Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut is coming to Netflix on October 18th. The film is called Woman of the Hour. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023.
This film tells a story that many fans of lost media and true crime are familiar with. Although it changes some details, the true story is worth telling again. The film looks back at a 1978 episode of the classic game show The Dating Game, which many people find fascinating and curious.
The show had a classic format where anonymous bachelors and bachelorettes asked each other flirty questions and got flirty answers in return.
Many television shows have made fun of this format, including Ru Paul’s Drag Race: All-Stars with its “Snatch Game of Love.” However, today, the setup and prize from the show would probably not work due to security issues.
While The Dating Game aired, many famous people appeared on the show, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Farrah Fawcett, Tom Selleck, and Sally Field. However, these are not the appearances people remember most today. Anna Kendrick plays Cheryl Bradshaw in Woman of the Hour.
She is a bachelorette who had to choose between three anonymous men. One of them, called Bachelor Number 1, was described as a photographer and daredevil.
His name was Rodney Alcala, and by the time he appeared on the show, he had a terrifying criminal record that included assault, child molestation, rape, and murder.
Watching the episode today is uncomfortable because of what we know now. Alcala’s answers about nighttime being the best time and his suggestive jokes about bananas feel very sinister given his crimes. In front of the cameras, he seemed like any normal bachelor.
Contestants were encouraged to make flirty jokes with each other, and Alcala played along with that. He smiled and laughed a lot, making him seem charming to the audience. In the end, Alcala won the bachelor spot and was awarded an all-expenses-paid date with Bradshaw.
After filming, Bradshaw decided not to go on a date with Alcala. She thought he was “very strange.” Bachelor Number 2, Jed Mills, even called him “creepy.”
At that time, Bradshaw did not know how lucky she was to avoid him. As mentioned earlier, before his appearance on the show, Rodney Alcala had a violent criminal past.
Born Rodrigo Jacques Alcala Buquor on August 23, 1943, his first known crime happened in 1968. He lured, assaulted, and nearly killed an eight-year-old girl named Tali Shapiro.
Thankfully, Shapiro was found alive, but she had a long recovery ahead of her. After that, Alcala ran away to New York.
He used the names “John Berger” and “John Burger” while there. While studying at NYU under the disgraced director Roman Polanski, he also worked in an office with Richard Cottingham, known as the Torso Killer. Eventually, the FBI identified him.
Alcala’s first major miscarriage of justice occurred when he was sent back to California. The Shapiro family had moved out of the country and could not provide a witness statement needed for an attempted murder charge.
Instead, Alcala was sentenced to three years for child molestation. He only served one year and five months before getting paroled. Two months later, he was arrested again for another assault.
After his release, Alcala worked as a typesetter for the Los Angeles Times and a freelance photographer. This gave him another way to lure vulnerable women and young people to their terrible fates.
Many of the photos he took were explicit and hinted at many other victims who remained unsolved. From 1977 to 1979, Alcala reportedly killed six women and girls, including one as young as 12 years old.
The youngest victim was Robin Samsoe. Her case eventually led to Alcala’s arrest. Police questioned Samsoe’s friends, who later recognized Alcala. During a police search, they found another victim’s earrings in his storage locker.
Alcala was convicted of Samsoe’s murder and sentenced to death in 1980. However, his sentence was repeatedly overturned and reinstated as more of his crimes came to light.
In fact, some victims previously connected to other infamous Los Angeles serial killers, like The Hillside Strangler, are now linked to Alcala through DNA evidence.
Alcala even filed lawsuits against the California prison system for silly reasons. He continuously fought against his sentence, even acting as his own lawyer in a strange display of self-ventriloquism during his 2010 trial.
For his final trial, Tali Shapiro returned as a surprise witness, leading to another death sentence for Alcala.
However, Alcala died of unexplained natural causes on July 24, 2021. He was 77 years old and had spent the last 42 years of his life in California State Prison.
Even then, this was not the end. Even though eight murders have been confirmed to be Alcala’s work, he may be responsible for over a hundred more.
Alcala took hundreds of photos, and authorities worry he may have harmed the people in those images. It is likely that in the future, we will find out that Alcala ruined many more lives than we currently know.
Considering all this, it is astonishing that Alcala appeared on The Dating Game. From a safety perspective, this was a failure for history books. Strangely, this has happened more than once.
Welsh serial killer John Cooper appeared on the game show Bullseye in 1989, and French serial killer François Vérove appeared on a quiz show in 2019, shortly before he died.
The case of the Dating Game killer feels most shocking because of the show’s concept and especially the prize involved. If Bradshaw had accepted the date with Alcala, there is no telling what could have happened.
Alcala used his real name, and he had a criminal record that the producers could have and should have checked. Instead, we have a chilling situation that inspired films like Woman of the Hour.
The Show’s Format and Cultural Impact
The Dating Game aired for the first time in 1965 and ran for several seasons. Its format was simple yet effective: a single woman would ask questions to three male contestants, who remained hidden from view.
The format allowed for playful banter and comedic moments, drawing in viewers from across the country. As the show gained popularity, it became a staple of American television.
The show’s blend of humor and romance captured the attention of many and set a standard for dating shows that followed. However, the format also left room for unexpected and dangerous situations.
