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Orton Plantation Gardens :: Winnabow, North Carolina
In 1982, Dino de Laurentis was looking for a location to film "Firestarter". Frank Capra, Jr., the Director, came across a picture of Orton House on a magazine cover and knew it was the location they wanted. After visiting Orton, they chose this location, then De Laurentis built the movie studio DEG (de Laurentis Entertainment Group) in Wilmington, NC. Thus began the film industry in southeastern North Carolina. By 1999, DEG had evolved into EUE/Screen Gem Studios and the film industry blossomed.
Firestarter (1984) IMDB Information
Adapted from a book by Stephen King, “Firestarter” stars Drew Barrymore, Martin Sheen, George C. Scott, David Keith, and others. Orton House is the headquarters of the FBI-like government group investigating the ‘firestarter’; for the film’s climax, a complete façade of Orton House was dramatically burned to the ground.
Crimes of the Heart (1986) IMDB Information
Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Beth Henley (who also wrote the screenplay) and directed by Bruce Beresford, Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, and Sissy Spacek star as three high-strung Southern sisters.
Raw Deal (1986) IMDB Information
“Raw Deal” is an action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Darren McGavin. It’s the story of a former FBI agent (Schwarzenegger) who seeks revenge against a Mafia organization by destroying it from the inside.
Date With an Angel (1987) IMDB Information
Directed by Tom McLoughlin (Billy Jack), this romantic comedy relates how a young man’s life is turned upside down when he discovers an angel in his backyard pool. It stars Michael E. Knight & Phoebe Cates.
Tune in Tomorrow (1990) IMDB Information
This romantic comedy, directed by Jon Amiel, stars Barbara Hershey, Keanu Reeves, and Peter Falk. Peter Falk plays a scriptwriter for the radio station, who incorporates the budding romance between his coworkers (Hershey and Reeves) into the script of his daily drama series.
The Road to Wellville (1994) IMDB Information
Alan Parker directed this romantic comedy starring Anthony Hopkins, Bridget Fonda, Matthew Broderick, and Dana Carvey. Set in 1907, this satire takes place in the famous Battle Creek sanitarium, known as the “temple of health”.
When We Were Colored (1996) IMDB Information
Directed by Tim Reid and based on the book by Clifton L. Taulbert, the film’s narrator tells the story of his childhood years in a tightly knit Afro-American community in the Deep South under racial segregation. Phil Lewis plays Sammy, the narrator; Al Freeman, Jr. and Phylicia Rashad star as his parents.
Kyoka (1996)
Japanese horror film
The Grave (1996) IMDB Information
Jonas Pate directed this horror film about two convicts who bust out of prison to find fortunes in a grave. It stars Craig Sheffer, Josh Charles, Gabrielle Anwar, and Anthony Michael Hall.
Traveller (1997) IMDB Information
A young man, Pat, played by Mark Wahlberg, visits the clan of gypsy-like grifters (Irish Travelers) from whom he is descended. He is at first rejected, but cousin Bokky (Bill Paxton) takes him on as an apprentice. Pat learns the game while Bokky falls in love with Julianna Marguilies’ character and desires a different life.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) IMDB Information
Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Freddie Prinze, Jr., and Muse Watson star in this teen suspense/horror. The friends accidentally hit and kill someone while they are driving drunk. Their crime comes back to haunt them the following summer when they each start receiving mysterious letters from someone who knows what they have done.
Lolita (1998) IMDB Information
Based on a novel by Vladimir Nabokov, Adrian Lane directs this remake of Stanley Kubrick’s 1962 version. Jeremy irons, Melanie Griffith, Frank Langella star with Dominique Swain as the title character. Set in 1947, a 45-year-old professor marries his landlady so he can take advantage of her 12-year-old daughter.
Shadrack (1998) IMDB Information
This drama stars Harvey Keitel, Andie McDowell, and Scott Terra. It’s a story about decency and “doing the right thing”; when all forces are saying take the easy way out. A down and out family, who are poor, discouraged and bitter, simply trying to survive, find that their hearts are bigger than they ever imagined and that compassion has no price, but rather a compelling desire to honor and respect life and its soul. Many scenes in the forests, ponds, and old cabins surrounding Orton show prominently.
Bruno (2000) IMDB Information
Shirley MacClaine does a superb job with her directorial debut. She also stars in the film, with Alex D. Linz in the tile role, Gary Sinese, and Kathy Bates. Bruno is the story of a young boy genius who has a dream/vision that he is being chased by an angel. A memorable scene of Bruno meeting with the Pope was filmed in Orton’s Scroll Garden.
Morgan’s Ferry (2000) IMDB Information
Sam Pillsbury directs this crime/drama about three escaped convicts who hide out in the home of a reclusive woman as they wait to catch a ferry. Billy Zane (Titanic), Kelly McGillis (Witness), Henry Rollins, Johnny Galecki, and Roscoe Lee Browne have the leading roles.
Black Knight (2001) IMDB Information
Martin Lawrence produced and starred in this action adventure, also starring Marsha Thomason, Tom Wilkinson, Vincent Regan, and Daryl Mitchell. A fast-talking con man (Lawrence) works at a medieval theme park. After slipping into the park’s fetid “moat”, he emerges in 14th century England – a world in shining armor, a wicked king, and damsels in distress. The majority of all the exterior scenes were shot at Orton.
