It’s one of many strangest moments in tv historical past: a infamous serial killer went on ABC’s “The Dating Game” and received a date with Cheryl Bradshaw. Now streaming, Netflix’s new movie “Woman of the Hour,” directed, produced by and starring Anna Kendrick, explores that weird second in historical past by the eyes of Kendrick’s character, Sheryl, who survives her interplay with the murderer Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto). like Cheryl Bradshaw did in actual life.
When telling a real story in cinema, nevertheless, it’s essential to take artistic liberties. So we in contrast the real-life case of Rodney Alcala to “Woman of the Hour” to find out what’s actual and what’s fiction within the movie.
Did Alcala work on the Los Angeles Times?
A scene from “Woman of the Hour” depicts Alcala working on the Times in 1977, a yr earlier than her 1978 look in “The Dating Game.” It’s unclear what his place is on the paper, however his colleagues appear impressed with him as he tells tales about realizing Warren Beatty and exhibits images of him. (Many of the pictures are of bare ladies.) The scene means that Alcala exaggerated his function on the newspaper to realize entry to his topics.
Despite not utilizing an alias and having earlier convictions, Alcala was hired by the Times as a printer in September 1977. According to an episode of “20/20” about “The Dating Game Killer,” Alcala really introduced photographs of bare ladies into the workplace, though they had been seen by his colleagues as inventive in nature and never an indication of warning about his frame of mind. He doubtless used his job to entice at the least certainly one of his victims: Pamela Jean Lambson met Alcala in October 1977, and former Marin County Det. Richard Keaton recalled that Lambson was thrilled with the chance Alcala had given her, exhibiting the photographer’s enterprise card to her stylist. His physique was discovered the following day. It is just not totally clear when Alcala left the newspaper, earlier than killing Robin Christine Samsoe in 1979.
How correct are the scenes in “The Dating Game”?
“Woman of the Hour” takes appreciable artistic liberties in exploring the seminal “Dating Game.” Some of those are minor changes for dramatic impact; making Alcala Bachelor No. 3, when he was really No. 1, helps the movie construct to the reveal of Alcala’s face on panel. The prize change additionally raises the stakes: Sheryl and Rodney win an all-expenses paid journey to Carmel when the true prize was tennis classes and tickets to the Magic Mountain theme park. An correct side of the episode’s portrayal? According to contestant Jed Mills, Alcala really advised him “I at all times get my lady.”
As for Sheryl taking part in “The Dating Game” to spice up her profile as an actress, what could seem absurd at this time wasn’t unusual again then. His agent factors out that it labored Sally Campoappeared in a 1966 episode of the present (alongside Bachelor Robert Vaughn of “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” fame); many different stars appeared on the present earlier than turning into superstars too, together with Farrah Fawcett, Steve Martin, Suzanne Somers, Burt Reynolds and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The largest change in “The Dating Game” is in Sheryl herself. In “Woman of the Hour,” she rewrites the script and asks her personal questions, together with a difficult one about particular relativity and “What are ladies for?” At least as seen in surviving clips from the unique episode, the true Cheryl seems to be leaning into the present’s conventions, flirtatiously taking part in together with the sport. Knowing the context of Alcala’s actions, that is much more chilling than the movie: At one level, Cheryl asks Rodney to behave like a grimy previous man, leading to a second that may most likely be dismissed as too outrageous if it had been recreated for him. the movie.
Anna Kendrick as Sheryl in “Woman of the Hour.”
(Leah Gallo/Netflix)
Did a lady acknowledge Rodney in “The Dating Game”?
Much of the dramatic weight of “The Dating Game” sequence comes not from the sport itself, however from an viewers member named Laura (Nicolette Robinson) who’s horrified to find that one of many bachelors is the person who killed her pal . He leaves the studio viewers and enters the studio and asks a safety guard for assist. In flip, the guard presents her to talk to a producer, nevertheless it’s a merciless joke: refusing to take her issues severely, he as an alternative offers her the title of a janitor.
Kendrick mentioned Laura represents these affected by such crimes, in addition to those that have tried and did not carry authorities’ consideration to Alcala over time. (Laura’s pal killed by Alcala was, nevertheless, primarily based on an actual particular person.) Numerous folks reported Alcala in reference to assaults and murders over the course of greater than a decade earlier than he was lastly put in jail for good in July 1979.
In truth, Alcala had a prison report even earlier than showing on “The Dating Game,” serving stints in jail for assaults on two ladies and turning into a registered intercourse offender. (He was paroled in each circumstances.)
Did Alcala and Bradshaw go for a drink?
Although Alcala received “The Dating Game” and secured a date with the true Bradshaw, that date by no means materialized. The day after the episode taped, contestant coordinator Ellen Metzger mentioned Bradshaw referred to as her and mentioned, “I am unable to date this man. There are unusual vibrations popping out of him, it’s totally unusual. I do not really feel comfy relationship him. Will or not it’s an issue?” Ellen advised Bradshaw that he did not have to have that appointment.
It’s unclear what precisely occurred between Bradshaw and Alcala. In clips from their episode, Bradshaw appears a lot much less excited when he comes nose to nose with Alcala. It is unlikely that the couple went for a drink after the present, as depicted in “Woman of the Hour”. Regardless, it is an intense, scary scene that neatly highlights the couple’s measurement distinction and the bodily energy benefit they’ve. Even the second the place Alcala nearly assaults Sheryl in her automotive, solely to be saved by the stage door opening on the final second, might be a plot machine.
How was Alcala captured?
Amy, the runaway teenager seen on the finish of “Woman of the Hour,” relies on the real-life Monique Hoyt, who really managed to flee Alcala and report him to the police, which led to her arrest in February 1979 But because the post-film textual content reveals, that wasn’t the top of his crimes. While awaiting trial, Alcala was launched on bail and continued killing. On July 24, 1979, he was arrested for the final time for the homicide of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe. Police found a warehouse in Seattle that belonged to Alcala, crammed with damning proof and trophies of his killings. Alcala obtained the loss of life sentence at trial, however a collection of appeals, reversal, and subsequent trials left Alcala in jail till 2019, when California imposed a moratorium on capital punishment. Alcala ultimately died in jail of pure causes in 2021.
Ultimately, Alcala was discovered responsible of seven murders, though the precise variety of folks killed is believed to be considerably greater. One day the thriller could also be solved: the Huntington Beach Police Department released photographs of Alcala in 2010 within the hope that individuals who acknowledged them would come ahead and establish among the victims.
The “Woman of the Moment” claims that some authorities estimate that as much as 130 folks had been killed by Alcala.
