You remember the late nineties, right? It was a weird, transitionary time for movies. Before everything became a superhero franchise or a gritty reboot, we had these lush, unapologetic romantic dramas that leaned hard into "destiny" and "star-crossed lovers." If you’ve been scouring the internet for A Secret Affair 1999 movie, you’re likely looking for that specific hit of nostalgia that only a Made-for-TV movie from that era can provide. It stars Janine Turner, fresh off her Northern Exposure fame, and Paudge Behan. It’s based on a Barbara Taylor Bradford novel. It’s pure, unadulterated escapism.
But why are people still searching for it decades later? Honestly, it’s because the "romance in Venice" trope never actually gets old.
What the A Secret Affair 1999 Movie Is Actually About
Let’s get the plot straight. Janine Turner plays Vanessa Stewart. She’s a high-flying art buyer or business executive—the kind of "career woman" role that 1990s cinema loved to put in sensible turtlenecks. She’s engaged to a guy back in the States who is, predictably, a bit of a stiff. He's safe. He's fine. He’s the guy you marry when you want a quiet life, but not the guy you marry if you want your soul to catch fire.
Then comes Venice.
She meets Bill Fitzgerald (played by Behan), an Irish war correspondent. He’s the polar opposite of her fiancé. He’s rugged. He’s seen things. He’s got that "I might die tomorrow so let’s live today" energy that is basically catnip for a woman in a stifling engagement. They have a whirlwind romance. It’s "secret" because, well, she’s still technically engaged. They promise to meet again in a year.
It sounds like a cliché. It kinda is. But in the context of 1999, this was peak Sunday night television.
The Barbara Taylor Bradford Connection
You can’t talk about A Secret Affair 1999 movie without mentioning the source material. Barbara Taylor Bradford is a legend in the "glamour and heartbreak" genre. Her books aren't just about love; they’re about women finding their own power, usually while surrounded by expensive furniture and beautiful scenery.
Vanessa Stewart isn't just a victim of her emotions. She's a woman making a choice between the life she should want and the life she actually wants. This movie adaptation, directed by Bobby Roth, captures that specific Bradford "vibe"—high stakes, heavy sighs, and beautiful lighting. Roth was a seasoned TV director who knew exactly how to make a budget look like a million bucks.
Why Janine Turner Was the Perfect Choice
Janine Turner had this incredible vulnerability in the late 90s. We all knew her as Maggie O'Connell, the tough-talking bush pilot, but in this movie, she gets to be soft. She gets to be conflicted.
Her performance carries the film. Without her, it’s just another TV movie. With her, you actually care if she makes it back to the bridge in Venice to meet Bill. You feel the weight of her secret.
Paudge Behan, meanwhile, brings a very specific Irish charm. He’s the son of Kathleen Behan and the nephew of the famous writer Brendan Behan, so the guy has storytelling in his blood. His chemistry with Turner is what makes the "secret" part of the affair feel earned rather than just scandalous.
The Production Reality of 1999 TV Movies
Let’s be real for a second. This wasn't a $100 million blockbuster. It was a movie made for CBS.
Back then, the "Movie of the Week" was a staple of American culture. Families would sit down at 9:00 PM to watch these stories. They were filmed quickly—often on 35mm film, which is why they still look surprisingly good today compared to the digital soap opera look of the early 2000s.
- The filming locations in Venice weren't sets. They were the real deal.
- The fashion is peak 1999: structured blazers, neutral tones, and subtle hair flips.
- The music is sweeping and sentimental.
There’s a certain warmth to the color palette of A Secret Affair 1999 movie. It’s golden. It’s hazy. It feels like a memory, which is fitting because the story is told through the lens of a life-changing encounter.
The "Meet Me in a Year" Trope: Why It Still Works
We’ve seen it in An Affair to Remember. We’ve seen it in Before Sunrise. The "let's meet at a specific place in a year and see if we still feel this way" plot device is a classic for a reason. It creates immediate tension. It removes the mundanity of "real life" from the relationship.
In this movie, the stakes are elevated because Bill is a war correspondent. When he goes back to his job in a conflict zone, the silence between them is deafening. Vanessa is back in her organized, safe life, but she's haunted by the "what ifs."
Critics at the time might have called it "saccharine," but audiences loved it. There’s a specific kind of emotional truth in the idea that you can meet a stranger and, within 48 hours, realize your entire life is a lie.
Where Can You Even Watch It Now?
This is the frustrating part for fans of A Secret Affair 1999 movie. Because it was a TV movie produced by Adelson Entertainment and CBS, it’s not always sitting on the major streaming platforms like Netflix or Max.
Usually, you have to hunt for it. It occasionally pops up on:
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- YouTube: Sometimes uploaded in parts by nostalgic fans (though these get taken down for copyright).
- DVD: You can often find used copies on eBay or Amazon. It was released as part of various "Barbara Taylor Bradford Collection" sets.
- Ad-supported streamers: Sites like Tubi or Pluto TV often cycle through these 90s romance libraries.
If you’re a collector, the physical DVD is the way to go. The digital versions floating around are often low-resolution rips from VHS tapes.
Addressing the "Secret" Ending (Spoilers Ahead)
Most people searching for this movie want to know if it has a happy ending.
Without giving away every single beat, it’s a Barbara Taylor Bradford story. That means there will be tears. There will be a massive misunderstanding or a tragic twist of fate. In this case, Bill’s job as a journalist puts him in extreme danger. The "secret" isn't just their affair; it's the hidden life they try to build in the gaps between their real responsibilities.
The ending is bittersweet. It’s not a "they lived happily ever after in a suburban house" kind of vibe. It’s more of a "their love changed them forever" kind of vibe. That’s why it sticks with you. It’s more realistic about the costs of such an affair than a standard rom-com would be.
Cultural Impact and Similar Movies
Was this movie a "game changer" for cinema? No. But it represents a lost art form. We don't really make mid-budget adult romances anymore. Everything is either a massive spectacle or a tiny indie film. A Secret Affair 1999 movie occupied that comfortable middle ground.
If you like this, you should probably check out:
- A Memory in My Heart (1999) - Also starring Janine Turner.
- The Bridges of Madison County - For that similar "brief encounter" energy.
- Message in a Bottle (1999) - Very much in the same atmospheric vein.
The Realistic Legacy of the Film
Looking back, the movie is a time capsule. It captures a world before smartphones, where a "secret" could actually stay secret. If Vanessa and Bill met today, they’d be checking each other's Instagram stories. They’d be "seen" on WhatsApp. The tension of not knowing if the other person is alive or still cares would be gone.
That lack of connectivity is what makes the 1999 setting so vital. The distance felt real. The silence felt permanent.
Actionable Steps for Fans and New Viewers
If you are looking to revisit this classic or watch it for the first time, here is the most practical way to handle it.
- Check the Library: Use Worldcat.org to see if a local library has the "Barbara Taylor Bradford's A Secret Affair" DVD. Many regional libraries keep these sets in their "Classic TV" sections.
- Verify the Version: Ensure you aren't confusing it with the 2011 movie A Secret Affair (a Filipino romantic drama) or the various other films with similar titles. Look specifically for the 1999 copyright and Janine Turner’s name on the credits.
- Set a Google Alert: Since this title frequently moves between minor streaming services, set a "Google Alert" for the movie title. You'll get an email the moment it gets licensed by a platform like Prime Video or Hallmark Movies Now.
- Read the Book: If you can't find the film, the novel by Barbara Taylor Bradford offers significantly more interiority into Vanessa's character. It explains her motivations for the affair much more deeply than the 96-minute runtime of the movie allows.