Simple Gradient Method ... revisited

[qwert]

Many years ago, an example was posted of a Simple Background Gradient.

I've downloaded the script and it basically works ... except for the gradient.  There isn't any.  I suspect it's somehow related to the way the colors are defined in the object call:

$sColor = "blue", $eColor = "red"
... StartColorStr=" & $sColor & ", EndColorStr=" & $eColor ...

Can someone suggest what the problem might be?  Or is this method now obsolete?  (BTW, in the use I'm considering, I'm trying to avoid the overhead of using a GDI+ method, since nothing else on the GUI requires GDI+)

Thanks in advance for any assistance.