Second Serve (1986)
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25% want to see it
(4 ratings)
Second Serve is that rare TV movie which refuses to sensationalize its so-called "sensational" material. This is the true story of Richard Raskind (here named Richard Radley): Yale grad, Naval officer, brilliant surgeon and tennis champ. What Richard has successfully hidden from… More Second Serve is that rare TV movie which refuses to sensationalize its so-called "sensational" material. This is the true story of Richard Raskind (here named Richard Radley): Yale grad, Naval officer, brilliant surgeon and tennis champ. What Richard has successfully hidden from practically everyone is the fact that he feels like a woman trapped in a man's body. In 1975, he goes so far as to endure a sex-change operation, emerging as Renee Richards. The film is not so much about this "alteration" as its ramifications, particularly the fierce opposition from the US Tennis Association when Renee wants to qualify as a female pro player. Rather than cast two actors to play the "before and after" protagonist, Vanessa Redgrave plays both Richard and Renee. While it's no great shock to see Ms. Redgrave with short hair, her performance as a man in Second Serve is the sort of work for which the phrase "tour de force" was coined. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Anthony Page
- Genres
- Drama
Unrated,
Critic Reviews
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Keith Uhlich, ToxicUniverse.com
The movie, for all intents and purposes, should not work. And yet it wholly and completely does.
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Cast
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Martin Balsam
as Dr. Beck
- Jeff Corey
- Louise Fletcher
- Kerrie Keane
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Alice Krige
as Gwen
- Alison La Placa
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Vanessa Redgrave
as Richard/Renee
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William Russ
as Josh
- Reni Santoni
- Nina Van Pallandt
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Richard Venture
as David
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Michael Cavanaugh
as Gene Scott
