{{Short description|1986 Canadian-American drama film}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox television | image = Truthalex.jpg | caption = | based_on = {{Based on|''Counterplay''|Ann Synder<br/>Louis Pelletier}} | writer = Craig Storper | director = Paul Shapiro | starring = {{ubl|Scott Baio|Peter Spence}} | music = Fred Mollin | country = {{ubl|United States|Canada}} | language = English | executive_producer = {{ubl|John Brunton|Jane Startz|John Matoian}} | producer = Martin Harbury | location = Oshawa, Ontario | editor = {{Nowrap|Margaret Van Eerdewijk}} | cinematography = | runtime = 49 minutes | company = {{ubl|Insight Productions|Scholastic Productions}} | network = Global | network2 = HBO | released = {{Start date|1986}} | released2 = {{Start date|1987}} }}
'''''The Truth About Alex''''' is a 1986 Canadian-American made-for-television drama film directed by Paul Shapiro. The movies stars Scott Baio as Brad and Peter Spence as Alex. It is based on the book ''Counterplay'' by Ann Snyder and Louis Pelletier. The film aired on Global TV in Canada in 1986 and in the United States on HBO in 1987.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Truth About Alex |url=https://insighttv.com/production/the-truth-about-alex/ |website=Insight Productions}}</ref> The movie received a 1987 Gemini Award for Best Short Drama and one for Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series and was nominated for two additional awards. The film also received a CINE Golden Eagle Award and a CableACE Award.
==Plot== Brad is the star quarterback headed for West Point. His best friend Alex is the team's wide receiver and a gifted pianist. When Alex stops at a local gas station's bathroom during a jog, a trucker makes a pass at Alex. When the teenager resists, the trucker beats him up and spits on him, and accuses Alex of putting the moves on him. A panicked Alex tells Brad what happened, who suggests calling the police, but Alex is reluctant to, and eventually tells Brad the reason why is because he is gay. Once the truth about Alex begins to spread at his school, both of them are faced with bigotry from their homophobic coach and teammates. And Brad's girlfriend Kay is not happy either because she resents how his friendship with Alex is affecting their social status as the schools coolest couple. Brad's father, Major Stevens orders him to stay away from Alex, because it could jeopardize his commission to West Point, while Alex's mom and dad are completely supportive of their son. In the end, at the big game to secure the school's winning record, Brad throws a pass to Alex, which scores the touchdown that wins the game. Brad defies his father and refuses to end his friendship with Alex.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tropiano |first1=Stephen |title=The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV |date=2002 |publisher=Applause Theatre & Cinema Books |isbn=1-55783-557-8|pages=169–170 |location=New York|url=https://archive.org/details/primetimecloseta00trop/mode/2up|oclc=606827696|lccn=2002003220 }}</ref>
==Cast== *Scott Baio as Brad Stevens *Peter Spence as Alex Prager *Jessica Steen as Kay *Robin Ward as Mr. Prager *Elva Mai Hoover as Mrs. Prager *Michael J. Reynolds as Major Stevens *J. Winston Carroll as Coach McAveely *Barry Greene as Truck Driver *Peter Millard as Sheriff *Tim Burd as Bartender *Polli Magaro as Marsha *Jeremy Ratchford as Dutch *Kelly Rowan as Ellie Sanders *Ivan Beaulieu as Billy *Donald Burda as Robin
==Critical reception== Will Kohler wrote in his review that the movie "has all the trappings of an after-school special — the stern military dad, the gruff coach, peer-pressure anguish, the big game, but let’s remember that it was 1986 when this movie was made...and while it did try, it fell flat for not offering any romantic hope for Alex, whose less-than-uplifting connections with the gay community range from a fag-bashing at the hands of a closeted truck driver to a wistful conversation with a guy at a stereotypical gay bar, but for its time it does make a painfully earnest plea for tolerance."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kohler |first1=Will |title=LGBT Video Flashback - Watch The Truth About Alex Starring Scott Biao (1986) |url=http://www.back2stonewall.com/2012/01/lgbt-video-flashback-watch-the-truth-alex-starring-scott-biao-1986.html |website=Back2Stonewall |date=January 12, 2012}}</ref>
Brian Dillard wrote in TV Guide that the movie "actually carried a fairly groundbreaking gay-rights message upon its release...but its portrayal of Alex's plight is no more formulaic than any number of theatrical features that crowded art houses during the indie film boon of the 1990s." He was impressed with the acting, saying "Peter Spence turns in a sensitive performance, while Scott Baio proves singularly suited to play Brad."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dillard |first1=Brian J. |title=The Truth About Alex Review |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-truth-about-alex/review/2000021968/ |website=TV Guide }}</ref> Steven Capsuto wrote in his book, that the movie is "one of the only TV dramas about a gay teen who is self-assured and secure in his identity from the start, and whose parents accept him when they find out...and that Brad crosses his coach, his girlfriend, his teammates and his father to be a loyal best friend."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Capsuto |first1=Steven|url=https://archive.org/details/alternatechannel00stev/page/n3/mode/2up |title=Alternate Channels: The Uncensored Story of Gay and Lesbian Images on Radio and Television |date=2000 |publisher=Ballantine Books |location=New York |isbn=0-345-41243-5 |pages=233–234|lccn=00104495|oclc=44596808}}</ref>
==Nominations and awards== * Gemini Award for Best Short Drama ('''winner''') * Gemini Award for Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series ('''winner''') * Gemini Award for Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series (nominated) * Gemini Award for Best Sound in a Dramatic Program or Series (nominated) * CINE Golden Eagle Award ('''winner''')<ref>{{cite web|title=CINE Golden Eagle Film & Video Competition, 1987 Directory|page=15 |url=http://www.cine.org/directories/1987-CINE-Winner-Directory.pdf |access-date=February 1, 2007|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927174145/http://www.cine.org/directories/1987-CINE-Winner-Directory.pdf |archive-date=September 27, 2007|publisher=Council on International Nontheatrical Events }}</ref> * CableACE Award Children's Entertainment Special or Series ('''winner''')<ref>{{cite web |title=Truth About Alex, The (TV) |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=about&p=11&item=T:14278 |website=The Paley Center For Media}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|id=tt0156143|title=The Truth About Alex}} *''[https://web.archive.org/web/20220819123459/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b77d8727f The Truth About Alex]'' at BFI * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156143/awards The Truth About Alex Awards]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Truth About Alex, The}} Category:1986 drama films Category:1986 films Category:1986 LGBTQ-related films Category:1986 television films Category:American LGBTQ-related television episodes Category:American LGBTQ-related television films Category:Canadian LGBTQ-related television episodes Category:Canadian LGBTQ-related television films Category:Canadian Screen Award–winning television shows Category:English-language Canadian films Category:Gay-related films Category:HBO Films films Category:Films based on American novels Category:1980s LGBTQ-related drama films Category:Television series by Insight Productions Category:American drama television films Category:Canadian drama television films Category:1986 American films Category:1986 Canadian films Category:Canadian LGBTQ-related short films Category:Canadian teen LGBTQ-related films Category:American teen LGBTQ-related films Category:1986 English-language films