Donald Strachey was created by American journalist and author Richard Lipez, who died in March 2022. He was openly gay and wrote 16 Donald Strachey Mystery novels (published between 1981 and 2019) under the nom de plume Richard Stevenson. A posthumous 17th book is to be published. Strachey lives in Albany, N.Y. with his longtime partner Timothy "Timmy" Callahan, the assistant to a New York state senator. His cases often concern the local gay community.
From 2005 to 2008, U.S. premium LGBTQ (1) 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). The last two were filmed back-to-back but On the Other Hand, Death is actually the fourth movie. 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 (2).
On the Other Hand, Death is based on the second novel (published in 1984) and was written by Gillian Horvath (Highlander: The Series, Forever Knight) and Ron McGee. Donald Strachey is tailing a woman who happens to be an undercover cop, Officer Gina Santer. She and Detective Bub Bailey interrogate Donald. He tells them a mysterious client paid him in cash to follow his unfaithful wife. Later, Timothy and Don join Tim's ex-boyfriend Andrew McWhirter, who supports a couple of lesbian friends: Dorothy Fisher, a school guidance counselor, and her partner Edith Strong. Dorothy is on paid leave because a parent accuses her of promoting homosexuality as she advises his gay son.
The couple's home is the subject of homophobic attacks, including one in presence of Strachey and Callahan. The P.I. investigates while Kenny Kwon, his assistant, searches for information on the "client". Chad Allen brings back his character with talent and class. 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 (3).
Another pleasant element of the Donald Strachey Mysteries is the presence of the irresistible Nelson Wong as the enthusiastic and irreverent Kenny Kwon. The role was a bit part in Third Man Out but Kenny returned in Shock to the System to be Donald's secretary ("office manager") and now he's training to be a private detective. 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. Margot Kidder, aka Lois Lane in the Superman movies, shines as a superheroine of her own with the role of Dorothy and Gabrielle Rose is perfect as Edith. Like the other Donald Strachey Mysteries made for television, On the Other Hand, Death is a celebration of detective fiction. Also with Damon Runyan (Andrew McWhirter), Lori Triolo (Gina Santer), William MacDonald (Jonas Baskin), Barclay Hope (Carl Deems), Kerry James (Joey Deems), Ralph Alderman (Sheriff Reg Howard), Keegan MacIntosh (Derek Baskin), David Orth (Peter Garritty), etc.
Produced by Shavick Entertainment with Here!. Exec produced by Barry Krost and Brad Danks. Produced by Paul Colichman, Stephen P. Jarchow and James Shavick. Philip Webb is the supervising producer. Music by Peter Allen. Cinematography by C. Kim Miles, CSC. Editing by Tony Dean Smith. Production designed by Rick Whitfield. Costumes designed by Karen Munnis with Katie Quinn. The superb title sequence was 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. The versatile Ron Oliver became the king of Christmas movies. Mentioned in the On the Other Hand, Death TV movie, The Trevor Project is an important suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people.
(1) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning.
(2) (3) See Bonnie Jean Mah's excellent documentary Martinis & Murder: Inside the Donald Strachey Mysteries (2009).
https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2021/09/third-man-out-donald-strachey-mystery.html (Review of Third Man Out)
https://tattard2.blogspot.com/2022/01/shock-to-system-donald-strachey-mystery.html (Review of Shock to the System)
See also:
https://www.advocate.com/politics/commentary/2005/08/15/chads-case (Chad Allen interview)
No comments:
Post a Comment