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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe 1980 made-for-TV movie about marital rape is Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case, a CBS drama broadcast October 30, 1980. Starring Linda Hamilton and Mickey Rourke, it dramatizes Greta Rideout’s accusation that her husband, John, raped her—and the trial and difficult aftermath that followed.
What is Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case about?
The film follows the Oregon case of Greta and John Rideout, moving from the alleged rape through the criminal charge and trial to events afterward. Washington Post reviewer Sandy Rovner described a brief reconciliation between the couple as part of that aftermath. The film is a dramatization, not a documentary record: its scenes and character portrayals should not be treated as a complete account of the historical case.
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Rovner’s review, published on the day of the broadcast, captured the film’s unflinching tone: “This is not an easy movie to watch.” The line is a contemporary critic’s response, rather than a claim that every viewer will react the same way.
Who made the film, and who stars in it?
Peter Levin directed the CBS production, written by Hesper Anderson. Linda Hamilton plays Greta Rideout and Mickey Rourke plays John Rideout. A reference listing gives the film a 96-minute runtime. (The Washington Post; IMDb)
#1 Best Overall
How did the case relate to marital-rape law?
The central conflict was whether marriage could be used as a defense against a rape charge. Rovner reported that John Rideout was acquitted, but that the verdict did not undo Oregon’s law eliminating marriage as a defense. Her review also said the case encouraged similar laws in California and Minnesota and contributed to the creation of the Women’s History Research Center’s National Clearinghouse on Marital Rape. Those legal and movement-history points are reported here as Rovner described them in 1980, not as an independent account of the statutes or the later organizations.
The distinction matters: the film’s courtroom outcome and the law’s status are not the same thing. As presented in the contemporary review, the acquittal did not reinstate the marital defense in Oregon.
Rank #2
What did the 1980 review emphasize?
Rovner situated the movie within public debate over whether a spouse could be prosecuted for rape. She also drew attention to the film’s portrayal of Greta and John’s brief reconciliation, describing the feelings around it as complicated and contradictory. That observation is useful context for understanding the film’s reception, but it is a review of a particular dramatization, not a universal judgment about survivors or relationships.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you watch it today?
Availability is uncertain and can change. The U.S. JustWatch page reported no online offer when it was crawled; that snapshot does not establish that the film is permanently unavailable to stream. (JustWatch)
Rank #3
Reference catalogs list the title in VHS format, while a specialty seller’s page for a physical-disc option was marked unavailable. Neither listing confirms current stock. If searching for a copy, use the exact title, Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case, and check whether a seller’s offer is actually available before relying on it. (Encyclopedia.com; Rare Movie Collector)
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