The Accused (1988)

After a young woman suffers a brutal rape in a bar one night, a prosecutor assists in bringing the perpetrators to justice, including the ones who encouraged and cheered on the attack.

Director:

Jonathan Kaplan

Writer:

Tom Topor

Stars:

Kelly McGillis, Jodie Foster, Bernie Coulson

Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Sarah Tobias goes to her local bar and is gang-raped by three men. The district attorney on the case is Katheryn Murphy who wants to prove that although Sarah had taken drugs that night and was acting provocatively while in the bar, this is no reason for her to be so brutally attacked and the men responsible should be brought to justice.

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Plot Keywords:

bar | rape | justice | district attorney | prosecutor | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Reckless Endangerment

Filming Locations:

Delta, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$32,069,318 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Paramount Pictures Corporation (Canada)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie is based on a real-life gang rape that occurred on 6 March 1983 at Big Dan's Bar in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The bar lost its liquor license the very next day.

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Goofs

When Ken visits Bob in prison, Bob is seeing wearing a ring in the first two scenes, then the ring disappears after that.

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Quotes

Kathryn Murphy: Listen again..."A person is guilty of criminal solicitation if he commands, induces, entreats or otherwise persuades another person to commit a felony-"
D.A. Paul Rudolph: You can read it to me until you're blue in the face, I am not gonna let you prosecute a bunch of spectators -
Kathryn Murphy: [cutting him off] They're not spectators. They solicited the rape.
D.A. Paul Rudolph: Do you really want to ask a jury to lock up a bunch of people for clapping and cheering?
Kathryn Murphy: Clapping? Cheering? Pushing? Goading? Getting the rape going and keeping it going...
D.A. Paul Rudolph:
Kathryn Murphy:
D.A. Paul Rudolph:
Kathryn Murphy:
D.A. Paul Rudolph:
[...]

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Connections

Featured in This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Always"
Performed by Only Child
Produced by Paul Sabu

User Reviews

Jodie Foster Does Justice To This Role

This 1988 Paramount release was the film that made many people take former child star Jodie Foster seriously as an adult actress. Foster won a well deserved Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of a woman who is raped in a bar by a group of perverted drunks while everybody else in the bar encourages it. After the ordeal, she persistently seeks full justice for what she has suffered. Kelly McGillis, who had previously appeared as Tom Cruise's main squeeze in "Top Gun" lends credibility to her role as a tough DA. This genuine thriller of a film (which was based on a true story) deserves high praise for all involved.