Anyone Else Feel Sorry For Paul???

You sound like you feel sorrier for the psychopath than the woman who was unfortunate to get caught up with the psychopath.

Honestly, I do wish that Paul Snider had received some sort of help. Clearly he was a disturbed messed-up man. But many people are 'messed-up' and/or 'losers', but they still don't commit such evil acts as raping and then savagely murdering a woman.

Sure, Dorothy should have avoided this creep like the plague, but one can't remotely blame her for what happened, and perhaps she felt she owned him since it was his idea to get her into the entertainment industry to begin with, which would explain why she continued to look out for his sorry ass. I know a lot of men and women in the entertainment industry aren't terribly bright but I don't think Dorothy was necessarily being 'dumb', or even 'naïve' (who could have foreseen what he ended up doing to her, really?). She clearly cared for him (albeit not in a romantic sense), and compassion and sympathy doesn't make a person 'stupid' as such even if people, including Dorothy, sometimes get 'punished' for such decency.

Paul Snider was a p.o.s. The amazing performance by Eric Roberts showcases this magnificently. It's hard to feel anything for a man who sodomised his ex wife after he just murdered her. That poor girl was 20 years old and was manipulated and groomed into a career she should never have been in. She wasn't dumb, just a lot of low self esteem I think. I always thought she looked like a nurse I had when I was in hospital as a child, she was almost angelic and she was able to convey a childlike vulnerability to her photos that showed her naivety.

I am the ray of darkness in your otherwise sunny day...

The Cake is a Lie

Don't feel weird, man. The film is designed to make you have sympathy for Paul. Bob Fosse, the director, has admitted to that, saying he identified with some aspect of the man and his situation however bizarre that may seem (director William Wyler used this same approach in making THE COLLECTOR in 1965). This was the reason, I believe, that Fosse was savagely raked over the coals by critics who formerly thought he could do no wrong (CABARET, LENNY, ALL THAT JAZZ). Because this wasn't a fictional story, like THE COLLECTOR, coupled with the fact that this murder/suicide took place 3 short years before, it's understandable the violent negative reaction (and poor box office ) this movie generated.

Ah, victim blaming. Where would any tragic story be without you?

No, I don't feel sorry for Paul Snider. He wasn't some poor born loser who snapped one day. He was calculating and manipulative but wholly inept. He didn't want to work for money or prominence, he tried various "get rich quick"schemes and piggy backed on young woman for both.

And no, Dorothy wasn't stupid nor did she bring about her own death which is basically what the OP implied. There's a reason that manipulative, abusive and damaged older men seek out naive young women. Many of those women haven't had experience with men or relationships and are far more likely to put up with or dismiss psychotic behavior. The relationships don't start off like that. The man is careful to hide those aspects of himself for awhile and works to earn the woman's love and respect. By the time the minor blow ups escalate to insanity, the woman is in love and often is made to feel she will be utterly alone if she leaves the guy. As in Dorothy's case, she felt she owed her good fortune and career to Paul and felt guilty about outgrowing him. That's why she went to meet him.

Also bear in mind, Dorothy was a teenager when she met Paul. Many teens/young adults make poor choices because of a lack of life experience. Making a poor choice shouldn't be a death sentence. In 1980, there was no such thing as domestic violence awareness or any real information about toxic relationships. This kind or scenario was virtually unheard of even though it happened frequently. Only in the past 25 years or so has the issue been openly spoken about. Regardless, at the end of the day Paul is still to blame. It was a needless and irrational act fueled by his narcissism. I don't have a pang of sympathy for him.

Didn't Paul forge Dorothy's mother's signature on a consent form? This was how Paul was able to accompany a minor to the United States.

No, I wish that I shot the fucker myself.

Yeah, incels.

No, not at all. Dorothy was (I believe) in High School when they started dating. He was one of those guys that presented himself as some kind of hot shot - when in fact he was nothing. To an 18 year old, he probably did appear impressive. But what happened is they got to Hollywood, and his BS was quickly recognized. Dorothy on the other hand, was discovered in a sense. I don't know how far her acting would have taken her, but she was definitely headed towards - something. Paul, as I said, had been figured out by the Hollywood crowd and was tossed aside by everyone. Eventually Dorothy wanted to toss him aside as well. He couldn't take it - so he killed her. The one to feel sorry for is Dorothy. She might have ended up being a half way decent actress. Or she may have been a "LOve Boat" and "Fantasy Island" regular. WHo knows? Unfortunately we will never know.