmann as Lilibeth Simone, Lena's mother
* Alan Ritchson as Lucian Manet
* Ashley LeConte Campbell as Josephine Manet
* Alejandro Rose-Garcia as Julian Manet
* Bianca Malinowski as Abigail Manet (as Bianca Malino)
* Chris Lindsay as Remy
* Ciera Payton as Effie

## Production

The film was executive produced by Stephanie Germain and Peter Guber, who also 'e.p.-ed' seven other Roberts films for Lifetime in 2007 and 2009.

## Filming locations

The "manor" scenes were filmed at Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana. The major "city" scenes were in New Orleans, Louisiana. Even though the film depicts the two locations as not that far apart, in real life Vacherie and New Orleans are approximately 55 mi (89 km) apart.

