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      Second Serve

      TV-PG 1986 1 hr. 40 min. Drama List
      Reviews Richard Radley (Vanessa Redgrave) is an ophthalmologist with a successful career, a beautiful fiancée and a secret life. Despite outward appearances, Richard is a woman at heart. When his psychiatrists -- including his mother (Louise Fletcher) -- fail to "cure" him, Richard leaves his life behind, moves to California and has a sex change to become Renee. Finally herself, Renee takes up professional tennis -- but when a reporter outs her sex change, she must fight for her right to compete. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member [img]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41IHLThb0IL._SL500_AA280_.jpg[/img] SECOND SERVE is a controversial 1986 film focusing on the personal and professional struggles of renowned doctor and former US OPEN tennis champion RENEE RICHARDS. RICHARDS was born a man RICHARD RADLEY who struggles with gender identity issues in the early, early pioneer days of transgender issues. The film is set in the 1950's and '60's outlining RICHARDS struggle to live a 'normal' life with a girlfriend, then marrying and fathering a son. The film could have easily turned into an EQUAL RIGHTS parade march down the middle of the tv screen but instead is rather stark and frank without the preachiness or psychoanalysis prevelant in this genre. VANESSA REDGRAVE is outstanding as RICHARD RADLEY for most of the film with intermitent scenes of RENEE. REDGRAVE did such a convincing job as RICHARD that it was difficult to see her as RENEE eventhough REDGRAVE is tall, slender, and extremely feminine in her features. She comes across the screen in an unapologetic deliverance with all the frustration that must be associated with gender identity issues. VANESSA REDGRAVE was nominated for an EMMY for her unwavering performance in a time when audiences had rarely if ever seen a movie with genuine transgender characters. Most of the '80's films featuring gay or transgender character were usually silly drag queen types with nothing meaningful to add about life or love, but REDGRAVE is heart felt and strong. The film is worth seeing not for its controversy but for its generosity towards the human spirit. BRAVA VANESSA [img]http://www.filmreference.com/images/sjff_03_img1299.jpg[/img] Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics 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. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 30, 2003 Full Review Art Cohen Gay Community News (Boston) Second Serve gives us only a glimpse of the struggle and torment Richards must have experienced as she slowly comes out to people and figures out how to move forward. Sep 22, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Richard Radley (Vanessa Redgrave) is an ophthalmologist with a successful career, a beautiful fiancée and a secret life. Despite outward appearances, Richard is a woman at heart. When his psychiatrists -- including his mother (Louise Fletcher) -- fail to "cure" him, Richard leaves his life behind, moves to California and has a sex change to become Renee. Finally herself, Renee takes up professional tennis -- but when a reporter outs her sex change, she must fight for her right to compete.
      Director
      Anthony Page
      Screenwriter
      Gavin Lambert, Stephanie Liss
      Rating
      TV-PG
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      May 31, 2019