The Accused (1988)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Jonathan Kaplan

Writer:

Tom Topor (written by)

Release Date:

14 October 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The first scream was for help. The second is for justice.

Plot:

A rape victim, enraged at the light sentence her attackers received on account that she was of "questionable character" goads a female prosecutor to charge the men who literally cheered the attack on.

Plot Keywords:

Bar | Rape | Victim | Court | Rape Victim

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Kelly McGillis	...	Kathryn Murphy
Jodie Foster	...	Sarah Tobias
Bernie Coulson	...	Ken Joyce
Leo Rossi	...	Cliff 'Scorpion' Albrect
Ann Hearn	...	Sally Fraser
Carmen Argenziano	...	D.A. Paul Rudolph
Steve Antin	...	Bob Joiner
Tom O'Brien	...	Larry
Peter Van Norden	...	Attorney Paulsen
Terry David Mulligan	...	Lieutenant Duncan
Woody Brown	...	Danny
Scott Paulin	...	Attorney Wainwright
Kim Kondrashoff	...	Kurt
Stephen E. Miller	...	Polito
Tom Heaton	...	Bartender Jesse

Also Known As:

Appel à la justice (Canada: French title)
Reckless Endangerment (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | USA:R (No. 28980) | South Korea:18 | Netherlands:12 | Ireland:18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Australia:R (DVD rating) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | West Germany:16 | Peru:18 | Canada:18A | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Delta, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Paramount Pictures Corporation (Canada)

Trivia:

Kelly McGillis was offered the role of Sarah Tobias, but having survived a violent sexual assault in 1982 by two men who broke into her apartment, she declined the role and instead fought for the part of Kathryn Murphy.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In both scenes when characters are playing the pinball machine we can hear the ball rolling around, scoring points and making the usual pinball machine noises but the score on the machine never changes.

Quotes:

Kathryn Murphy: Ladies and Gentleman, Mr. Paulson has told you the testimony of Sarah Tobias is nothing. Sarah Tobias was raped but that is nothing. She was cut, bruised, and terrorized but that is nothing. All of it happened in front of a howling crowd and that is nothing...

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dreamworlds II: Desire, Sex, Power in Music Video (1997)

Soundtrack:

Mojo Boogie

This movie is about more than rape

This movie is about more than rape. It's about societal views of rape and the objectification of the female in a patriarchal society. The actual courtroom drama portion is not prosecuting the rapists, but the men who cheered on and encouraged the gang rape of a woman in a public place. As you watch the movie, look at the image of the woman on the pinball machine; look at the friend who turned away; the boyfriend who expects the victim to "get over it;" the lawyer who thinks it's OK to cut a deal that removes a rape charge in order to get the rapists behind bars, without thought for the life of the victim afterward. Society is on trial here.