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Summary:
Haunting imagery, masterful storytelling and riveting performances by an all-star cast led by Daryl Hannah, Nick Nolte and James Woods highlights this critically acclaimed film from the creators of Twin Falls Idaho. The year is 1955 and the town of Northfork is about to be flooded by the waters of a new hydroelectric dam. Most of the town's inhabitants have left, but a few stragglers remain, among them a religious zealot with two wives and one ready-to-sail ark; a conscience -bound minister; and a frail orphan boy whose fevered visions have convinced him he's an angel. Assigned the task of moving these holdouts are the Evacuation Teams, mysterious, black-clad men with a personal stake in clearing the town. As the characters' lives slowly converge, we are transported to a wondrous landscape that exists somewhere between dream and reality...and swept into an unforgettable saga of longing, loss, faith and reawakening.
Front and Back DVD cover of the Film: _MOVIENAME_
While writing our first screenplay in 1994, then called Southfork, we went out and bought the usual screenwriting books, the ones that give you that "Hollywood" recipe. These books insisted that when a screenplay is cooked properly the author will not only succeed artistically, but make millions in the process. The main ingredient that the "Hollywood" recipe called for was a "story arc." The exact construction of the arc was left up to the discretion of the author, however it was expected of you to craft a story that was compelling by always having a character that wins, then loses, then wins again thus cooking up a good satisfying ending for the audience. The writer must cheer and root for his or her character so that he or she will overcome the most devastating of circumstances, and in the end, leave the crowded theater with a warm, fuzzy feeling.
Our second draft of our screenplay was called Middlefork, and we thought we added all the ingredients that the recipe called for... Except, we soon realized, we were still missing our main Ingredient: the story-it didn't have an arc. Plus we didn't have money to construct this key element. The one thing that the screenwriting books failed to mention was that to feed millions, you need millions. And the reality was... Our "Fork," regardless of its direction-South, West, East, North-was not going to serve millions without a proper arc.
Our final draft was called Northfork. And it finally had what the others lacked: A story arc. Our ark was ninety feet long and built on the plains of Montana. As the how-to books suggested, our ark was the center of our story's universe and would lead our character (and the entire crew for that matter) through some devastating circumstances: It withstood seventy mile-an-hour gusts of wind, three chilling blizzards, a herd of cows, and even James Woods. Northfork starring Claire Forlani, James Woods, Nick Nolte
- James Woods .... Walter O'Brien
- Nick Nolte .... Father Harlan
- Douglas Sebern .... Mayor
- Claire Forlani .... Mrs. Hadfield
- Duel Farnes .... Irwin
- Mark Polish .... Willis O'Brien
- Daryl Hannah .... Flower Hercules
- Graham Beckel .... Marvin
- Josh Barker .... Matt (as Joshuin Barker)
- Peter Coyote .... Eddie
- Jon Gries .... Arnold
- Rick Overton .... Rudolph
- Robin Sachs .... Cup of Tea
- Ben Foster .... Cod
- Anthony Edwards .... Happy
- Mike J. Regan .... Flaco (as Mike Regan)
- Mae Fassett .... Ursula
- Perry Hofferber .... Mr. Pillsbury
- Mark Twogood .... Jigger
- Marshall Bell .... Mr. Stalling
- Josh Olsen .... Mr. Young
- Julie MacAlister .... Mrs. Young
- Saralyn Sebern .... Mrs. Stalling #1
- Ginny Watts .... Mrs. Stalling #2
- Kyle MacLachlan .... Mr. Hope
- Michele Hicks .... Mrs. Hope
- Eli Akira Kaufman .... Cookie (as Eli Kaufman)
- Steve Kramer .... Radio Announcer (voice)
- Clark Gregg .... Mr. Hadfield (uncredited)