The producers focused on entertainment rather than the safety of the contestants. This lack of concern for safety becomes particularly evident when looking back at Alcala’s appearance.
Contestants were often encouraged to be flirty and playful, making jokes and engaging in lighthearted banter. While this might seem harmless in a typical context, it can easily become problematic when one of the participants has a violent background.
The idea of a dating show where potential partners are not screened for criminal records raises serious concerns about how producers prioritized entertainment over contestant safety.
The cultural impact of The Dating Game is significant. It was a precursor to many reality dating shows we see today, and its influence is still felt. Shows like The Bachelor and Love Island owe much of their format to The Dating Game.
However, the dark turn in the story of Alcala serves as a cautionary tale for the producers and contestants of modern dating shows. The incident reminds us that while these shows can be entertaining, they also carry inherent risks.
The Chilling Reality of Rodney Alcala
Rodney Alcala was born in 1943. His early life was marked by instability and chaos. He grew up in Los Angeles, California, and showed signs of troubled behavior from a young age. His childhood experiences and environment likely contributed to his later actions as an adult.
Alcala’s first known crime occurred when he was just 25 years old. He lured Tali Shapiro, an eight-year-old girl, to his home and assaulted her.
Fortunately, Tali survived, but the psychological and physical trauma from the incident was immense. After this crime, Alcala fled to New York and changed his name, attempting to erase his past.
During his time in New York, he enrolled at New York University, where he studied under the infamous filmmaker Roman Polanski.
Ironically, this situation further entwined him with darkness, as Polanski’s life also took a criminal turn later on. Alcala’s time in New York provided him with a facade of normalcy while he was living a double life filled with crime and deceit.
Upon returning to California, Alcala’s criminal behavior escalated. He became a freelance photographer, which allowed him to engage with potential victims under the guise of being a harmless artist.
This opportunity enabled him to lure women into vulnerable situations. He would often invite them to participate in photo shoots, but these innocent invitations quickly turned deadly.
Many of the victims he encountered between 1977 and 1979 were young women and girls. His predatory nature and charm masked a violent intent, which ultimately led to their deaths. Alcala’s crimes were horrific, and his ability to blend into society without arousing suspicion makes his story even more chilling.
The Aftermath of Alcala’s Crimes
Alcala’s arrest in 1979 marked a significant moment in the investigation of his crimes. The murder of Robin Samsoe played a pivotal role in linking Alcala to a series of unsolved murders.
His eventual conviction for Samsoe’s murder was not the end of his legal troubles; instead, it opened a floodgate of evidence that tied him to numerous other victims.
During his trials, various legal loopholes and injustices became apparent. Alcala’s defense team used every tactic to reduce his sentences, including questioning the credibility of witnesses and even claiming that he was being unfairly targeted.
Each time he was convicted, the case would be overturned due to procedural errors. This cycle of justice and injustice highlights the flaws in the American legal system, particularly when dealing with high-profile cases.
The years of legal battles took a toll on many families who were waiting for closure. The impact of Alcala’s actions rippled through the families of his victims, leaving lasting scars.
The pain endured by these families is immeasurable. They had to grapple with the reality that their loved ones had suffered at the hands of a monster who evaded justice for so long.
Even after his death, Alcala’s legacy continues to haunt many. The authorities still fear that more victims may be discovered as cold cases are revisited and DNA evidence becomes more advanced.
As law enforcement agencies work tirelessly to bring closure to the families of Alcala’s victims, the question remains: how many more lives did he take?
Reflections on Safety in Reality Television
The story of Rodney Alcala raises serious concerns about safety in reality television, especially dating shows. The producers of The Dating Game prioritized entertainment and ratings over the well-being of contestants.
As viewers, we often take for granted the safety measures put in place for reality shows, assuming that producers screen participants thoroughly.
However, Alcala’s appearance serves as a grim reminder that not all precautions are taken. The episode draws attention to the reality that many contestants are placed in vulnerable situations without adequate safety measures. This negligence is not just an issue from the past; it remains a concern in contemporary reality television.
In the wake of Alcala’s crimes, many reality shows have implemented more stringent safety protocols to protect their contestants.
Producers must ensure that participants are screened for criminal histories and mental health issues. While there is still a long way to go, these changes are essential to protecting contestants and fostering a safer environment for all involved.
Anna Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers that lurk beneath the surface of entertainment.
By shedding light on the story of Rodney Alcala, Kendrick and her team hope to raise awareness about the importance of safety in reality television. The film is more than just a recounting of historical events; it’s a call to action for producers and viewers alike.
The story of The Dating Game and Rodney Alcala serves as a chilling reflection of the darker side of human nature. It reminds us that behind the laughter and flirtation of reality television can lie unspeakable horrors.
As we approach the release of Woman of the Hour, it is essential to reflect on the lessons learned from this tragic tale and work towards creating a safer, more responsible entertainment industry.
The film is sure to provoke thought and discussions about the lengths we go to for entertainment and the responsibilities of those who produce it.
As viewers, we must also consider how we engage with reality television and the impact it has on our perception of safety and morality in society. Ultimately, Woman of the Hour aims to remind us that entertainment should never come at the expense of safety, dignity, or humanity.
