Daniel's Daughter
Encyclopedia
Daniel's Daughter is a 2008
Canadian television film directed by Neill Fearnley. The film is about a magazine editor who returns to her small hometown to fulfill a request from her estranged father.
, young Cate Mandighan's mother Marie dies. Her father decides to send her to live with overseas relatives she has never met. Before leaving, her father promises her to one day look for her and asks her to write in her journal every day. Twenty six later, Cate is a highly successful editor-in-chief of a popular fitness magazine in New York City, which helps women with problems. She is engaged to the older Stewart, a powerful media tycoon with two grown children. Their engagement is widely described in the media, and although they seem the perfect couple, Cate has trouble accepting his refusal to ever have children again.
One day, Cate receives a package from her father, who has recently died. In his letter, he expresses his regret for never having looked her up and requests her to scatter his ashes in New Kerry, with his friends Cavanaugh and Donahue, two Irish singers, in presence. She initially refuses to do as her father wishes, because she has always felt abandoned by him. She finally decides to head back to New Kerry, though, assisted by her personal assistant Jeffrey.
In New Kerry, Cate has trouble adjusting to small town life, still maintaining her upper class lifestyle. She meets Connor Bailey, a man who makes her realize what she really wants in life. They fall in love, but Cate is reluctant to give in to her true feelings, remembering her proposal to Stewart. She decides to focus herself on her father's last request, which is troubled by Cavanaugh and Donahue's refusal to be in the same room together. She tries to help them reconcile their estranged friendship and while doing so, grows closer to Connor.
In the end, she scatters her father's ashes with Cavanaugh and Donahue in presence, and returns to New York City. She is swept by Connor's unexpected visit, who has followed her to admit that he is in love with her. As she is about to kiss him, she is caught by Stewart, who is not really upset with Cate's announcement that she does not want to spend the rest of her life with him. As he leaves, Cate and Connor are finally free to be with each other.
would star in a Hallmark Channel
movie, Daniel's Daughter. By the time, production had already begun in Toronto
. Filming took place entirely in Ontario
.
The film was received with mixed reviews, although most critics were more positive about this film than the general Hallmark Channel Original Movie. Variety wrote: 'Solid performances and scenic locations help bring a little heft to what's otherwise a pretty standard yarn about a woman whose idyllic life is shaken up by a long-deferred trip home to bury her father'. 'There's a breezy quality to the movie that goes down easily'. It sparked Leighton to do another Hallmark Channel Original Movie; Mending Fences
(2009).
Daniel's Daughter is among the few Hallmark Channel films which received a DVD release.
2008 in film
This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
Canadian television film directed by Neill Fearnley. The film is about a magazine editor who returns to her small hometown to fulfill a request from her estranged father.
Plot
Starting in 1982 New Kerry, MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, young Cate Mandighan's mother Marie dies. Her father decides to send her to live with overseas relatives she has never met. Before leaving, her father promises her to one day look for her and asks her to write in her journal every day. Twenty six later, Cate is a highly successful editor-in-chief of a popular fitness magazine in New York City, which helps women with problems. She is engaged to the older Stewart, a powerful media tycoon with two grown children. Their engagement is widely described in the media, and although they seem the perfect couple, Cate has trouble accepting his refusal to ever have children again.
One day, Cate receives a package from her father, who has recently died. In his letter, he expresses his regret for never having looked her up and requests her to scatter his ashes in New Kerry, with his friends Cavanaugh and Donahue, two Irish singers, in presence. She initially refuses to do as her father wishes, because she has always felt abandoned by him. She finally decides to head back to New Kerry, though, assisted by her personal assistant Jeffrey.
In New Kerry, Cate has trouble adjusting to small town life, still maintaining her upper class lifestyle. She meets Connor Bailey, a man who makes her realize what she really wants in life. They fall in love, but Cate is reluctant to give in to her true feelings, remembering her proposal to Stewart. She decides to focus herself on her father's last request, which is troubled by Cavanaugh and Donahue's refusal to be in the same room together. She tries to help them reconcile their estranged friendship and while doing so, grows closer to Connor.
