LOCAL

11 Wilmington-shot movies you’ve never heard of

“Date With An Angel” (1987): Phoebe Cates is, perhaps, best known for emerging from a swimming pool in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” But in “Date With An Angel,” she isn’t the one in the swimming pool. In the comedy, a man (Michael E. Knight) wakes up from his bachelor party to find a fallen angel (Emmanuelle Beart) in his pool. He tries to help mend her injuries and send her back to heaven, but his fiancee (Cates) starts thinking he’s having an affair. Beart was one of the most famous actresses in France when she starred in the movie. It can be rented on iTunes and Amazon Prime.
“Date With An Angel” (1987): Phoebe Cates is, perhaps, best known for emerging from a swimming pool in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” But in “Date With An Angel,” she isn’t the one in the swimming pool. In the comedy, a man (Michael E. Knight) wakes up from his bachelor party to find a fallen angel (Emmanuelle Beart) in his pool. He tries to help mend her injuries and send her back to heaven, but his fiancee (Cates) starts thinking he’s having an affair. Beart was one of the most famous actresses in France when she starred in the movie. It can be rented on iTunes and Amazon Prime.
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“Tune in Tomorrow…” (1990): Whoever said you can’t find love over the radio hasn’t seen this forgotten comedy about a young radio employee (Keanu Reeves) who falls for his aunt (Barbara Hershey) in 1950s New Orleans. Their love story is used as inspiration for the radio station’s latest dramedy, written by a new scriptwriter (Peter Falk). The star-studded cast also included Patricia Clarkson, Peter Gallagher, John Larroquette and Elizabeth McGovern. You can watch the movie in pieces on YouTube.
“Tune in Tomorrow…” (1990): Whoever said you can’t find love over the radio hasn’t seen this forgotten comedy about a young radio employee (Keanu Reeves) who falls for his aunt (Barbara Hershey) in 1950s New Orleans. Their love story is used as inspiration for the radio station’s latest dramedy, written by a new scriptwriter (Peter Falk). The star-studded cast also included Patricia Clarkson, Peter Gallagher, John Larroquette and Elizabeth McGovern. You can watch the movie in pieces on YouTube.
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“One Christmas“ (1994): Katherine Hepburn made her final screen appearance in this TV movie about a young boy shipped to New Orleans to spend Christmas with his father only to find out he is a con artist. The story on which the NBC movie was based was written by Truman Capote. Henry Winkler and Pat Hingle costarred. Hepburn was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for the film, in which she played a wealthy woman named Cornelia Beaumont. You can rent the film on iTunes and Amazon Prime.
“One Christmas“ (1994): Katherine Hepburn made her final screen appearance in this TV movie about a young boy shipped to New Orleans to spend Christmas with his father only to find out he is a con artist. The story on which the NBC movie was based was written by Truman Capote. Henry Winkler and Pat Hingle costarred. Hepburn was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for the film, in which she played a wealthy woman named Cornelia Beaumont. You can rent the film on iTunes and Amazon Prime.
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“T Bone N Weasel” (1992): An ex-con and an unstable man hit the road in search of a better life only to go on a rampage in rural South Carolina with a crooked sheriff on their heels. Gregory Hines and Christopher Lloyd really were a mismatched pair for this TNT TV movie, but Hines reportedly wasted no downtime while in Wilmington. The famed tap dancer taught local tap classes and volunteered with the local domestic violence shelter. Clips can be seen on YouTube.
“T Bone N Weasel” (1992): An ex-con and an unstable man hit the road in search of a better life only to go on a rampage in rural South Carolina with a crooked sheriff on their heels. Gregory Hines and Christopher Lloyd really were a mismatched pair for this TNT TV movie, but Hines reportedly wasted no downtime while in Wilmington. The famed tap dancer taught local tap classes and volunteered with the local domestic violence shelter. Clips can be seen on YouTube.
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“Dracula’s Widow“ (1988): After Vanessa, the widow of Count Dracula, is inadvertently shipped to a Hollywood wax museum, she begins terrorizing the neighborhood as she hunts down the descendants of the men who put a stake through her beloved husband’s heart. This cheesy horror film was the directorial debut of Christopher Coppla, Nicholas Cage’s brother and the nephew of Oscar-winning director Francis Ford Coppla. The film is not available to stream, but you can watch some truly 80s clips of it on YouTube.
“Dracula’s Widow“ (1988): After Vanessa, the widow of Count Dracula, is inadvertently shipped to a Hollywood wax museum, she begins terrorizing the neighborhood as she hunts down the descendants of the men who put a stake through her beloved husband’s heart. This cheesy horror film was the directorial debut of Christopher Coppla, Nicholas Cage’s brother and the nephew of Oscar-winning director Francis Ford Coppla. The film is not available to stream, but you can watch some truly 80s clips of it on YouTube.
