Synopsis

A New York writer travels to Savannah to cover an extravagant Christmas party hosted by wealthy antiques dealer Jim Williams. After Williams is accused of killing his young companion, the assignment becomes an investigation into the city's tightly guarded social world, eccentric personalities, racial tensions, and mysterious traditions. As the trial unfolds, the reporter finds that truth in Savannah is rarely straightforward.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film is adapted from John Berendt's 1994 nonfiction bestseller, which was inspired by a real murder case and the social life of Savannah.

• Most of the location filming took place in Savannah, Georgia, including Forsyth Park, Bonaventure Cemetery, and the Mercer House.

• Production was allowed to film inside the real Mercer House. Because the house contained valuable antiques, the original objects were removed and replaced with replicas during filming.

• The movie combines several legal proceedings from the real case into a single trial and changes some names and relationships for dramatic purposes.

• The Lady Chablis appears as herself, continuing the role she held in Berendt's book. Singer Emma Kelly and attorney Jerry Spence also play themselves.

• Sonny Seiler, who represented Jim Williams in the real case, appears as the judge in the film.

• The Christmas party scene included people who had attended Williams' actual parties, along with members of his family.

• The film was shot in Savannah from May through July 1997 and was released in the United States on November 21, 1997.

• Although the film received mixed reviews and performed poorly at the box office, its use of Savannah locations helped strengthen the city's association with film tourism.