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, the new Netflix 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 finds her interaction with murderer Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto) survives. like the real Cheryl Bradshaw did.

However, when telling a true story in film, creative liberties certainly need to be taken. That’s why we compared the real case of Rodney Alcala with ‘Woman of the Hour’ to determine what is fact and what is fiction in the film.

Did Alcala work at the Los Angeles Times?

One scene in “Woman of the Hour” shows Alcala working at The Times in 1977, a year before his 1978 appearance in “The Dating Game.” It’s unclear what his position at the paper is, but his colleagues seem impressed with him as he weaves tall tales about knowing Warren Beatty and shows off his photography. (Many of the images are of naked women.) The scene suggests that Alcala exaggerated his role at the newspaper to gain access to his subjects.

Despite not using an alias and having previous convictions, Alcala was hired by The Times as typesetter in September 1977. According to a “20/20” episode of “The Dating Game Killer,” Alcala did indeed bring photos of naked women to the office, although these were seen by his colleagues as artistic in nature. and no warning sign about his state of mind. He likely used his job to entrap at least one of his victims: Pamela Jean Lambson met Alcala in October 1977, and former Marin County Det. Richard Keaton recalled that Lambson was excited about the opportunity Alcala offered her, showing the photographer’s business card to her stylist. Her body was found the next day. It is not entirely clear when Alcala left the newspaper and quit sometime before he murdered Robin Christine Samsoe in 1979.

How accurate are the scenes from “The Dating Game”?

“Woman of the Hour” takes significant creative liberties in exploring the pivotal “Dating Game.” Some of these are minor adjustments for dramatic effect; By making Alcala Bachelor No. 3 when he was actually No. 1, the film builds to the reveal of Alcala’s face on the panel. The prize change also raises the stakes: Sheryl and Rodney win an all-expenses-paid trip to Carmel, while the real prize was tennis lessons and tickets to Magic Mountain theme park. An accurate aspect of the episode’s portrayal? According to fellow contestant Jed Mills, Alcala actually told him, “I always get my girl.”

As for Sheryl going on ‘The Dating Game’ to boost her profile as an actor, which may seem absurd today was not unusual at the time. Her agent points out that it worked Sally Fieldwho appeared in an episode of the show in 1966 (alongside bachelor Robert Vaughn, of “The Man From UNCLE” fame); Many other stars went on the show before finding superstardom as well, including Farrah Fawcett, Steve Martin, Suzanne Somers, Burt Reynolds and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The biggest change in ‘The Dating Game’ comes from Sheryl herself. In “Woman of the Hour,” she rewrites the script and asks her own questions, including tough ones about special relativity and “What are girls for?” As seen in the surviving clips from the original episode, the real Cheryl appears to be adhering to the show’s conventions and flirtatiously playing along with the game. Knowing the context of Alcala’s actions makes this even more chilling than the movie: at one point, Cheryl asks Rodney to act like a dirty old man, resulting in a moment that would probably be dismissed as too outrageous if it were to be remade. the movie.

Anna Kendrick as Sheryl in ‘Woman of the Hour’.

(Lea Gallo/Netflix)

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

Much of the dramatic weight of “The Dating Game” series comes not from the game itself, but from an audience member named Laura (Nicolette Robinson), who is shocked to discover that one of the singles is the man who is her boyfriend killed. She leaves the studio audience and enters the studio, asking a security guard for help. In turn, the guard offers to let her talk to a producer, but it’s a cruel joke: he refuses to take her concerns seriously and instead gives her the name of a concierge.

Kendrick has said that Laura represents those affected by such crimes, as well as those who have tried and failed to draw the attention of authorities to Alcala over the years. (Laura’s friend who killed Alcala, however, was based on a real person.) Numerous people reported Alcala in connection with assaults and murders over the course of more than a decade before he was finally locked up for good in July 1979.

Alcala even had a criminal record before appearing on “The Dating Game,” in which he served time in prison for assaulting two girls and became a registered sex offender. (In both cases he was released on parole.)

Did Alcala and Bradshaw go out for drinks?

Although Alcala won ‘The Dating Game’ and secured a date with the real Bradshaw, that date never materialized. The day after the episode was filmed, contestant coordinator Ellen Metzger said: Bradshaw called her and told her, ‘I can’t date this guy. Strange feelings come from him, he is very strange. I don’t enjoy going out with him. Is that going to be a problem?” Ellen told Bradshaw that she didn’t have to go on that date.

It is unclear what exactly happened between Bradshaw and Alcala. In clips from their episode, Bradshaw looks significantly less excited when she comes face to face with Alcala. It’s unlikely the pair went for drinks after the show, as depicted in ‘Woman of the Hour’. Either way, it’s an intense and terrifying scene that cleverly emphasizes the pair’s size difference and the physical strength advantage he has. The moment when Alcala almost attacks Sheryl at her car, but is saved by a doorway at the last second, is probably also a narrative contrivance.

How was Alcala caught?

Amy, the teen runaway seen at the end of “Woman of the Hour,” is based on the real Monique Hoyt, who did indeed escape Alcala and report him to the police – leading to his arrest in February 1979. the text after the film shows that this was not the end of his crimes. While awaiting trial, Alcala was released on bail and turned to murder again. On July 24, 1979, he was arrested for the last time for the murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe. Police discovered a storage unit in Seattle belonging to Alcala, filled with damning evidence and trophies from his murders. Alcala was given the death penalty at trial, but through a series of appeals, repossessions and subsequent trials, Alcala remained in prison until 2019, when California imposed a moratorium on the death penalty. Alcala eventually died in prison in 2021 from natural causes.

Ultimately, Alcala was found guilty of seven murders, although the actual number of people he killed is believed to be considerably higher. One day the mystery may be solved: the Huntington Beach Police Department released Alcala’s photos in 2010 in the hope that people who recognized them would come forward and identify some of the victims.

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