In the end, she scatters her father's ashes with Cavanaugh and Donahue in presence, and returns to New York City. She is swept by Connor's unexpected visit, who has followed her to admit that he is in love with her. As she is about to kiss him, she is caught by Stewart, who is not really upset with Cate's announcement that she does not want to spend the rest of her life with him. As he leaves, Cate and Connor are finally free to be with each other.
Cast
- Laura LeightonLaura LeightonLaura Leighton is an American actress. She is best-known for the role of Sydney Andrews, introduced in the 1990s television series Melrose Place. She reprised the role in the 2009 series of the same name...
as Catherine 'Cate' Madighan - Sebastian SpenceSebastian SpenceSebastian Spence is an actor who played the lead role as Cade Foster in the TV series First Wave.Spence is the son of the late playwright Michael Cook and playwright and actress Janis Spence...
as Connor Bailey - Ruth MarshallRuth MarshallRuth Marshall is a Canadian actress from Toronto, Ontario. She is best known for her role in the hit television series Flashpoint. She graduated with a degree in English from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec and then returned to Toronto to pursue a career in acting.She has appeared the...
as Dr. Candice Keller - Derek McGrathDerek McGrathDerek McGrath is a Canadian actor.He is known for his roles in Cheers as "Andy-Andy" Schroeder , Dr. Benjamin Jeffcoate in My Secret Identity, Crewman Chell in Star Trek: Voyager, and as Dr. Derek Hebert in Doc...
as Jim Cavanaugh - Brandon FirlaBrandon FirlaBrandon Firla is a Canadian actor and comedian, currently best known for his role as Clark Claxton on the television sitcom Billable Hours...
as Jeffrey Lerner - Kelli Fox as Fiona
- Martin Doyle as Donahue
- Barry FlatmanBarry FlatmanBarry Flatman is a Canadian actor. He has appeared in many film and television roles such as Rideau Hall in which he plays a fictional Prime Minister of Canada. His other works include My Name is Tanino, The Company, Saw 3, Just Friends, H2O, and most recently in the 2008 A&E's miniseries The...
as Stewart - Brad Borbridge as Craig Beamish
- Brendan Wall as Daniel Madighan
- McKenzi Scott as Marie Madighan
- Shae Norris as Young Cate
- Caprice Herjavec as Young Fiona
- Olivia Palenstein as Erin McManus
- London Angelis as Seamus
- Dorly Jean-Louis as Talisha
- Neill Fearnley as Judge
Production
On October 1, 2007, it was announced Laura LeightonLaura Leighton
Laura Leighton is an American actress. She is best-known for the role of Sydney Andrews, introduced in the 1990s television series Melrose Place. She reprised the role in the 2009 series of the same name...
would star in a Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
movie, Daniel's Daughter. By the time, production had already begun in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Filming took place entirely in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Reception
After its premiere, Daniel's Daughter ranked as the highest rated ad-supported cable movie of the week. A total of 4.1 million people viewed the premiere. The film boosted the channel to rank as the highest-rated cable network in Prime Time for the day. It also ranked #1 in the time period.The film was received with mixed reviews, although most critics were more positive about this film than the general Hallmark Channel Original Movie. Variety wrote: 'Solid performances and scenic locations help bring a little heft to what's otherwise a pretty standard yarn about a woman whose idyllic life is shaken up by a long-deferred trip home to bury her father'. 'There's a breezy quality to the movie that goes down easily'. It sparked Leighton to do another Hallmark Channel Original Movie; Mending Fences
Mending Fences
Mending Fences is a television movie that premiered on Hallmark Channel July 19, 2009. The film stars Laura Leighton and Angie Dickinson.-Plot summary:...
(2009).
Daniel's Daughter is among the few Hallmark Channel films which received a DVD release.