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“Trick or Treat” (1986): A heavy metal rocker’s soul gets trapped in a vinyl record that is then used by a teenage boy to enact revenge on his bullies. If that doesn’t sound hard rock enough for you, this indie thriller costarred Gene Simmons of Kiss and Ozzy Osbourne, who played a televangelist who advocates against the evils of rock music. The movie’s most notable local filming spots were New Hanover High School and Hoggard High School. The film can be watched on YouTube.
“Trick or Treat” (1986): A heavy metal rocker’s soul gets trapped in a vinyl record that is then used by a teenage boy to enact revenge on his bullies. If that doesn’t sound hard rock enough for you, this indie thriller costarred Gene Simmons of Kiss and Ozzy Osbourne, who played a televangelist who advocates against the evils of rock music. The movie’s most notable local filming spots were New Hanover High School and Hoggard High School. The film can be watched on YouTube.
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“Traveller” (1997): Mark Whalberg plays a young man who joins a nomadic group of modern-day gypsies known as the Irish Travellers, who wander around rural North Carolina making a living stealing from unsuspecting victims. He’s taken under the wing of Bokky, played by the late Bill Paxton. Julianna Margulies also stars. It can be watched for free on Tubi or rented on iTunes or Amazon Prime.
“Traveller” (1997): Mark Whalberg plays a young man who joins a nomadic group of modern-day gypsies known as the Irish Travellers, who wander around rural North Carolina making a living stealing from unsuspecting victims. He’s taken under the wing of Bokky, played by the late Bill Paxton. Julianna Margulies also stars. It can be watched for free on Tubi or rented on iTunes or Amazon Prime.
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“Stateside” (2004): Teenage love is put through the wringer in this drama about a couple (Jonathan Tucker and Rachel Leigh Cook) forced apart when he is deployed by the Marine Corps and she checks into a mental hospital. Val Kilmer and the late Carrie Fisher costarred. You can watch clips on YouTube.
“Stateside” (2004): Teenage love is put through the wringer in this drama about a couple (Jonathan Tucker and Rachel Leigh Cook) forced apart when he is deployed by the Marine Corps and she checks into a mental hospital. Val Kilmer and the late Carrie Fisher costarred. You can watch clips on YouTube.
Wilmington StarNews
Wilmington StarNews
“This World, Then the Fireworks” (1997): In a truly bizarre story, twin brother and sister are traumatized when they watch their father get murdered while he is having an affair. Years later, the two have developed an incestuous relationship and a thirst for making trouble in the 1950s. Billy Zane and Gina Gershon play the criminally close brother and sister, while Rue McClanahan stars as their mother.
“This World, Then the Fireworks” (1997): In a truly bizarre story, twin brother and sister are traumatized when they watch their father get murdered while he is having an affair. Years later, the two have developed an incestuous relationship and a thirst for making trouble in the 1950s. Billy Zane and Gina Gershon play the criminally close brother and sister, while Rue McClanahan stars as their mother.
Wilmington StarNews
“The Devil’s Hand” (2014): A tight-knit Amish community fears a prophecy that says when six girls are born on the sixth day of the six month, one of them will become the "Devil’s Hand" when she turns 18. All six girls about to turn 18. The film shot under several names in Wilmington including, “Where the Devil Hides,” “The Devil's Rapture” and “The Occult.” Jennifer Carpenter, Colm Meaney and Rufus Sewell starred. It can be rented on iTunes and Amazon Prime.
“The Devil’s Hand” (2014): A tight-knit Amish community fears a prophecy that says when six girls are born on the sixth day of the six month, one of them will become the "Devil’s Hand" when she turns 18. All six girls about to turn 18. The film shot under several names in Wilmington including, “Where the Devil Hides,” “The Devil's Rapture” and “The Occult.” Jennifer Carpenter, Colm Meaney and Rufus Sewell starred. It can be rented on iTunes and Amazon Prime.
Wilmington StarNews
“The Lost Capone” (1990): Al Capone may have gotten the glory of legend, but his brother would fight on the side of right when the family name was being dragged through the crime world. This TV movie showed how Jimmy Capone became a lawman who busted bootleggers during Prohibition. Eric Roberts played the famed gangster, while Adrian Pasdar took on the role of the lesser known Jimmy. Ally Sheedy also starred. Clips can be seen on YouTube.
“The Lost Capone” (1990): Al Capone may have gotten the glory of legend, but his brother would fight on the side of right when the family name was being dragged through the crime world. This TV movie showed how Jimmy Capone became a lawman who busted bootleggers during Prohibition. Eric Roberts played the famed gangster, while Adrian Pasdar took on the role of the lesser known Jimmy. Ally Sheedy also starred. Clips can be seen on YouTube.
Wilmington StarNews