When He's Not a Stranger
When He's Not a Stranger | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Genre | Drama |
Teleplay by | John Gray Beth Sullivan |
Story by | Josephine Cummings Richard Yalem Beth Sullivan |
Directed by | John Gray |
Starring | Annabeth Gish John Terlesky Kevin Dillon |
Music by | Mark Snow |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producer | Don Ohlmeyer |
Producers | Karen Danaher-Dorr Ian Sander |
Production location | California |
Cinematography | Mike Fash |
Editor | Edward R. Abroms |
Running time | 100 minutes |
Production companies | Ohlmeyer Communications Company World International Network |
Original release | |
Network | CBS |
Release | November 6, 1989 (1989-11-06) |
When He's Not a Stranger is a 1989 American made-for-TV crime drama film directed by John Gray and starring Annabeth Gish and John Terlesky. The story, a stark dramatization of "acquaintance rape," is about a college freshman who is physically and sexually assaulted by a controlling football jock, and addresses the ordeal that rape victims experience.[1]
Background
When He's Not a Stranger was released amid a wave of TV shows and movies addressing rape.[2] Specifically, the film addressed acquaintance rape, a depiction that scholars Carol Bohmer and Andrea Parrott called a "landmark."[1]
The movie was originally to be broadcast on October 17, 1989 but was pushed to November 6th of that year because of coverage surrounding the earthquakes in Northern California.[3]
Plot
At Woodward University, a football-oriented California school, Lyn McKenna is raped by her best friend's abusive, controlling boyfriend, football star Ron Cooper. Lyn is hesitant to reveal this information as she fears that doing so will create social backlash and worsen the aftermath of her experience. However, continued threats from Ron and his fellow football teammates drive Lyn to desperate action. She requests that the school hold a disciplinary hearing against Ron and ultimately demands that a district attorney prosecute.
Cast
- Annabeth Gish ... Lyn McKenna
- John Terlesky ... Ron Cooper
- Kevin Dillon ... Rick
- Kim Myers ... Melaine Fairchild
- Stephen Elliott ... Attorney Foster
- Paul Dooley ... Ben McKenna
- Micole Mercurio ... Emily McKenna
- Allan Arbus ... Judge Thomas J. Gray
- John M. Jackson ... Woodward University Coach
Critical reception
When He's Not a Stranger received mixed reviews. USA Today called the film "schlock" composed of "hokey us-against-them scenarios."[4] The Los Angeles Times, while acknowledging the serious subject matter, "criticized the film's "simple-minded characterizations and elementary insights."[5] More positive were The New York Times, which said the film "maintains a surprisingly hard edge" and noted its treatment of class issues,[3] and The Washington Post, which praised Gish's performance especially.[6] New York also praised the performances.[7]
Some reviewers found the film exploitative. A Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed wrote that the graphic scenes leading up to Lyn's assault "hardly serve an educational function," and argued that they were intended to boost ratings with salacious content rather than to raise awareness.[8]
References
- ^ a b Bohmer, Carol; Parrot, Andrea (1993). Sexual Assault on Campus: The Problem and the Solution. Lexington Books. p. 9. ISBN 9780029037157. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ Shales, Tom (22 November 1989). "The Calm After the Storm". Philadelphia Daily News. ProQuest 1834407726.
- ^ a b O'Connor, John J. (6 November 1989). "College Student Raped by an Acquaintance". The New York Times. ProQuest 427443698.
- ^ Roush, Matt (17 October 1989). "'Stranger': When a movie is overdone". USA Today. ProQuest 306245551.
- ^ Letofsky, Irv (17 October 1989). "Gish Confronted With Date Rape in 'Not a Stranger". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 280824264.
- ^ Shales, Tom (17 October 1989). "Chilling 'Stranger';On CBS, a Resolute Portrayal of Date Rape". The Washington Post. ProQuest 307201419.
- ^ Leonard, John (23 October 1989). "Young and Innocent". New York. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ Kristol, Elizabeth (22 November 1989). "TV's Real Message Is Sexploitation". Philadelphia Inquirer. ProQuest 1834449124.
External links
- When He's Not a Stranger at IMDb
- When He's Not a Stranger at AllMovie
- v
- t
- e
- Billy Galvin (1986)
- When He's Not a Stranger (1989)
- A Place for Annie (1994)
- Born to Be Wild (1995)
- The Glimmer Man (1996)
- The Day Lincoln Was Shot (1998)
- The Hunley (1999)
- Brian's Song (2001)
- Martin and Lewis (2002)
- Helter Skelter (2004)
- White Irish Drinkers (2010)
![]() | This article related to an American TV movie is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e
![]() | This article about a crime drama film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e