Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Sweet Hostage (1975) (TV) > IMDb user comments

IMDb user comments for
Sweet Hostage (1975) (TV) More at IMDbPro »

Filter: Hide Spoilers:
Page 1 of 3:[1] [2] [3] [Next]
Index 23 comments in total 

8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
"They were like strangers on a carousel...the ride must always end", 14 January 2001
8/10
Author: moonspinner55 from redlands, ca

Martin Sheen gives a rich, rewarding performance in this memorable, underrated television drama. It's rare to find a film simply and honestly built on the budding relationship between just two main characters. Sheen's escaped mental patient and Linda Blair's kidnapped farm girl talk, fight, come to a mutual understanding, and finally become lovers. Sheen spouts poetry to tomboyish Blair, but he grows on her, and she to him. The scenes where they discuss the meaning of words like "symmetry" and "phosphorescence" is charmingly played, and Blair is right in tune with Sheen's reckless, showy abandon. This ABC-TV production, based on Nathaniel Benchley's book "Welcome to Xanadu", is let down a bit by the low budget (as well as by the romantic theme song which plays at the beginning and nearly gives away the plot!), but it has two terrific lead performances and a loose, brisk direction by Lee Philips. "Sweet Hostage" is mighty sweet indeed.

Was the above comment useful to you?

8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
Best Blair/Sheen movie ever!, 25 August 1999
10/10
Author: Carrigon from United States

This is an amazing movie for its time and you can really see the talent of Linda Blair and Martin Sheen in this film. It's about a man who escapes from an asylum and kidnaps a teenage girl. The two of them fall in love, but sadly their love is doomed. It's a story that really stays with you for years. It's well worth watching.

Was the above comment useful to you?

7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Touching Performance and Story!, 28 June 2004
10/10
Author: Pat C (popnoff2001@yahoo.com) from Los Angeles

Back when i first saw this movie I was in the Navy on the USS Enterprise. It was 1978 and I was 18. Very young and impressionable. I had been going thru the usual stuff most people that age go thru. A search for self and something I could believe in. So when they showed this movie on the ships TV I was on watch and sat their mesmerized as the movie progressed. The more i saw it the more i felt completely captivated by the main character martin Sheen played. He represented everything i was feeling and going thru. I felt like and outsider and that no one understood my true self. I found my self in tears and could hardly believe that there was someone who felt the same, even if it was a fictional movie character. I was deeply moved for days and found myself wanting to do everything from go AWOL and run away to commit suicide because there was just no way I could live in the world as I saw it and Martin Sheen saw it in that movie. I have never seen it again and hardly feel it would have any impact on me other than nostalgic but on that night far away on the Pacific Ocean, this TV movie Sweet Hostage was a godsend that I felt was meant to be shown while most the ship slept, I had a deeply spiritual experience. all from a movie! I chuckle now but it was one of my favorites for years until I finally grew up and got jaded and swept away in the typical pursuits of a young man..sex, girls and fast cars! Excellent movie.

Was the above comment useful to you?

6 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
I can't forget the Movie, 2 September 2000
10/10
Author: (nonamegirl489689@aol.com) from Germany

I am a Girl from Germany and I am 15 years old. I have seen "Sweet hostage" ( It is called "Geliebte Geisel" in Germany) few weeks ago( for the first time). And now i cannot forget the movie. It a movie from the seventies, but it is nicer than all movies today. I love Martin Sheens character in this movie and the whole story.Now I am searching photos of the movie (internet), but I cannot find any. I hope I will see the movie again soon. And I know that I won't forget it anymore in my whole life!I just can say: It is a wonderful Movie!

Was the above comment useful to you?

7 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
Unforgettable!, 18 July 2006
9/10
Author: celtic43 from Bristol, UK

I was fortunate to have recorded this film on video many years ago, and it's always a real joy to watch it again.

A literate script, a totally involving storyline, Linda Blair's best-ever performance, and an awesome turn from Martin Sheen, all go to make up one of the best films of the 1970s.

