''Abduction'' is a 1975 American

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...

directed by

Joseph Zito Joseph Zito (born May 14, 1946) is an American film director and producer, best known for directing several cult and genre films throughout the 1980s, such as ''Missing in Action'', '' Invasion U.S.A.'', ''Red Scorpion'', '' The Prowler'', and ' ...

, produced and written by Kent E. Carroll and based on the novel ''Black Abductor'' by Harrison James which has similarities to the

Patty Hearst Patricia Campbell Hearst (born February 20, 1954) is the granddaughter of American publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst. She first became known for the events following her 1974 kidnapping by the Symbionese Liberation Army. She was found a ...

case which it predates. It stars Gregory Rozakis, David Pendleton and

Judith-Marie Bergan Judith-Marie Bergan was an American film, television and stage actress, known for starring in the Joseph Zito films '' Abduction'' and '' Bloodrage''. She appeared in the television series, ''Brothers'', and had a recurring role in ''Soap'' and i ...

and was first released in the U.S. on October 24, 1975.

Premise

The daughter of a rich property developer is kidnapped and held hostage for ransom by a group of radicals. After being brutalised and brainwashed she eventually becomes converted to their cause.

Violence

The movie is violent throughout though the details are largely kept out of shot. The kidnappers beat up Michael, Patricia's boyfriend, when they seize her. Frank tries and fails to rape her on camera and then Dory takes over. The scenes are sent to Patricia's father along with her reading out the kidnappers' demands. Alongside a second set of demands, Patricia is forced to make love with Carol on camera. The police violently interrogate Jake, a friend of Frank, to find out the identities and location of the gang members. In the final scenes, Patricia shoots the police who have broken in to rescue her, showing that she is now part of the group.

Cast

Prescott family and friend

- Patricia Prescott * Leif Erickson - Mr. Prescott *

Dorothy Malone Dorothy Malone (born Mary Dorothy Maloney; January 29, 1924 – January 19, 2018) was an American actress. Her film career began in 1943, and in her early years, she played small roles, mainly in B-movies, with the exception of a supporting role ...

- Mrs. Prescott *Andrew Rohrer - Michael, Patricia's boyfriend

Kidnappers

*Gregory Rozakis - Frank *David Pendleton - Dory *Catherine Lacy - Carol *Presley Caton - Angie

Also credited

Lawrence Tierney Lawrence James Tierney (March 15, 1919 – February 26, 2002) was an American film and television actor who is best known for his many screen portrayals of mobsters and tough guys in a career that spanned over 50 years. His roles mirrored his ...

- FBI Agent *Andrew Bloch - Jake, who informed on the kidnappers under police interrogation

Release

The film opened exclusively in New York for two weeks before expanding to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Reception

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' described this as "bargain-basement movie-making of the least interesting sort, an ineptly produced ripoff of the

Patricia Hearst Patricia is a female given name of Latin origin. Derived from the Latin word ''patrician'', meaning "noble"; it is the feminine form of the masculine given name Patrick. The name Patricia was the second most common female name in the United State ...

story ... based on a novel that was actually written before the kidnapping". Steve Carlson, on the letterboxd website, commented that this is" plainly scummy little hostage feature that would barely rate a footnote in exploitation-film history if not for that it kicked off the career of Joseph Zito."

Hearst Newspapers Hearst may refer to: Places * Hearst, former name of Hacienda, California, United States * Hearst, Ontario, town in Northern Ontario, Canada * Hearst, California, an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, United States * Hearst Island, an i ...

refused to run advertisements for the film.

References

External links

* * * 1975 films 1970s thriller drama films American thriller drama films American independent films 1970s English-language films 1970s exploitation films Films about kidnapping Films about terrorism Films based on American novels Films directed by Joseph Zito 1975 independent films Films à clef Cultural depictions of Patty Hearst 1975 directorial debut films 1975 drama films 1970s American films {{exploitation-film-stub