She Stood Alone: The Tailhook Scandal (1995) Gail O'Grady, Bess Armstrong, Cameron Bancroft, Matt Clark, Hal Holbrook Movie Review

She Stood Alone: The Tailhook Scandal (1995)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Gail O'Grady in She Stood Alone: The Tailhook Scandal (1995)

Taking on the Navy

As a female aviator in the Navy, Lt. Paula Coughlin (Gail O'Grady) is use to a certain level of sexism as the establishment is still full of old school mentality with many disagreeing with women being allowed to fly. But during a convention at Tailhook Paula feels the full force of the sexism when she is sexually harassed by numerous men during a party and if she hadn't put up a fight believed they would have raped her. After reporting it to her immediate superior nothing seems to be done and with others telling her she should just accept it as the forces look after her own Paula is forced to take matters further, fortunately finding support from Admiral Kelso (Hal Holbrook).

I don't know anything about the true story behind "She Stood Alone: The Tailhook Scandal" and as such I cannot commentate on the authenticity of this made for TV dramatisation. What I can say is that whilst inspired by a true story "She Stood Alone: The Tailhook Scandal" ends up quite a typical movie when you break it down to its two issues. The first of which is the sexual harassment and we get served up the familiar aspects of well what do you expect and was she dressed provocatively, whilst we also get those close to the victim actually turning on her for making what they see is a fuss.

Hal Holbrook in She Stood Alone: The Tailhook Scandal (1995)

Then there is the other side of "She Stood Alone: The Tailhook Scandal" with the forces have an honour code and they police themselves. Basically we see how the forces close ranks and the whole making what happened public opens up a whole can of worms. The thing is that yes this tells a true story but all the parts of it are sadly familiar and have been covered in many other movies often more effectively. It still gets across the story but it makes it the sort of movie which prompts you to think of the other movies which have covered similar points.

What this all boils down to is that maybe "She Stood Alone: The Tailhook Scandal" is more powerful for those who know the true story but for others it is a movie which ends up covering familiar points which have been explored in other movies. It doesn't make it a bad movie but it does make it one which doesn't stand out from the crowd.


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