Gripping story with well-crafted characters

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

For it's time, this was a break-through movie. Montgomery always seemed like she wanted to tackle more taboo subject matter like this, Lizzie Borden, Belle Starr (she's not wearing a bra in the final scene) the movie with OJ (wow), there was all but even a hint that Serena would be overly risqué to an extent.And there were problems in how women were handled in instances such as these. All In The family had to show that it wasn't just beautiful young women who were victimized, and an episode of Alice (of all shows!) had Alice questioned as tho she encouraged a flasher by the clothes she wore.Yet here, we have Montgomery rather badgered all around her, but having just watched it, I cant' help but feel she did things incorrectly one time and stood up later when she should have done this sooner.She hangs up the phone when she tried to report the initial attack, but later has no problem confronting the neighbor lady about 'enjoying' the sexual force ("Why don't you come down to the courtroom and listen to all the details, if that turns you on?") and she challenges her husband and the other guy who are blaming the woman for cheating, or whatever it was.WHY wasn't she this strong after the first attack, when she was on the phone? Granted, one would say she was just brutally raped. This then gives the impression she was less of a rape victim later on then.She confronted her husband outside the courtroom just before the verdict with 'we can't just act like it's business as usual' but that was EXACTLY what she did when he came home; she played it as business as usual.She would find her voice outside the courtroom and when confronting the neighbor, but would be put off saying anything to him when he got back, or when they were at the pool party? Strangest of all, she wants to wash after the second rape and the officer tells her no, that would wash off the evidence. She acts as tho it is a personal attack upon her person; this officer is being mean to me after what I've been thru.Hardly the case of course.When he says it would wash away sperm, she reacts like Donna Reed and he just said an ugly word to her as well, yet once again, finds moments later on to offer a voice.Again, one could say she was gaining her voice from the anger of how she was treated. Right off the bat, she was raped. She should have found that voice then over that phone, if anger could offer such motivation.A dated film, worth comparing with other entries such as The Accused and a TV movie in '81 called Victims, with Howard Hesseman.I wish there was a program or movie before this one showing what a woman had to contend with in the '50s and '60s, but unfortunately there isn't going to be.An intriguing comparison would be Rosemary Murphy, the defense here, as the alleged rape victim in To Kill A Mockingbird.

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.

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.

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.