Second Serve
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| Second Serve | |
|---|---|
 Vanessa Redgrave as Renée Richards | |
| Genre | Biography Drama Sport |
| Written by | Stephanie Liss Gavin Lambert |
| Directed by | Anthony Page |
| Starring | Vanessa Redgrave Martin Balsam Richard Venture Louise Fletcher |
| Music by | Brad Fiedel |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Linda Yellen |
| Cinematography | Robbie Greenberg |
| Editor | John C. Horger |
| Running time | 120 minutes |
| Production company | Lorimar-Telepictures |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | May 13, 1986 |
Second Serve is a 1986 American made-for-television biographical film starring Vanessa Redgrave as retired eye surgeon, professional tennis player, and transgender woman Renée Richards. The film is based on her 1983 autobiography Second Serve: The Renée Richards Story[1] that was written with John Ames. The script is by Stephanie Liss and Gavin Lambert and the film was directed by Anthony Page. Second Serve aired on CBS on May 13, 1986.[2]
In 1976, Renée Richards is on the tennis court as a professional tennis player. The film flashes back to 1964, when Renée Richards is an eye surgeon named Richard Radley (both roles played by Redgrave). Radley has a successful career and a fiancée, but secretly cross-dresses at night. Unable to speak with his mother Sadie (Louise Fletcher), who is a psychiatrist, Radley consults his own psychiatrist, Dr. Beck (Martin Balsam), who advises him to grow a beard. This strategy works temporarily until Radley is drafted into the Navy, which does not allow beards. Following his discharge and a failed marriage, Radley undergoes gender reassignment surgery and becomes Renée.
Renée relocates to California, resumes her career as a surgeon and begins dating. After playing in a local tennis tournament in La Jolla, Renée is outed as transgender by a television reporter. In the ensuing controversy, Renée takes the United States Tennis Association to court, where she secures her right to play professional tournament tennis as a woman without being subjected to chromosome testing.
Cast
- Vanessa Redgrave as Richard Radley/Renée Richards[3]
- Whit Hertford as Young Richard Radley
- Martin Balsam as Dr. Beck
- William Russ as Josh
- Alice Krige as Gwen
- Kerrie Keane as Meriam
- Richard Venture as Dr. David Radley
- Reni Santoni as Dr. Roberto Granato
- Louise Fletcher as Dr. Sadie M. Bishop
- Jeff Corey as Dr. Harry Benjamin