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002) IMDB Information
Jodie Foster stars in this action/adventure, directed by Peter Care. Set in mid-1970s Savannah, two bright but rebellious boys fight boredom, hormones, and discipline-heavy teachers in their quest to find something meaningful beyond the walls of their parish school. Among many other scenes filmed at Orton, a beautiful one depicts a natural-habitat zoo where the children go on a field trip; many exotic animals were brought in and the “zoo” was created in the forests along the Avenue of Oaks.
The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002) IMDB Information
Callie Khouri directs an all-star cast of Ellen Burstyn, Ashley Judd, Sandra Bullock, Maggie Smith, and James Garner, in this comedy/drama that covers the life of Sidda Lee Walker from childhood to adulthood. Her tempestuous relationship with her mother, Vivi, and Vivi’s cohorts (the Ya-Ya’s) is explored. Many locations at Orton were used in the filming; the cabin where Sidda Lee is held “hostage” is on Orton Pond; a real Cajun “hoedown” takes place on the front lawn of Orton House; other outbuildings, lanes, and garden spots were used in various scenes.
A Walk to Remember (2002) IMDB Information
Adam Shankman directed this romantic drama based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks. Shane West and Mandy Moore star as two North Carolina teens, who are thrown together after he gets into trouble and has to do community service. Peter Coyote and Daryl Hannah are also featured. The wedding scene was filmed in Luola’s Chapel at Orton. Several couples, inspired by the movie, have also been married or gotten engaged in the chapel. One romantic husband clandestinely brought his wife (a huge fan of the movie) from New York to Orton to surprise her with a visit to the chapel; he had previously arranged with the Orton staff to have a personal note from him waiting in the chapel for his greatly surprised wife.
Stateside (2004) IMDB Information
Rachel Leigh Cook, Jonathan Tucker, Agnes Bruckner, Carrie Fisher, and Ed Begley, Jr. star in this romantic drama, directed by Revenge Anselmo.
The plot tells the love story of two imperfect teenagers who find perfect love.
Strike the Tent (2005) IMDB Information
Julian Adams wrote the story and the screenplay, co-directs with A. Blaine Miller, and stars in this action/romance. It’s based on the true story of the conflict between Capt. Robert Adams’ (an ancestor of Julian Adams) dedication to the south and his love for Eveline McCord, his beloved from the north. Julian Adams is a direct descendant of Robert and Eveline.
Idlewild (2006) IMDB Information
This musical is set in the Prohibition-era American South, where a speakeasy performer and club manager must contend with gangsters who have their eyes on the club. Andre Benjamin and Big Boi (both of OutKast fame) star as Percival, the performer, and Rooster, the club manager. Many scenes were shot inside Orton House and on the grounds; the dining room of the house was staged to become a funeral parlor.
The List (2006) IMDB Information
Malcolm McDowell, Chuck Carrington, Hilarie Burton, and Will Patton star in the drama directed by Robert Whitlow. In a world of secrets, where evil has reigned for over a hundred years, the power of an ancient covenant will change the life of one man forever. Orton House figures prominently in the film.
The Water is Wide (2006) IMDB Information
This drama, based on Pat Conroy’s autobiographical book of the same name, was directed by John Kent Harrison, and stars Jeff Hepner, Alfre Woodard, and Frank Langella. Set in 1969, Conroy is an idealistic young teacher whose first assignment is at a run-down school located on isolated Yamacraw Island in South Carolina. The set for the schoolhouse was built beside the Gatehouse at Orton and many other locations at Orton at Orton were used throughout the filming.
Hound Dog (2007) IMDB Information
Set in the South in 1961, a precocious girl (Dakota Fanning) overcomes the negative effects of abuse by singing and dancing like Elvis. Robin Wright Penn, David Morse, Isabelle Fuhrman, and Cody Hanford are also directed by Deborah Kampmeier. Several small cabins/huts were built at Orton as sets for the filming.
Bolden! (2008) IMDB Information
Dan Pritzker directed the drama which stars Jackie Earle Haley and Pat McMurphy. It is a mythical account of the life of Buddy Bolden, the first Cornet King of New Orleans. Many interior scenes were shot in Orton House, which was transformed to appear as belonging in New Orleans in the 1920’s; other scenes were shot in the gardens and on the grounds
Telvision Series: Windmills of the Gods (1988)
T Bone N Weasel (1992)
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992-1993)
Matlock (1986-1995)
Lovejoy (1986-1994)
Morning Glory (1993)
The Road Home (1994)
Against Her Will: The Carrie Buck Story (1994)
A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story (1994)
The Sister-in-Law (1995)
Blue River (1995)
Stolen Memories: Secrets from the Rose Garden (1996)
The Crying Child (1996)
The Summer of Ben Tyler (1996)
Hide and Seek (1996)
The Wedding (1998)
Dawson’s Creek (1998-2003)
CI5: The New Professionals (1998)
Funny Valentines (1999)
The Color of Love: Jacey’s Story (2000)
Freedom Song (2000)
The Runaway (2000)
Going to California (2001-2002)
The Locket (2002)
One Tree Hill (2003-present)
Ambrose Bierce: Civil War Stories (2004)
