FeistyUpper
If you don't like this, we can't be friends.
StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Sober-Friend
Leonard Hatch (Martin Sheen), a fugitive mental patient, kidnaps Doris Mae Withers (Linda Blair), a semi-illiterate farm girl, and takes her away to his remote mountain cabin. There the poetic Leonard becomes her teacher, friend, and lover. The story however is weird because it really doesn't cover what this young lady is going through and that's "Stockholm Syndrome"Entertaining but cringe worthy at the same time!
The_Void
Sweet Hostage is another excellent example of a seventies made for TV movie. There were a lot of great TV movies made during what is probably the richest decade for great movies, although this one stands out a little from many as it is both feature length and feels every bit like a 'proper' movie, not a made for TV one. The plot focuses on the idea of 'Stockholm Syndrome' and we follow a young girl who is kidnapped by an escaped mental patient but ends up falling in love with him along the way. The film doesn't really appear to have any real point to make, but the way that everything plays out is always interesting and that is mostly thanks to the two lead performances which are excellent throughout. Martin Sheen gives a lively performance as the escaped mental patient and actually manages to make his character realistic in spite of the over the top script. Linda Blair is also very good as the kidnapped young girl and has a good chemistry with Sheen. The film is a little under ambitious and that's a shame as it does feel like more could have been made out of this plot; but what we do end up with is an undoubtedly successful drama and I enjoyed this movie on the whole.
kasadale
I actually did not see this movie in 1975 but happened on it years later. That seems like a miracle now considering it certainly is never shown on T.V. anymore. I really got lucky then because for some reason I decided at the last minute to record it. Not knowing at the time how much I would love it, I had recorded it on an old tape on a raggedy VCR. To try and watch it now is really a strain, and I've tried everywhere to find another copy. Even a couple of years ago I showed my young teenage daughter the movie and now it continues to be one of her favorites. Sheen's dialogue in the movie was spellbounding and he performed it so from the heart...it is really hard to put this performance into words. I was so happy to find that there are actually other people out there who also love and appreciate this great film. I love it!!!!!!!
lbworshiper
The line between captor and savior grows faint when an escaped mental patient drags an illiterate farm girl from her drudgery to an idyllic mountain refuge and sets his mind to teaching her how to be a lady. A made-for-TV drama based on Nathaniel Benchley's novel "Welcome to Xanadu."Another exciting movie featuring Linda, she is the greatest actress of all-time, her acting as her body is better than ever in this film. From this point, all the film of Miss Blair are masterpieces.
