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.

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.

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.

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!