Rob Price
Based on a series of books written by Richard Stevenson starting in the early 1980s and continuing to the present, with the latest book being released in 2019, four movies for Here TV were produced between 2005 and 2008. The films starred Chad Allen as Don Strachey, a gay detective in Albany, New York. Chad is a former child star having main cast credits in 1986-88s Our House, 1989-90s My Two Dads, and 1993 to 1998s Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. As well as guest starring roles on several television series throughout the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. In 1996, Chad was outed as gay by the U.S. tabloid “The Globe”, which published photos of him kissing another man. Forced into the limelight, Allen became an activist for the LGBT community.
Gay detective fiction isn’t new, but it isn’t exactly mainstream. George Baxt is credited with being the first writer to publish a series of books with a gay sleuth as the lead in 1966. Joseph Hansen is probably the best known author having created the Dave Brandstetter mysteries in 1970, which continued through the 1990s. There are many more, but few have become household names. Many books are critically acclaimed and award winning, but few break out into mainstream media.
My lifelong love for all things Sci-fi, Fantasy and Horror is only rivaled by my love for a good mystery. I especially love quirky British and Australian television shows like The Miss Fisher Mysteries, Jonathan Creek, and Midsomer Murders. As well the tried and true classics of Agatha Christy. I even enjoy some of the Hallmark Channels mystery programs. Being an out and proud gay man, the fact that there is a few detectives out there that I can relate to on a more personal level, is very meaningful for me. And even though it is limited to only four movies, I really enjoy the Don Strachey mysteries.
Don Strachey is an ex-Army soldier who was dishonorably discharged when he was caught in a compromising position with another male soldier. For those that are too young, there was a time where gay men and woman were not allowed to serve in the U.S. Armed forces without hiding who we were (another aspect that is very close to my heart as a Navy Veteran who served during “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue”). Don is a tough, hard boiled PI, who has been through a lot. His cynicism is foiled by his partner Tim (Sebastian Spence) who works for a senator. Tim is the optimist, with a more upper-class sense of style. The two make an adorable couple and are a perfect match to each other. Don plays against stereotypes, and does suffer from some internal conflicts about his life as a gay man. I applaud the show, for allowing a character to just be themselves and not overlay societies expectations. I also applaud the production in casting an actual gay man in the lead. I am unsure of the orientation of the other cast members, but Chad’s outing is well documented as stated above.
The four stories that were adapted go out of order from how they were written. The first book to be converted was Third Man Out in 2005, which is based on Stevenson’s fourth book written in 1992. Next was Shock to the System in 2006, which was based on the fifth book (1995). Then came On the Other Hand, Death which was the second book written in 1984, and finally, Ice Blues, which was the third book in the series, written in 1986. I actually find it interesting that the first book in the series, was not one of the ones chosen to be adapted to the small screen.
Most of the books that were adapted, deal in some way with the gay community. Third Man Out deals with a client, a gay man who is notorious for “outing” the rich and famous before they are ready to out themselves. Shock to the System deals with the death of a gay man who was part of a gay conversion program. This is an emotional story, where Don is undercover, and his own past begins to catch up to him. On the Other Hand, Death sees Don helping a lesbian couple who is being targeted with anti-gay vandalism as well as dealing with gay youth who have homophobic parents. Ice Blues has the least connection to the gay community, the story surrounds a corrupt law firm and their relationship to an underground underage porn studio who film both gay and straight teenagers off the streets having sex.
As for the production value, it is what you would expect from a cable TV channel. It is well done, but not going to win any Oscars or Emmys. The movies do have a much more polished look than you usually find on Here! TV. The lighting is well done, playing a lot on light and shadow, giving the feel of an old Bogart film. The acting is good, the plots are interesting and intriguing with enough mystery and action to keep your attention. Plenty of chases, fist fights and gun fire. The performances are all good and the character dynamics are fun with some clever witty banter. Nothing is too heavy hitting, which makes for a nice escape.
