Alexander: The Other side of Dawn (1977)
Groundbreaking for TV,

Director
John Erman

Writer
Walter Dallenbach screenplay
Walter Dallenbach story
Dalene Young story

Producer
Wilfred Lloyd Baumes producer
Douglas S. Cramer executive producer

Cast
Jean Hagen,Leigh McCloskey, Eve Plumb,Juliet Mills

Review by Wayne Malin

Sequel to “Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Prostitute” (which I never saw). Alexander (Leigh McCloskey) is a teenager who has been thrown out of his home in Oklahoma. He goes to California and (almost immediately) becomes a str8 male prostitute. He falls for Dawn (Eve Plumb!) who is a hooker. He gets her away from her pimp and sends her away until he can make it on his own. But he’s 17, no high school graduation and his prostitution is known about. He ends up being “kept” by closeted gay football player Chuck Selby (Alan Feinstein). But can he leave and ever get back to Dawn?

“Dawn…” came out a year before this and was a ratings blockbuster. This was rushed into production and released but it wasn’t the success “Dawn” was. For 1977 TV however, this was groundbreaking. It shows gay teens in a “rap” session talking openly about their families rejecting them–the dialogue is tame but the characters are shown in a sympathetic light. Also when Alex lives with Chuck it’s pretty obvious that they must be having sex (although it’s never shown). That may seem like nothing today but for 1977 that was pretty shocking.

The acting is actually not bad. McCloskey is a little bland at times and he seems nervous at playing the role but he comes through every once and a while. His plea at court at the end is actually pretty moving. He’s obviously in his 20s (he was 24 when this was made) but he still could pass for 17. Feinstein is good is his role and Juliet Mills has a nice bit part. Also it was shocking to see Jean Hagen looking so bad and frail and sounding so bad (but she was ill at the time). She even mocks her Hollywood image (the picture on the wall behind her IS actually her). Top-billed Eve Plumb is hardly in this.

This all has a totally unbelievable but somewhat satisfying Hollywood ending. I got a copy from a friend on DVD–the print is in poor shape. The picture was blurry and the color faded. The sound was strong and clear. This needs a total makeover. Still, see it if you get the chance. Ahead of its time. I give it an 8.