Kidnap threat stalks stars

In his latest movie, Michael Douglas stars as a father desperately trying to rescue his daughter from kidnappers. He recalls here how at the age of six he narrowly avoided being a kidnap victim himself.

The grim realism of his new movie, Don't Say a Word, currently filming in New York and Toronto, about a Manhattan psychiatrist who frantically races to secure the freedom of his kidnapped daughter, brought back a flood of memories to Michael Douglas of his own daring escape from kidnappers years ago, revealing in his own words how, as a child, using his already acute, street-sharp instincts, he cleverly saved his own life. "When I was six, living in New York City," he recalls, "a couple of guys tried to get me. It happened right outside our apartment." Michael's parents, screen legend Kirk Douglas and actress wife Diana, were apart at the time. "Basically, I ran from them," Douglas remembers. "They approached me outside my apartment building, and I ran down into the basement of the building and I hid under a boiler. I could see them on the catwalk. They were just walking around, and they waited. They waited and they waited and they waited. I will never forget. It was like out of the movies." 

It could also have been like the stories he'd heard. After the kidnapping and death of the infant son of aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne in 1932, a crime that shocked America, parents were terrified of kidnappers and, understandably, passed that anxiety on to their children. In her memoir, In the Wings, Diana Douglas Darrid relates this story: "One day, a friend dropped by who had just been though a messy divorce with a Dane, Hafdan Hebo. She was telling me that he had taken their child back to Denmark against the orders of the court and had refused to bring her back to the US, so (she) had sworn out a warrant against him. On his return he was thrown in jail. A few days later, Michael asked if he could wait for the school bus on the corner 'like the big boys', instead of being shepherded over in a cab. I agreed, but warned him against getting into any car with a stranger. Michael sighed and gave me a pitying look. 'Really, Mom! If a guy asked me to get in a car with him, you know what I'd say?' 

'What?'

'I'd tell him that a very good friend of mine, Mr. Hebo, is now in jail for doing that very same thing, so he'd better watch his step.' I smiled at the vision of a potential child molester being confronted by the sangfroid of my six-year-old."

So there was six-year-old Michael Douglas, crouched and cowering behind the boiler in the basement of his apartment building. "I ran to the elevator which happened to be down there in the basement," he continues. "It had one of those porthole doors. I got into the elevator, pushed the button, and just like - BOOM! - I saw the guy's face right in front of me as I was peering out of that porthole door as the elevator went up. It was pretty traumatic. My mother was, you know, very upset." 

Now, off-screen, Michael Douglas is once again a father. His son, Cameron, with his first wife, Diandra Luker, is grown but he and his bride, beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones, have an infant, Dylan Michael Douglas, born last August. Understandably, he is reluctant to discuss kidnapping as it pertains to little Dylan, shaking his head as he says, "Well, I don't really like to talk about it, you know. It's not a discussion to talk about one's life because all it does is perpetuate or motivate, so obviously there are precautions taken. This is not a subject I wish to personally dwell on."

But kidnapping is a major concern for Hollywood stars. When Frank Sinatra Jr., was 19, he was kidnapped at gunpoint in Nevada by Barry Keenan and two henchmen and held for 55 hours until his father paid the $240,000 ransom. Police were lying in wait as the elder Sinatra handed over the cash at a service station and the kidnappers were arrested. And just last year, a revered Indian screen idol, 73-year-old Raj Kumar, was abducted from his home in Gajanur, Tamil Nadu state. After 108 days in the jungle and six visits by a negotiator, the actor was freed, unharmed.

And, after the release of Proof of Life, the action-suspense drama starring Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe, the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies announced that it was adding optional coverage for up to $100,000 of kidnapping-related expenses, including hostage negotiation fees, to one of its homeowners' policies. One condition of many kidnap policies, however, is that people who are insured must promise not to tell anyone they have the coverage. That's because, the insurance companies say, simply having a policy makes clients look like gold-plated targets. Ironically, news that Proof Of Life star Russell Crowe was the object of a real-life kidnapping, only makes this subject more relevant than ever before...

'Nalanda' on 96.1 FM 

Pilgrims' progress to the Wendt

As they enter the courtyard they are introduced to each other by their creator, Geoffery Chaucer, who counts them off with reference to his newly published manuscript (printed by William Caxton and one of the first books in history to be published in a quasi-modern method using moveable typefaces). Inside the tavern the landlord acts as a benevolent host and prepares mead and victuals for their delectation. Serving boys rush around with pitchers of water as forks are still unknown and two people generally share a trencher or platter, so clean hands are doubly necessary. After eating, the company eagerly agrees to follow the landlord's suggestion of telling stories to and from Canterbury. 

