The Rape of Richard Beck (also known as Deadly Justice) is a 1985 American television film. It was written by James G. Hirsch and directed by Karen Arthur, and stars Richard Crenna, Pat Hingle, Frances Lee McCain, and Joanna Kerns. Jason Bernard, Meredith Baxter, George Dzundza, and Troy Evans appear in supporting roles. The film premiered on ABC on May 27, 1985. For his performance, Crenna won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor - Miniseries or a Movie.
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Plot
Based in Seattle, Richard Beck is a veteran police detective who has little sympathy for sex crime victims, believing that they are "asking for it". When he lets an accused rapist go free in exchange for information on a murder suspect, he is punished by being assigned to the Sex Crimes unit, where he must work alongside counselor Barbara McKee. Beck continues to disregard the seriousness of the job until he is raped by two male suspects, after which he starts to question his own attitudes about violence, women, and masculinity.
Cast
Richard Crenna as Richard Beck
George Dzundza as Blastig
Meredith Baxter as Barbara McKee
Pat Hingle as Chappy Beck
Frances Lee McCain as Caroline Beck
Cotter Smith as Lt. Hugo
Joanna Kerns as Anita Parrish
Mark Dickison as Eric Gibbs
Jason Bernard as Sgt. Wally Rydell
Nicholas Worth as Ray
M. C. Gainey as Sonny
Stanley Kamel as Dr. Greenberg
Awards and nominations
Richard Crenna won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special. Crenna's performance was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV. The film won an Eddie Award for Best Edited Television Special for Millie Moore and Maurie Beck.