16 reviews
If It Happened To Liz Montgomery, it can happen to anyone.
That's the subtle message of this remarkably restrained made-for-TV docudrama, which features the "Bewitched" star as a sort of real-world Samantha Stephens - Ellen Harrod, a stylish California housewife with an adorable blonde daughter and an affable mope for a husband (in this film played by Ronny Cox as opposed to Dicks Sargent or York), but no magic powers. Ellen is, however, just as smart and self-possessed as Samantha, and her lack of histrionics makes all the abuse she endures in this movie -- two sexual assaults, a callous medical establishment and an actively hostile legal system -- even more disturbing. Liz Montgomery almost always played superior to type. In "Bewitched," both she and the audience were in on the central joke of the premise, which was that she was light-years above Darren's league and could have turned him into a ferret if she wanted (not that it would have made much difference) . In "A Case of Rape," she plays a victim who steadfastly refuses to act like a victim, but is so disgusted by everyone's willful blindness to her ordeal that she finally gets up and screams about it.
In her early scenes of playfully sparring with Cox and dabbling with painting, Liz establishes Ellen as sexy, sharp-witted, and creative, the kind of woman whom it was all too easy to stereotype as a bored housewife secretly bored by her life and seek excitement in infidelity. Which is exactly how doctors and cops treat Ellen after her assailant tricks his way into her home one night, sexually assaults her while her daughter is sleeping, and attacks her again in the parking lot of her apartment complex a couple of days later. The rest of the movie is calculated outrage, but since public attitudes toward rape weren't all that progressive in 1974, such plot devices as the cynical prosecutor who treats Ellen's case like a mundane chore and Cox's pitifully inadequate attempts to be supportive ("he did this to both of us!") were probably necessary, and the filmmakers are to be commended for not sensationalizing the subject matter with cat-and-mouse chase scenes or hysterical breakdowns. Still, it's a rough couple of hours. Liz is so isolated in this movie that she doesn't even get sympathy from her best friend, a frumpy neighbor who, in one sickening scene, hints that she wants Liz to share every titillating detail of the assault. Less secure human beings would explode or sob at such ill treatment. Liz, being Liz, drops a cool bon mot, thanks her for the coffee, and leaves. She's a great advocate for the dignity of sexual assault survivors, and that alone makes "A Case of Rape" worth watching.
In her early scenes of playfully sparring with Cox and dabbling with painting, Liz establishes Ellen as sexy, sharp-witted, and creative, the kind of woman whom it was all too easy to stereotype as a bored housewife secretly bored by her life and seek excitement in infidelity. Which is exactly how doctors and cops treat Ellen after her assailant tricks his way into her home one night, sexually assaults her while her daughter is sleeping, and attacks her again in the parking lot of her apartment complex a couple of days later. The rest of the movie is calculated outrage, but since public attitudes toward rape weren't all that progressive in 1974, such plot devices as the cynical prosecutor who treats Ellen's case like a mundane chore and Cox's pitifully inadequate attempts to be supportive ("he did this to both of us!") were probably necessary, and the filmmakers are to be commended for not sensationalizing the subject matter with cat-and-mouse chase scenes or hysterical breakdowns. Still, it's a rough couple of hours. Liz is so isolated in this movie that she doesn't even get sympathy from her best friend, a frumpy neighbor who, in one sickening scene, hints that she wants Liz to share every titillating detail of the assault. Less secure human beings would explode or sob at such ill treatment. Liz, being Liz, drops a cool bon mot, thanks her for the coffee, and leaves. She's a great advocate for the dignity of sexual assault survivors, and that alone makes "A Case of Rape" worth watching.
- Putzberger
- Jan 18, 2013
- Permalink
Liz Montgomery blows image in important an disturbing film.
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.
Gutsy performances, gutsy movie...TV movies in the '70s rocked
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.
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.
Liz Montgomery Blows Image in Important, Disturbing Film
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.
Even Better Than Lifetime
A few months before this film came out, a very similar film called Cry Rape was broadcast on C.B.S.. However, while that film has long since been forgotten, this film is still remembered as being one of the most groundbreaking films to ever grace the small screen. This is one of those films that come out that helped to make a difference. Before this film was released, few people knew how rape victims were really treated and the indignities that they suffered. This film showed that and more. Elizabeth Montgomery proved that she could do more than just play everyone's favorite witch Samantha Stephens. She took a chance with a very taboo subject and helped to make this one of the most acclaimed films of the early 1970's.
Ahead of its time
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.
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.
understated anger as an art form
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.
- aromatic-2
- Mar 9, 2000
- Permalink
Liz and the secret fear all women face
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!
a real masterpiece!
- mongoose249
- Apr 14, 2002
- Permalink
Uncompromising TV film
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.
- moonspinner55
- Sep 9, 2005
- Permalink
Ground-breaking Television
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.
- superstar49
- Jun 23, 1999
- Permalink
Assumption of Innocence Prevails.
- rmax304823
- Feb 3, 2016
- Permalink
Be Honest, It's A Bit Dog-Eared
- richard.fuller1
- Jun 13, 2014
- Permalink
Light Years Away from Samantha Stephens!
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.
- Hoohawnaynay
- Aug 10, 2003
- Permalink
"A Case Of Rape" (1974) was a pioneer for film, reality and women's rights
Elizabeth Montgomery's clout and talent is unquestionably what got this film made for TV in the early 1970's. Up until this point, rape was a taboo subject and to see a studio invest so much money and risk so many affiliates for what would ultimately become a legend in Made-for-TV-films is refreshing and brave.
The story is about Ellen Harrod a married woman with two children who is raped twice by the same man. She takes herself to the hospital and we see her go through the steps of a routine medical exam to a routine legal proceeding. Harrod is treated worse by culture and society than she was by the rapist.
