A Case of Rape
A Case of Rape
| 20 February 1974 (USA)
A Case of Rape Trailers

When she was raped, Ellen thought it was the worst thing to ever happen to her. What was worse, was the treatment by the hospital staff, police and the court system, when she reported it, and the man was caught.

Reviews
Actuakers One of my all time favorites.
SunnyHello Nice effects though.
ScoobyMint Disappointment for a huge fan!
Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
Gideon24 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.
bob_meg Liz Montgomery, who doesn't seem capable of a dishonest performance, really pulls out all the stops in this Movie of the Week from '74 that pulls no punches, literally or metaphorically.What makes her performance so fantastic is how repressed, pain filled, and thus realistic it is. It's almost hard to watch at times. A less accomplished actress would be tempted many, many times to go for the over-the-top hysterical money shot. She works up to it at the end, but she earns every bit of it.Ronny Cox and William Daniels give visceral, vivid supporting performances, the directing is journeyman competent and the script is raw, unforgiving, and immediate in its urgency.It's hard to imagine a less cozy movie about our legal system and some of the archaic laws that still drive it...kudos to all involved who brought a really bright light to a horrendous system of injustice that, hopefully with the advent of rape shielding laws and DNA testing, will be less needed in the future. Still, this film contains a lot of very valid lessons in protecting oneself that are helpful even today. Highly recommended...catch it on YouTube.
preppy-3 Harrowing drama of a married woman (Elizabeth Montgomery) who is raped twice by the same man. She is treated like a piece of meat in the hospital (the scene where someone photographs her bruises is unbelievable) and, in court, they act like she deserved it.I saw this on TV when I was 12 and have never forgotten it. Before this there was never any talk (on TV at least) about this subject. Also, back then, rape was considered an act of lust (!!!!). This haunted me for days after the initial showing. What really got to me was the uncompromising, realistic ending--TV, at that time, always had pat, happy endings. Not this one. Montgomery was absolutely superb in her role and the rapes were presented tastefully. This movie was a HUGE hit in its first two showings. I believe it was instrumental in changing the publics perception of how rape is a disgusting act of violence and how it can destroy a woman's life.This isn't available in any form that I know of, and that's a shame. It's now 30 years old and deserves a release on DVD. If you can see it, do so. A definite must-see.
mongoose249 Excellent Acting, exceptional, beautiful work, script! But why did it go so un-noticed? Anyhow Liz portrays Ellen Harrod. When Ellen got raped she thought it would be the worst thing. But it wasn't. It was the way she got treated by the hospital and citizens! As Liz said in a newspaper article "Doing the movie was an emotional experience and a education in some of the scenes which were frighteningly realistic, all women live in fear someday it could happen to them" I haven't much to say on this movie, but,a real masterpiece!