Once in a Lifetime (1994 film)

Once in a Lifetime
DVD cover
Directed by	Michael Miller
Written by	Danielle Steel (novel) Syrie Astrahan James
Starring	Lindsay Wagner Barry Bostwick
Music by	David Shire
Cinematography	Kees Van Oostrum
Editing by	Janet Bartels-Vandagriff
Distributed by	NBC
Release date(s)	February 15, 1994
Running time	91 minutes[1]
Country	USA
Language	English

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.

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 language, 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 Wagner as Daphne Fields
• Barry Bostwick as Dr. Matthew 'Matt' Dane
• Duncan Regehr as Justin Wakefield
• Amy Aquino as Barbara Brice
• Rex Smith as Jeffrey Fields
• Darrell Thomas Utley as Andrew Fields (Age 8)
• Nicholas Petrie as Andrew Fields (Age 4)
• Fran Bennett as Dr. Liz Wells
• Jessica Sinegal as Aimee Fields

References

1. ^ Running time The New York Times

External links

• Once in a Lifetime at the Internet Movie Database