'The Canterbury Tales' by Goeffery Chaucer performed by the Senior Section of Colombo International School will go on the boards on May 12 and May 13 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.

The classic retelling features such well known character as The Pardoner, a cynical religious charlatan who plays upon the superstition of the common people by selling alleged 'pardons' or indulgences, The Wife of Bath, a worldly and knowledgeable character when it comes to the battle of the sexes; the Merchant who talks on the topic of fidelity and cuckolding; the Miller who also ponders on the sanctity and otherwise of marriage, but reflects on the farcical mayhem often produced by general human gullibility and the Franklin (an estate manager) who concerns himself with the nature of honour and conscience.

Everyone is cordially invited to partake of this pilgrimage and to listen to a modern translation of the text and witness a show which strives for historical verisimilitude and makes liberal use of traditional 'Olde English' Gothic and Renaissance orchestration. Tickets to are available at the CIS, Gregory's Road Comobo 7.

Retirement blues

Used as I was to the challenges of going out to work and working all day, under great stress, at times, what did retirement bring me? Work, work and more and more work. It looked as if I was only beginning to learn the real challenges of life. No longer was it necessary for me to get up at dawn, hurriedly prepare a lunch and rush off for an early morning bus. Old habits die hard. I still get up early and keep tossing and turning in bed till there is a ray of light. The first greeting I get, comes from a grumbling partner, half asleep, complaining about being disturbed. That is how the day starts. This is only the beginning. Unlike when I went out for work, breakfast is now a change of menu each day. Yet, the family is not satisfied. Their taste buds are extraordinary and do not blend with the majority. Therefore, I am often subjected to a barrage of unnecessary comments like:

"Baked and burned roti."

"Pancakes from a hopper batter."

"Pittu with only flour!"

"Oh! for a taste of maldive fish" This, in spite of the clearly visible pieces.

"String hopper, similar to those at the boutique." Small is not always beautiful.

What beats me, however, is how fast the preparations disappear. Lunch and dinner times are no better. The days are now longer and hardly hold any challenges like the one I was used to. Little by little, I realise I'm getting sick of this monotony. But what can I do?

"Take a part time job," comes the answer. "We need a little freedom ourselves from the natter, natter all the time."

So, that's how they look at it.

And so, I make a few 'phone calls and get summoned for an interview. What a howl of protests! I decide to make it and win over the protestors.

In no time the part time becomes full time. The family! They have hardly a complaint other than over the weekend. An achievement! Yes, indeed.

Vineeta

Little acts of kindness

I was very much saddened to hear on TV that only sixty four thousand or so postcards were received for the donation of the much needed MRI scanner. Why has our country degenerated to such a deficient level? As mortals, how parsimonious we are. We so often indulge in unnecessary extravagance. For example we buy more clothes when our closets are already full to breaking point. And what a lot we spend on fast food. 

Maybe it's the busy schedules and the lack of time that has kept you from doing this small deed. But then again when "Shaggy" and "Vengaboys" came to town people somehow made time to attend the concerts. So that has to be ruled out as an excuse. 

But why give excuses? Are you sure it won't be you who will be needing the MRI scanner? God forbid even thinking such a thought! But nobody can be positive. So take the small walk to the Post office today and drop a postcard. "It's not great deeds that make peoples' lives happy, but the little acts of kindness of daily life."

Yoshanthi Wellawa.

Life's journey

RK.

Those good old days

Having passed the "Year Five Scholarship Examination", I had to say good bye to my school, and attend a new school. My primary school was a girls school, so attending a mixed school was a new experience for me. But I welcomed that challenge.

I met new friends. Our time was full of laughter and fun. But we managed to concentrate on our studies, too.

After successfully completing our O/L's we had to study hard for our A/L's. Now, I have finished my A/L's.

I have left school. But whenever I see a child going to school I remember my school days. I will never forget those days at school and the happy memories.

Ruwindi Wanigasuriya.

Ode to a tree

I long for the tree's cool shade, but there is none. The beautiful tree lies dead and all I can do is feel a twinge of pity, before hurrying on with life. What a shame they had to cut it down!

Bluberry

More Mirror Magazine

Return to Mirror Magazine Contents