« You're like the first gay detective I've ever heard of. I mean, I know a couple of gay firemen but a gay detective... yeah, that's something. »
Donald Strachey was created by American journalist and author Richard Lipez, who's openly gay, under the nom de plume Richard Stevenson. Strachey lives in Albany, N.Y. with his longtime partner Timothy "Timmy" Callahan, the assistant to a New York state senator, and often investigates cases concerning the local gay community. Sixteen Donald Strachey Mystery novels were published between 1981 and 2019. Oddly, only a quarter were adapted.
From 2005 to 2008, U.S. premium LGBT channel Here TV shown four films shot in Canada and starring Chad Allen (Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman) as Donald Strachey and Sebastian Spence (First Wave) as Timothy Callahan: Third Man Out (2005), Shock to the System (2006), On the Other Hand, Death (2008) and Ice Blues (2008). All were helmed by director Ron Oliver (Queer as Folk, Psi Factor), who brought a substantial dose of his creativity to the TV versions of Richard Stevenson's books (1).
Shock to The System is based on the fifth novel (published in 1995) and was written by Ron McGee. Donald Strachey investigates the suspicious death of a young man named Paul Hale, who just hired him. Hale was the spokesman of the Phoenix Foundation for a Better Life, run by Dr. Trevor Cornell and his wife Lynne. The psychiatrist is behind a controversial "conversion therapy" programme which pretends to turn gay people straight. Phyllis Hale — Paul's homophobic mother — blames Larry Phelps, a gay college friend of his son, for his death. Donald uses his own military past to infiltrate the foundation as "Kyle Griffin", an ex-soldier discharged for being gay, and joins a group session led by Dr. Cornell.
« He asked me if he could trust me and I told him he could. If somebody murdered him, I don't really don't give a damn who they sleep with. »
While the detective seeks answers amongst the group members, his undercover work starts to cost him emotionally. Chad Allen found his marks as Donald Strachey and he's very impressive in Shock to the System. The chemistry between the gay actor (outed by a tabloid in 1996) and Sebastian Spence, who's straight and plays his role with ease, is essential to these adaptations where mystery and a film noir atmosphere are combined with romance. This romantic aspect is influenced by the Thin Man movies (1934-1947) and their husband/wife sleuth duo Nick and Nora Charles (2).
Another enjoyable element of the Donald Strachey Mysteries is the presence of the irresistible Nelson Wong as Kenny Kwon. The role was originally a bit part in Third Man Out but Kenny returns in Shock to the System, this time to be Donald's secretary ("office manager"). Since Ice Blues, the last Donald Strachey, Nelson Wong played characters named "Kenny Kwon" in a long list of Hallmark TV movies directed by Ron Oliver. Fans of both Hallmark Channel and Wong call these participations "the Kennyverse". Daryl Shuttleworth plays Albany Police Detective Bub Bailey.
Shock to the System is pure P.I. material with some humour (even self-derision) and the mandatory Martinis in the end. The film chooses to deal with the subject of conversion therapies through the psychology and the attitude of the protagonists rather than frontally. In this respect, the performances of Michael Woods as Trevor Cornell and U.S. television legend Morgan Fairchild as Phyllis are perfect. Also starring Anne-Marie DeLuise (Lynne Cornell), Nikki Gagné (Katey Simmons), Stephen Huszar (Grey), Ryan Kennedy (Walter), Jeffery Bowyer-Chapman (Levon), Shawn Roberts (Larry), etc.
Produced by Shavick Entertainment and Insight Film Studios with Here! Films. Exec produced by Barry Krost, James Shavick and Paul Colichman. Produced by Kirk Shaw. Lindsay Macadam, Randy Zalken and Stacy Belecos Shaw are the associate producers. Music by Peter Allen. I'm Over You composed by Peter Allen (lyrics by Dave Hudgins and Peter Allen) and performed by Sibel Thrasher. Cinematography by C. Kim Miles, CSC. Editing by Steve Schmidt. Production designed by Rick Whitfield.
Jeffrey Schenck is the creative consultant. Costumes designed by Sylvie Gendron. Title designed by Krista Lomax. Filmed with the participation of The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC. Chad Allen retired from acting (and production) in 2015 to become a psychologist. Though Ron Oliver helmed a genuine celebration of detective fiction when he did the Donald Strachey films, the director is hailed today as the king of Christmas movies.
https://www.advocate.com/politics/commentary/2005/08/15/chads-case (Chad Allen interview)
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-12-05/the-housewives-of-the-north-pole-kyle-richards-peacock-betsy-brandt-ron-oliver (Ron Oliver)
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