Hostile Advances
Hostile Advances: The Kerry Ellison Story is a 1996 American made-for-television drama film based on Ellison v. Brady, a landmark sexual harassment case. This lawsuit set the precedent for the "reasonable woman" standard in sexual harassment law which allows for cases to be analyzed from the perspective of the complainant and not the defendant.[citation needed] The movie stars Rena Sofer and is directed by Allan Kroeker. Written by Layce Gardner and produced for Lifetime Television.
| Hostile Advances | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Hostile Advances: The Kerry Ellison Story |
| Written by | Layce Gardner |
| Directed by | Allan Kroeker |
| Starring | Rena Sofer Victor Garber Karen Allen |
| Music by | Micky Erbe Maribeth Solomon |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Diana Kerew Carol Trussell |
| Producers | Julian Marks Clara George |
| Cinematography | François Protat |
| Editor | Jane Morrison |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Production companies | The Diana Kerew Company Hearst Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | Lifetime |
| Release | May 27, 1996 |
Plot edit
Kerry Ellison (Rena Sofer) has a good job at an office of the Internal Revenue Service. She is happy. All goes well, until Jack Gilcrest (Victor Garber) develops an interest in her. He starts stalking her—following her, and writing her sexually tense notes. Kerry makes it clear multiple times that she is not interested in him. Even when Kerry is transferred to another division, Jack's stalking does not diminish. He returns and threatens Kerry so much, she begins to get anxiety attacks. Kerry's bosses dismiss Jack's obsession as harmless, and her labor union refuses to deal with the problem. Kerry files a sexual harassment suit against her employers, who subsequently put her through hell.
Cast edit
- Rena Sofer as Kerry Ellison
- Victor Garber as Jack Gilcrest
- Karen Allen as Margaret
- Maria Ricossa as Liz
- Réal Andrews as Joey Westley
- Sean McCann as Mr. Ellison
- Patricia Gage as Mrs. Ellison
- David Nerman as Sam
- Bernard Behrens as Judge Gaffney
- Sherry Miller as Jean
- Richard Fitzpatrick as Hastings
- Karl Pruner as Alex
- Don Francks as Marty
See also edit
- Sexual harassment
- Stalking
- North Country film about Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Co., the first sexual harassment class action lawsuit
External links edit
- Hostile Advances at IMDb
- Ellison v. Brady U.S. Court of Appeals document