Dress Gray (1986) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Glenn Jordan

Writers:

Lucian Truscott IV (novel)
Gore Vidal (writer)

Release Date:

9 March 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

When a first-classman's insignia is found on the riverbank near the drowned body of plebe David Hand...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Military Academy | Cover Up | Plebe | Drowning

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Eddie Albert	...	Judge Hand
Patrik Baldauff	...	AIA agent
Alec Baldwin	...	Rysam 'Ry' Slaight
Jason Beghe	...	Hank Beaumont
Lloyd Bridges	...	Gen. Axel Rylander
Patrick Cassidy	...	David Hand
Richard Doyle	...	AIA agent
Cameron Dye	...	Buck
Tom Everett	...	AIA agent
Arthur French	...	AIA agent
Rick Goldman	...	Airman
David Harum	...	Cadet Barham
Patricia Herd	...	Secretary
Susan Hess	...	Elizabeth Hand
Hal Holbrook	...	Gen. Charles Hedges
Gary Kasper	...	Cullinan
Joseph Kell	...	Winant
Steve Kosko	...	Area sergeant
Louise Latham	...	Mrs. Loerna Tutwiler
Alma Martínez	...	Hedge's secretary
Peter Nelson	...	Barnes
Cecilia Peck	...	Helen
Ron Rifkin	...	Maj. Consor
Albert Salmi	...	Sgt. Oliphant
James Sikking	...	Maj. Clifford Bassett
Alexis Smith	...	Mrs. Iris Rylander
Lane Smith	...	Col. King
Timothy Van Patten	...	Lugar (as Tim van Patten)

Runtime:

192 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

New Mexico Military Academy - 101 W. College Boulevard, Roswell, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Frank von Zerneck Films

Goofs:

Continuity: During the search for Cadet Hand's body, the helicopter pilot spots the body in the river. Hand's head is above water, over a log, and his neck is arched, with his head looking forward. When the divers get to the body, Hand's head is face down in the water.

For 1986 this was daring

A new student named David Hand (Patrick Cassidy) is found murdered at the Grant Military Academy. They discover that he had sex with another man before he died. It also turns out he was in love with Rysam Slaight (Alec Baldwin) who is straight...and innocent. But the academy is trying to charge him. Then Hands' sister comes to investigate...

It may seem very tame today, but on TV in the late 1980s, gay characters didn't exist. The only reason this made it on was probably that the gay men in this are "punished" (like Hand) or hate themselves for what they did. Still, for TV, they're portrayed pretty sensitively. But the subject is tiptoed around. People talk and talk and TALK about it till you're ready to scream. Also this movie runs OVER 3 hours! There's no need for it to go that long.

Still it is well written with good performances--especially By Baldwin who was still unknown at this point. So it's kind of worth watching...but have your finger on the fast forward button through some of the endless talking. I give it a 7.