Sweet Hostage (1975)

This made-for-TV movie for ABC starred Martin Sheen as Leonard Hatch, an escaped psychiatric patient who kidnaps illiterate 16-year-old farm girl Doris Mae Withers (Linda Blair) and takes her to his isolated cabin in the mountains of New Mexico.

The pair talk and fight and eventually become friends and, finally, lovers. Along the way, Doris learns much from the well-educated, funny and poetic – but very confused – Lenny.

The film – based on a novel called Welcome to Xanadu by Nathaniel Benchley (father of Jaws author Peter Benchley) – endured criticism for its portrayal and alleged glamorisation of Stockholm syndrome, ephebophilia, domestic abuse, and the kidnapping of a teenage girl.

Others argued that the “kidnapping” was more of a rescue for Doris and that she was better off with Leonard, who went to great lengths to educate her, guide her, and (for the most part) remain respectful of his boundaries with her in contrast to her life on the farm with abusive parents who overworked her with hard labour and denied her an education.

Sweet Hostage received a 1976 Golden Globe nomination for ‘Best Television Movie’.

Doris Mae Withers
Linda Blair
Leonard Hatch
Martin Sheen
Mrs Withers
Jeanne Cooper
Sheriff Emmet
Lee de Broux
Mr Withers
Bert Remsen
Harry Fox
Dehl Berti
Mr Smathers
Al Hopson
Hank Smathers
William Sterchi
Juan
Roberto Valentino De Leon
Tom Martinez
Michael Eiland

Director
Lee Philips