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What’s fact vs. fiction in Netflix’s ‘Dating Game’ killer film ‘Woman of the Hour’

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What's fact vs. fiction in Netflix's 'Dating Game' killer film 'Woman of the Hour'

As a seasoned crime-drama enthusiast who has witnessed countless tales of justice served, I must say that “Woman of the Hour” stands out as one of the most chilling and thought-provoking pieces I’ve come across. The story of Rodney Alcala is a stark reminder of how the criminal justice system can fail those who are most vulnerable.

It’s one of the strangest moments in television history: A notorious serial killer went on ABC’s “The Dating Game” and won a date with Cheryl Bradshaw. Now streaming, Netflix’s new film “Woman of the Hour,” directed, produced by and starring Anna Kendrick, explores that bizarre moment in history through the eyes of Kendrick’s character, named Sheryl, who survives her interaction with murderer Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto) as the real-life Cheryl Bradshaw did.

When examining a genuine tale portrayed on screen, it’s inevitable that artistic license will be used. To distinguish truth from fiction in the movie “Woman of the Hour,” we compared it with the real-life incident involving Rodney Alcala.

Did Alcala work at the Los Angeles Times?

In “Woman of the Hour,” there’s a sequence set in 1977 at The Times, a year before Alcala appeared on “The Dating Game.” His specific job role isn’t specified, but his peers appear to admire him. He regales them with exaggerated stories about knowing Warren Beatty and displays his photography, much of which features nude women. This scene implies that Alcala may have inflated his importance at the newspaper to gain easier access to his subjects.

In September 1977, despite having a criminal history and no pseudonym, Rodriguez was employed by The Times as a typesetter. As depicted in a “20/20” episode about “The Dating Game Killer,” it’s confirmed that Rodriguez brought photographs of nude women into the workplace. His colleagues viewed these images as artistic rather than indicative of his mental state. It’s suspected that he exploited this job to lure at least one victim, such as Pamela Jean Lambson who met him in October 1977. A former Marin County Detective, Richard Keaton, recalled that Lambson was enthusiastic about the opportunities Alcala presented her, flaunting his business card to her stylist. Her corpse was discovered the following day. It’s unclear when Rodriguez departed from the newspaper, having quit prior to killing Robin Christine Samsoe in 1979.

How accurate are “The Dating Game” scenes?

In a different wording: The series “Woman of the Hour” makes considerable changes in its portrayal of the crucial “Dating Game.” Some of these alterations are slight for dramatic impact; for instance, portraying Alcala as Bachelor No. 3 instead of No. 1 serves to create suspense leading to the unmasking of Alcala on the panel. The redefinition of the prize significantly increases the tension: In the show, Sheryl and Rodney win an expensive trip to Carmel, whereas in reality, they won tennis lessons and theme park tickets to Magic Mountain. However, one detail that remains true to the original event is as stated by fellow contestant Jed Mills, Alcala did say “I always get my girl.

Regarding Sheryl’s decision to appear on “The Dating Game” to enhance her acting career, something that might seem unusual nowadays wasn’t so unconventional back then. Her agent mentions that it proved beneficial for Sally Field, who featured in a 1966 episode (accompanied by Robert Vaughn, known for his role in “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”), and numerous other stars had done the same before they achieved stardom. Names like Farrah Fawcett, Steve Martin, Suzanne Somers, Burt Reynolds, and Arnold Schwarzenegger are among them.

In “The Dating Game,” the most noticeable transformation is evident in Sheryl herself. In “Woman of the Hour,” she takes control by rewriting the rules and posing her own questions, such as a puzzling one concerning special relativity and “What are women’s roles?” From what remains of the original footage, it seems that the genuine Sheryl conforms to the show’s norms, playfully participating in the game. Given the background of Alcala’s behavior, this conduct is particularly unsettling; at one point, Sheryl encourages Rodney to act like an old lecher, which would probably be deemed too extreme for a movie remake if it were to occur.

What's fact vs. fiction in Netflix's 'Dating Game' killer film 'Woman of the Hour'

Did a woman recognize Rodney in “The Dating Game”?

A significant portion of the tension in “The Dating Game” scene arises not from the game itself, but from Laura (Nicolette Robinson), an audience member who is shocked to find that one of the bachelors is responsible for the death of her friend. Leaving the audience, she makes her way into the studio and seeks assistance from a security guard. Instead of helping her, however, he plays a cruel trick – dismissing her concerns as unimportant, he gives her the name of a janitor instead.

Kendrick stated that Laura symbolizes individuals impacted by such crimes as well as those who attempted, yet unsuccessfully, to bring authorities’ attention to Alcala’s actions throughout the years. It is worth noting that the friend of Laura who was killed by Alcala was based on a real person. Numerous individuals reported Alcala in connection with assaults and murders over a span of more than one decade, but it wasn’t until July 1979 that he was ultimately imprisoned for life.

Indeed, prior to his appearance on “The Dating Game,” Alcala had already been involved with the criminal justice system. He served time in prison for physically attacking two young women, which led to him being listed as a sex offender. In both instances, he was granted parole.

Did Alcala and Bradshaw go for a drink?

Despite Alcala winning “The Dating Game” and getting a chance to go out with Bradshaw, the planned date never took place. The following day after filming, coordinator Ellen Metzger revealed that Bradshaw contacted her, expressing discomfort due to unusual feelings towards Alcala, finding him strange. He stated he didn’t feel comfortable going on a date with him and asked if this would be an issue. When Ellen assured him it wasn’t necessary, Bradshaw chose not to go out with Alcala.

There seems to be some ambiguity about the interaction between Bradshaw and Alcala, as their encounter on the show appears less cordial than usual for Bradshaw. It’s questionable whether they shared a drink afterward, as portrayed in “Woman of the Hour.” However, the scene is undeniably tense and chilling, effectively conveying the power imbalance between them. The instance where Alcala seems to attack Sheryl at her car, narrowly missing her due to a sudden stage door opening, might be a fabricated dramatic device.

How did Alcala get caught?

In the final scene of “Woman of the Hour,” the character portrayed as a teenage runaway, Amy, is modeled after Monique Hoyt, who indeed fled from Rodney Alcala and reported him to the authorities, resulting in his arrest in February 1979. However, as the closing text indicates, this was not the end of his criminal activities. While waiting for trial, Alcala was released on bail and went on to commit more murders. On July 24, 1979, he was arrested yet again for the murder of Robin Samsoe, a 12-year-old girl. The police found a storage unit in Seattle that belonged to Alcala, containing incriminating evidence and mementos of his killings. At trial, Alcala was sentenced to death, but a sequence of appeals, overturned verdicts, and subsequent trials kept him imprisoned until 2019 when California imposed a temporary ban on capital punishment. Eventually, Alcala passed away in prison due to natural causes in 2021.

Eventually, Alcala was convicted for seven murders, but it’s speculated that his actual victim count is much higher. One day, this mystery might be unraveled: in 2010, the Huntington Beach Police Department publicized photos of Alcala, hoping that people who recognized them would step forward to help identify some of his potential victims.

“Woman of the Hour” states that some authorities estimate up to 130 people were killed by Alcala.

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2024-10-22 00:31

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