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*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; Kevin Dillon; Kim Myers; John Terlesky
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

When He's Not a Stranger is a 1989 American made-for-TV crime drama film directed by John Gray and starring Annabeth Gish, Kevin Dillon, Kim Myers, and John Terlesky. The story 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] The movie was originally planned to be broadcast on October 17, 1989, but was delayed due to coverage surrounding the earthquakes in Northern California.^[2] The film premiered on CBS on November 6, 1989.

When He's Not a Stranger was released amid a wave of TV shows and movies addressing rape.^[3] The film specifically addressed acquaintance rape, with scholars Carol Bohmer and Andrea Parrott calling it a "landmark" for doing so.^[1]

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 as Lyn McKenna
John Terlesky as Ron Cooper
Kevin Dillon as Rick
Kim Myers as Melaine Fairchild
Stephen Elliott as Attorney Foster
Paul Dooley as Ben McKenna
Micole Mercurio as Emily McKenna
Allan Arbus as Judge Thomas J. Gray
John M. Jackson as Woodward University Coach

Critical reception

When He's Not a Stranger received mixed reviews. Matt Roush of USA Today called the film "schlock" composed of "hokey us-against-them scenarios."^[4] Irv Letofsky of 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' John J. O'Connor, who said the film "maintains a surprisingly hard edge" and noted its treatment of class issues,^[2] and The Washington Post's Tom Shales, who praised Gish's performance especially.^[6] John Leonard of 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 May 18, 2023.
^ ^a ^b O'Connor, John J. (November 6, 1989). "College Student Raped by an Acquaintance". The New York Times. ProQuest 427443698.
^ Shales, Tom (November 22, 1989). "The Calm After the Storm". Philadelphia Daily News. ProQuest 1834407726.
^ Roush, Matt (October 17, 1989). "'Stranger': When a movie is overdone". USA Today. ProQuest 306245551.
^ Letofsky, Irv (October 17, 1989). "Gish Confronted With Date Rape in 'Not a Stranger". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 280824264.
^ Shales, Tom (October 17, 1989). "Chilling 'Stranger';On CBS, a Resolute Portrayal of Date Rape". The Washington Post. ProQuest 307201419.
^ Leonard, John (October 23, 1989). "Young and Innocent". New York. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
^ Kristol, Elizabeth (November 22, 1989). "TV's Real Message Is Sexploitation". Philadelphia Inquirer. ProQuest 1834449124.