Montgomery's performance is remarkable; not just the horrific scenes, which are done very carefully for a 1974 television audience, but the scenes that follow; the many showers, the slight grimace of her eye muscles on the medical exam table as the camera stays with her eyes and not with the pelvic exam, the manner in which Montgomery's performance begins to display a wearing down of strength as well as soul and resilience as the film proceeds (this film was NOT made in scene order- most films are not- so that for consistency Montogomery had to know this script very well.) The subject of rape itself remains "untouchable" within the cinema. Jodie Foster's remarkable, Oscar Winning performance in "The Accused" in 1984 was the next that we saw such a powerful performance (that was the year that everyone was shocked that "little Jodie Foster" had beaten Meryl Streep for an Oscar; this would happen again in 1992 for "Silence of The Lambs").
The film "Sleepers" deals peripherally with the issue of male rape, but this is a film about vengeance and doesn;t do much to teach the frequency and situation of boys who are raped. Statistically, one out of four girls and one out of six boys will be sexually abused by the time they reach age eighteen. This is one out of five children. Hold out your hand, randomly select a finger and cut it off. It doesn't matter which finger; the choice should be as random as a child. Rape is a serious crime and has been seen as a female crime (It was only in January of 2012 that President Obama changed the law to include men as potential victims) for centuries. Subsequently it was only the women's rights movement that brought about awareness.
Elizabeth Montgomery left "Bewitched", a sickening housefrau who should have turned Darrin into a ashtray, and went on to create television movies that represented women in a much different light. Lizzie Bortden, Etta Place, many roles that are typically male leads and as such she should be credited right along with Mary Tyler Moore as a pioneer in the Wokmen's Movement using television for her voice. Jodie Foster has achieved the same through the motion picture industry which is about twenty years behind with films such as "Silence of The Lambs", "The Brave One" and, again, "The Acused." A Case of Rape is impossible to find on DVD which is a pity since historically it's of great importance. More so than that, it;s a film that teaches a great deal about the horrors of this crime and the horrors of how our culture deals with it. There is not much difference statistically in 2012 than there was in 1974. in fact, I seriously doubt that one of the Networks would ever make this film today. For those of us who were there and saw it, we are still affected by it, for those who cannot see it, there are still ways to learn about it; certainly Ms Foster's Award winning performance (based on a real case in- of all places- Fall River, Massachusetts) But none the less, this lesson has to be taught. Rape is a serial crime, it is about violence and control and not about sexual gratification and far too many citizens of the world suffer this crime in silence.
As for the ending to this film, I shall not spoil it because my voice is one of thousands who continuously ask that this film be released. And when it does, I don;t wish to be the critic who spoiled the end for you.
The story is about Ellen Harrod a married woman with two children who is raped twice by the same man. She takes herself to the hospital and we see her go through the steps of a routine medical exam to a routine legal proceeding. Harrod is treated worse by culture and society than she was by the rapist.
Montgomery's performance is remarkable; not just the horrific scenes, which are done very carefully for a 1974 television audience, but the scenes that follow; the many showers, the slight grimace of her eye muscles on the medical exam table as the camera stays with her eyes and not with the pelvic exam, the manner in which Montgomery's performance begins to display a wearing down of strength as well as soul and resilience as the film proceeds (this film was NOT made in scene order- most films are not- so that for consistency Montogomery had to know this script very well.) The subject of rape itself remains "untouchable" within the cinema. Jodie Foster's remarkable, Oscar Winning performance in "The Accused" in 1984 was the next that we saw such a powerful performance (that was the year that everyone was shocked that "little Jodie Foster" had beaten Meryl Streep for an Oscar; this would happen again in 1992 for "Silence of The Lambs").
The film "Sleepers" deals peripherally with the issue of male rape, but this is a film about vengeance and doesn;t do much to teach the frequency and situation of boys who are raped. Statistically, one out of four girls and one out of six boys will be sexually abused by the time they reach age eighteen. This is one out of five children. Hold out your hand, randomly select a finger and cut it off. It doesn't matter which finger; the choice should be as random as a child. Rape is a serious crime and has been seen as a female crime (It was only in January of 2012 that President Obama changed the law to include men as potential victims) for centuries. Subsequently it was only the women's rights movement that brought about awareness.
Elizabeth Montgomery left "Bewitched", a sickening housefrau who should have turned Darrin into a ashtray, and went on to create television movies that represented women in a much different light. Lizzie Bortden, Etta Place, many roles that are typically male leads and as such she should be credited right along with Mary Tyler Moore as a pioneer in the Wokmen's Movement using television for her voice. Jodie Foster has achieved the same through the motion picture industry which is about twenty years behind with films such as "Silence of The Lambs", "The Brave One" and, again, "The Acused." A Case of Rape is impossible to find on DVD which is a pity since historically it's of great importance. More so than that, it;s a film that teaches a great deal about the horrors of this crime and the horrors of how our culture deals with it. There is not much difference statistically in 2012 than there was in 1974. in fact, I seriously doubt that one of the Networks would ever make this film today. For those of us who were there and saw it, we are still affected by it, for those who cannot see it, there are still ways to learn about it; certainly Ms Foster's Award winning performance (based on a real case in- of all places- Fall River, Massachusetts) But none the less, this lesson has to be taught. Rape is a serial crime, it is about violence and control and not about sexual gratification and far too many citizens of the world suffer this crime in silence.
As for the ending to this film, I shall not spoil it because my voice is one of thousands who continuously ask that this film be released. And when it does, I don;t wish to be the critic who spoiled the end for you.
Dvd