A pity about the slightly OTT music soundtrack and naff song, and the film could have been a little longer. Also the much better book title of 'Welcome to Xanadu' should never have been dumbed down to 'Sweet Hostage'. But these are minor gripes about what is in any sense of the word a masterpiece.

Was the above comment useful to you?

6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
A Great Movie, 30 October 2006
10/10
Author: edwinlisley from United States

A synopsis has already been provided by another user.

I just wanted to comment on the film.

Linda Denise Blair and Martin Sheen truly shine in this movie. Based on Welcome to Xandu by Nathaniel Benchley (father of Peter Benchley of Jaws' fame), the movie is funny, cheerful, tense, upsetting, romantic, and tragic.

Linda is my favorite actress of all times, and this is her greatest performance.

It is also Linda at her most beautiful and charming.

Martin puts forth a delightful performance.

The character Leonard Hatch is clearly not an insane man.

He is in all honesty just misunderstood.

Doris Mae is trapped by her narrowed minded parents who aspire to see her remain ignorant and completely uneducated.

Leonard opens her mind and provides Doris Mae, a.k.a Christa Bell, with the beginning of an education and buys her her first dress.

It is my favorite movie of all times!

Was the above comment useful to you?

5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
A good tear-jerker., 17 October 2003
Author: ehutson2001 from United States

One of my all-time favorite movies.

I first saw the movie when it ran on t.v. in 1975. After repeated near-misses, I finally got it on tape almost 20 years later. I was already a Linda Blair fan, and this movie introduced me to Martin Sheen (I still have not seen a bad Martin Sheen movie).

The movie gives a moving portrayal of a hopeless love affair. It's a must-see if you enjoy a good tear-jerker.

Was the above comment useful to you?

3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Best Film Ever, 13 August 2005
10/10
Author: KEdworthy from United Kingdom

I First Watched This film when i was 17 and it was the most moving film i had ever watched it was so good both Linda Blair and Martin Sheen were fantastic in this movie i have tried to purchase this film for years and was told it had been withdrawn from British shops My boyfriend decided to search the net and found a copy from USA for $150 and decided to purchase for me for Xmas last year and again when i watched it it made me laugh and cry it is still the best and was worth the money all my friends agree and even my boyfriend agreed what a good film it is all i can say is if you haven't seen it try and get it cause i am sure you will love it as much as me.....

Was the above comment useful to you?

3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
good old movie, 18 July 2004
8/10
Author: michaelkeelee (michaelkeelee@aol.com) from texas

I watched this movie many moons ago and enjoyed it very much. In todays standards it probably would not rate but even if I saw it today I would still love it, wish I could buy the movie on DVD. This movie is for the romantics at heart! It starts off strange and mean and the whole time your rooting for linda blair character to get away, but towards the middle you find yourself wanting them to get along and be together. Martin sheens character is very strange, but towards the end you love him and understand him. Even though he's supposed to be crazy you want to be like him because he sees the world differently, a kinder world until the end.

Was the above comment useful to you?

3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
A naive but charming love story, 20 July 2000
7/10
Author: bonscott-2 from Tours, France

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Back in 1975 Linda Blair was still considered an honest actress. And she proves she just could act (which might not be so certain if you've seen most of the films she made the next decade) in this nice story quite close to "Badlands" ( Terrence Mallick, 1974). Martin Sheen is really convincing in the role of this escapist from a mental institution and his complicity with young Linda Blair makes the film stand its way. The end however is quite easy (Sheen's character committing suicide at the police's arrival followed immediately by the credits as Blair cries over his dead corpse. Anyway it's just a TV film, one can't be too demanding as for a real motion picture!) So, if you like the seventies' spirit and want to see an entertaining tale with two actors who were still at their best, have a look at "Sweet Hostage" (if you can find a copy for it's very rare...)

Was the above comment useful to you?
Page 1 of 3:[1] [2] [3] [Next]

Add another comment

Related Links

Ratings Awards Plot keywords
Main details Your user comments Your vote history