Ice Blues: A Donald Strachey Mystery *** (2008, Chad Allen, Sebastian Spence, Nelson Wong, Daryl Shuttleworth) – Classic Movie Review 12,822

Chad Allen (born June 5, 1974).

A gay gumshoe who loves mysteries, Martinis and his man. What’s not to like?

The robust and entertaining 2008 mystery film Ice Blues stars Chad Allen as gay detective Donald Strachey, caught up in deceit and danger when he is asked by his life partner Tim (Sebastian Spence) to investigate a mysterious donation to a youth centre.

The robust and entertaining 2008 gay-themed mystery TV film Ice Blues stars Chad Allen as gay detective Donald Strachey, caught up in a web of deceit and danger when he is asked by his life partner Tim (Sebastian Spence) to investigate a mysterious donation to a youth centre.

In-demand private detective Strachey lives in Albany, New York, with his partner Timothy Callahan, a legislative aide to a New York state senator.

It is the third adaptation of one of Richard Stevenson’s Donald Strachey novels, though it was the fourth and final film to be released, so that On the Other Hand, Death was released before Ice Blues. Sticking to its core mystery, it is the least gay film of the four-movie series. It is slickly made and well acted, and the retro old-style mystery plot is engrossing and satisfying, making it a good episode in a strong and thoroughly enjoyable film series.

It is directed by Emmy-nominated Canadian-born director Ron Oliver, featuring fictional detective Donald Strachey. Allen and Spence are the welcome recurring series stars, but also both returning are Nelson Wong as Kenny Kwon and Daryl Shuttleworth as Detective ‘Bub’ Bailey, both promoted to have a bit more to do in the plot.

Allegedly there were production problems. The producers sought substantial revisions to the novel’s plot, and plans to shoot in May 2007 had to be shelved until December as the Ice Blues story unfolds in winter.

Chad Allen as Donald Strachey.

Ice Blues was screened in Canada in the summer of 2008 on the pay station Super Channel, and premiered in the US on 5 September 2008 on the Here! TV network.

The film was nominated for the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series.

Canadian film and TV production company Shavick Entertainment has adapted four of the Donald Strachey books into films. The Donald Strachey films are Third Man Out (2005), Shock to the System (2006), On the Other Hand, Death (2008), and Ice Blues (2008).

Kenny Kwon, played by Nelson Wong, is an original character developed for the films. Strachey first meets him at the Parmalee Plaza Hotel, and trashes Kwon’s boss’s office while working on a case.

The cast are Chad Allen as Donald Strachey, Sebastian Spence as Timmy Callahan, Nelson Wong as Kenny Kwon, Daryl Shuttleworth as Detective ‘Bub’ Bailey, Brittney Wilson as Lilah / Amy, Spencer Maybee as Eric Lenigan, Myron Natwick as Brian Lenigan, Sebastien Roberts as Frank Zaillian, Jason Poulsen as Jake Lenigan, Ulla Friis as Kelly, Sherry Miller as Joan Lenigan, Adrian Holmes as Somerville, P Lynn Johnson as Senator Lauren Platt, Taras Kostyuk as Darwin, Christian Tessier as Skopes, Gordon Tipple as Arnie Targeson, Alfonso Quijada as Director, Michael Jonsson as Officer Morris, Chantal Forde as Annette, Reese Alexander as Police Officer, and Joe Dall’Antonia as Pilot.

Ice Blues is directed by Ron Oliver, is made by Shavick Entertainment, is written by Ron McGee, based on Richard Stevenson’s 1986 novel, is produced by James Shavick, and is shot by C Kim Miles.

Richard Stevenson [Richard Stevenson Lipez] (November 30, 1938 – March 16, 2022) was an American journalist and mystery author, best known for his Donald Strachey mysteries. They are Death Trick (1981), On the Other Hand, Death (1984), Ice Blues (1986), Third Man Out (1992), Shock to the System (1995), Chain of Fools (1996), Strachey’s Folly (1998), Tongue Tied (2003), Death Vows (2008), The 38 Million Dollar Smile (2009), Cockeyed (2010), Red White Black and Blue (2011), The Last Thing I Saw (2012), Why Stop at Vengeance (2015), WWW.Dropdead (2016), and Killer Reunion (2019).

Lipez was openly gay and married Joe Wheaton in 2004.

In April 2015, Chad Allen told a YouTube video he had quit his acting career to become a clinical psychologist. He said Strachey is the first gay character he played outside the theatre.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,822

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