THE ORDEAL OF PATTY HEARST

US, 1978, 138 minutes, Colour.
Dennis Weaver, Lisa Eilbacher, Stephen Elliot.
Directed by Paul Wendkos.

The Ordeal of Patty Hearst is one of several feature documentary telemovies made at the end of the '70s. The popularity of the films on the raid at Entebbe seemed to ensure audience interest in films like this one about Patty Hearst. However, the film is much more a story about the F.B.I. and its investigation than Patty Hearst. She seems at times to fade into the background as do some of the issues about her kidnapping and her participation in the activities of the Symbionese Liberation Army. Charles Bates, the F.B.I. investigator in charge of the investigation, was the technical adviser for this film and it is based on his memoirs. As played by Dennis Weaver, very well, he features largely. Direction is by Paul Wendkos, maker of many feature films and telemovies. Interesting but not with as much impact as might have been. There was an exploitive melodrama based on the Hearst situation called The Abduction (1975). More of Patty Hearst's plight was felt by the audience in The Abduction than in this present film.

1. The popularity of the telemovies of the '70s, especially those dealing with current situations and personalities, the documentary style? The look behind the headlines and the melodramatic situations, personalities? The impact of this film?

2. Audience presuppositions about Patty Hearst, the Hearst family and its tycoon traditions, the foment about the Vietnam war and against authority in the United States, the Symbionese Liberation Army and other such movements? Patty Hearst's abduction, her being part of the army, participation in bank robberies? Her capture, reactions, trial and jailing? Her release? Audience interest in the personality and the issues? Audience sketchy knowledge filled in by the film? To what extent?

3. The length of the film and its cumulative effect? The domestic side of Patty Hearst's life, the impact of the kidnapping, the suspense in her torture and in her brainwashing? The atmosphere of the Liberation Army and of the F.B.I. investigating? The use of American locations? The events themselves and their being presented for the home audience - therefore toned down?

4. The structure of the film: times and places, the truth. how adequate a representation of the incidents? The presentation of the F.B.I., of the Hearst family?

5. The focus on Bates - his role as technical adviser. seeing the abduction and the investigation in the light of his personality and judgment? Dennis Weaver's easy presence as Bates? The parallel with Bates' daughter and the sequences highlighting her as equivalent to Patty? His work with the F.B.I., his age, loss of job? His control of his department? The various meetings he attended and his justification of his methods? His staff and their pressures, the thoroughness of their investigations? His personal interest in the case, his visiting the Hearsts? His wanting to be in on things - and ultimately at the arrests? How well drawn his character? Well presented through his own eyes? His attempts to understand Patty, her psychology and his remarks about understanding her, his shock at the end at her reaction? The final plea as the postscript of the film? Audience sympathy for him and for the F.B.I.?

6. The F.B.I. in the post-Watergate period? Criticisms. the Hoover tradition, organisation, accountability? Personnel, methods? The patience of investigation, pressures? The hostility of people to investigators? The range of undercover agents - from doorknocking to hippie types on location? The use of violence - the Los Angeles siege and public reaction, the interviews with the parents of those killed? The pros and cons of the F.B.I. and its methods?

7. The introduction to Patty - at Berkeley. relationship with Steve Weed? As an ordinary student, political interest, the background of her family, the Hearst wealth and style? How well drawn was her character? The effect of the first three weeks, her desperation, her change of character? As understood by the media and photography? The world's impression of Patty Hearst while abducted? Her being chosen as a symbol of American wealth, authority and influence? Was her character well sketched enough?

8. Patty Hearst's ordeal - the first three weeks, the blindfold, the talk, her not knowing what was going on? The puzzle of how to cope? The psychology of oppression? Violence, sexual intimidation? What made her change? Pressure, brainwashing? Her participation in the training? The army techniques for training? Her participation in the robberies? Her laughing? Her travelling across America, the training on the east coast? The incident with the van and her discussion with the driver? Her sorrow for him, her arrest and defiance? The preparation for the brainwashing and its effect, how really did it change her personality, govern her actions? Was terror a sufficient explanation?

9. The image of the United States and the '70s? The heritage of the '60s and the attack on authority? Fringe terrorist groups in San Francisco? The various personalities attracted to these movements? Their wealthy background, fanaticism, training and fighting? Blacks.. whites., rich? How well sketched were the various personalities in the S.L.A.? Berkeley as a focus for this kind of activity? San Francisco and the underground newspapers? Arm dealers? The social situation - Vietnam. Watergate. Nixon? The ferment and the remarks made about it by Bates' daughter? The change to the late '70s and '80s? The contrast of Berkeley as more peaceful after the protests and the meetings?

10. The presentation of violence, guns.. banks, shooting, F.B.I. sieges? Public reaction?

11. The film's understanding of the S.L.A. - personalities.. techniques. the escaping of detection for so long, the bonds between the group? Training.. sexual relationships,, the changing of names? Jefferson Davis and the consultation with him in prison and his influence?

12. The film as the study of a case and investigation? A bizarre aspect of American history in the '70s? Patty Hearst as a symbol of the times?