Une affaire de viol

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.

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.

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!

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.