Act of Violence

Elizabeth Montgomery, trying to shed her "Samantha Stevens" image, stars in this story of a journalist in New York City who judges rape/assault victims for bringing it on themselves, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, by perhaps wearing provocative clothes. She may not say it in so many words, but it's in her whole manner and attitude. Coworkers tell her she's a hard person, being raised with a privileged and easy childhood. Fast forward to her getting out of her cab late one night, fumbling for her keys at the door of her poorly lit apartment building. She is jumped from behind, as soon as she's in, and beaten mercilessly by a group of two or three black boys, though only one did most of the beating. Through her depression and recovery, she becomes prejudiced of all blacks. When a news reporter gets an interview from her, her new views are aired on TV, getting her in hot water. Though this TV movie may seem to be biting off more than it can chew and most of the supporting players are fair to middling in their range, the whole treatment of the subject matter was good and of course Ms. Montgomery gives a very courageous and thoughtful performance. Her presence gives this otherwise predictable TV movie an added boost, keeping the viewers' interest with her down-to-earth disposition. Will she and her son leave NYC? Will she learn there's a bully behind every corner and in all walks of life? "Act of Violence" is an ambitious and earnest look at life in NYC that's still pertinent today as it was in the late 1970s.

This movie is often confused with her 1974 movie "A Case of Rape". This is 1979, and instead of being raped she get's the crap beaten out of her during a violent mugging. Liz plays a TV reporter who is a tad bit on the liberal side. She ruffles a few feathers with her point of view about rich women wearing fur coats asking to be mugged. AHA! Then she herself is mugged and what a difference a day makes. Overnight we see her transformed into a paranoid, conservative crime victim who is left mentally and physically scarred. She even goes on the news with a rambling editorial about crime that p***es her station and viewers off even more than the previous pieces about sympathy for criminal offenders. Liz is beautiful as always, even a better actress than most people think of her. This movie is a far cry from "Bewitched". San Francisco never looked more scary than it does in this movie. A tad bit sensationalized but still an enjoyable movie that holds your attention from start to finish. Sean Frye is especially good as her son, as well as the rest of the cast. Not quite as good as "A Case of Rape" but a close second. I believe this movie is on video, so catch it if you can.