A Case of Rape

Brave television movie which makes today's Lifetime/exposé-styled films look positively harlequin. Elizabeth Montgomery is a wife and mother who is raped while her husband is out of town. At first, she is unable to report the attack to the police, her neighbor or her spouse because everyone is too busy and distracted to notice how much pain she's in--that is, until she's raped a second time by the same creep. Director Boris Sagal and writer Robert E. Thompson (working from a story by Louis Randolph, who also served as a producer), carefully go for the gut, not holding back and yet commendably handling this story without sensationalism. In speaking about the injustices that plague victims, and the degradation one must endure just to stand up for one's self, the team nimbly avoids the typical TV-movie preachiness and has created an 'ordinary' heroine in an overwhelming situation--someone we can identify with. Montgomery is very good here, no longer the nose-twitching cutie from "Bewitched" but still maintaining her charisma.

Elizabeth Montgomery's performance of a lifetime. This movie proves that 1970's "Movies of the Week" were far superior to anything made since. Liz plays a housewife raped twice by the same guy. She suffers every indignity you can think of, by the police, her supposed best friend and finally by her husband and the courts. This movies proves attorneys are scum and the why the jury system doesn't work. One really disturbing scene is where the police photographer acts like he's doing a photo session for Playboy Magazine. Another one is where her best friend actually insinuates that she kind of likes it when her husband comes home drunk and has his way with her against her will. Liz's husband in this movie is played by Ronny Cox who does an excellent job but we end up disliking him anyway. Even Liz's attorney doesn't give her much support. Excellent performances all the way around but still a sad commentary on the judicial system. Liz should have won an emmy for this and the next year as well for Lizzie Borden. Above average directing as well.

I must concur with the previous posters regarding this landmark NBC TV movie that changed the genre forever and initiated a new career and more sophisticated image for the late Elizabeth Montgomery. This television classic starred Montgomery (in a performance that should have won her an Emmy)as a housewife who gets raped twice by the same man. She does not report the 1st rape but she does report the second and the film shows the indignities this woman suffers from the courts and the insensitivity and mistrust she experiences from her husband (Ronny Cox) and her best friend (Patricia Smith). There is actually a horrific scene where Montgomery meets with best friend Smith, who actually wants details about what happened and implies that her friend might have enjoyed it. This movie pulls no punches, makes no compromises or apologies, and promises no happy endings. It was reported that when the script was first submitted to network executives, they wanted to cut the second rape. A long time friend of Ms. Montgomery stated that she responded by submitting a list of names of other actresses who might be interested in appearing in the film because she would quit if they changed the script. This is a mature, disturbing, adult movie that is so well-crafted, it could have merited theatrical release and I find it amazing that this movie is not available on video. An intelligent script, uncompromising direction by Boris Sagal, and solid supporting performances by Cox, Rosemary Murphy and Williams Daniels as the attorneys involved, and Cliff Potts as the unapologetic rapist, made this film an instant classic and it's truly criminal if this film is not available on video. All serious students and connoisseurs of great drama and superb acting should see this important and disturbing movie.

Magnificent performances by the entire cast punctuate a true story more horrifying than any horror film. All the nuances of a married woman's indignities and insults suffered after being raped are underplayed for maximum effect. Montgomery gives the performance of a lifetime, and Cox is a revelation as the feckless husband. Harris and Daniels as the attorneys provide contrast with colourful performances, and Potts' chilling rapist is the catalyst for all. A must-see for every woman in America.

Elizabeth Montgomery plays a rape victim who, when going for help, is further abused by the court system. This movie broke every rule in Hollywood and just portrayed it as it really was, and as is today in many cases. If this would have been a theatrical film, Elizabeth Montgomery would have won an Oscar. She was nominated for an Emmy, but lost out to Cicely Tyson's role in "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman." While Tyson is good in the role, I feel the Emmy should have gone to Elizabeth Montgomery. Her performance blows away everything then and now on television. I wish since her tragic passing that she be given an honorary Emmy and be presented to her husband. Surprisingly, this is not been made available on video.