FILM 1796: THE DELIBERATE STRANGER

FILM 1796: THE DELIBERATE STRANGER

TRIVIA: According to Ann Rule in an updated edition of her true crime novel about Ted Bundy, "The Stranger Beside Me", after "The Deliberate Stranger" first aired on TV, the real Bundy started to receive hundreds more love letters per day. Rule concluded that many of these women who sent Bundy love letters were actually writing them to Mark Harmon, or imagining that Bundy was more like Harmon than he actually was.

The real Ted Bundy continued to claim he was innocent until shortly before his execution in 1989. Bundy provided details of the murders even as he was walked to the electric chair.

Ted Bundy, who was still on death row and appealing his case to the U.S. Supreme court when "The Deliberate Stranger" premiered on TV, refused to watch the movie.

Robert Hays was first sought out for the role of Ted Bundy due to his striking resemblance to Bundy. Hay's rejected the role due to moral issues with the script and respect for the victims families.

Jeannetta Arnette as Mrs. Ritcher is based on Ted Bundy biographer Ann Rule (The Stranger Beside Me), who, fifteen years older, worked with Bundy at a Crisis Center as he (in this movie and real life) listened compassionately to her marital problems. She remained his supporter until the Florida Trials, but still kept in touch.