Production Year: 1971 - Drama - Director: Sam Peckinpah - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Susan George, Peter Vaughan, Peter Arne, T.P. McKenna, David Warner, Colin Welland, Jim Norton, Ken Hutchison more
In Sam Peckinpah's brutal thriller, a quiet, peace-loving American (Dustin Hoffman) moves with his British-born wife (Susan George) to an isolated English village where he is... more
Straw Dogs [1971] [DVD]
According to critic Pauline KaelStraw Dogswas "the first American film that is a fascist ... more
work of art". Sam Peckinpah's only film shot in Britain is adapted from a novel by Gordon M Williams calledThe Siege of Trencher's Farmwhich Peckinpah described as...
Straw Dogs [1971] [DVD]
According to critic Pauline KaelStraw Dogswas "the first American film that is a fascist ... more
work of art". Sam Peckinpah's only film shot in Britain is adapted from a novel by Gordon M Williams calledThe Siege of Trencher's Farmwhich Peckinpah described as...
Peckinpah's notoriously controversial 1971 classic STRAW DOGS will be released completely uncut on this Special Edition DVD. Based on Gordon M. Williams's novel The Siege ...
Straw Dogs
A radical work of philosophy which sets out to challenge our most cherished assumptions ... more
about what it means to be human. From Plato to Christianity from the Enlightenment to Nietzsche and Marx the Western tradition has been based on arrogant and erroneous beliefs about human beings and their place in the world. Philosophies such as liberalism and Marxism think of humankind as a species whose destiny is to transcend natural limits and conquer the Earth. Even in the present day despite Darwin's discoveries nearly all schools of thought take as their starting point the belief that humans are radically different from other animals. John Gray argues that this humanist belief in human difference is an illusion and explores how the world and human life look once humanism has been finally abandoned.
Straw Dogs
David Summer is a quiet American mathematician who has moved with his wife Amy back to a ... more
remote CornishFarmhouse near the village where she grew up. The couple have relocated to Rural England in an attemptto flee the violence of America but their placid life is brutally interrupted when the savagery and violence theysought to escape engulfs them and threatens to destroy their lives.
Straw Dogs
David Summer (Dustin Hoffman) is a quiet American mathematician who has moved with his ... more
wife Amy (Susan George) back to a remote Cornish farmhouse near the village where she grew up. The couple have relocated to rural England in an attempt to flee the violence of America but their placid life is brutally interrupted when the savagery and violence they sought to escape engulfs them and threatens to destroy their lives.
Straw Dogs
Released in 1971, Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs caused outrage and controversy among critics ... more
of the time. With his uncompromising style, Peckinpah had unleashed an intensely powerful and menacing portrayal of violence onto the big screen, the fallout of which has lasted over 30 years.Banned from home viewing under the 1984 Video Recordings Act, only now can his disturbing masterpiece be seen in its 'uncut' form. Finally, the most notorious movie in British film history is available to the public and it's time for the public to make its own mind up.David Summer (Dustin Hoffman) is a quiet American mathematician who has moved with his wife Amy (Susan George) back to a remote Cornish Farmhouse near the village where she grew up.The couple has relocated to rural England in an attempt to flee the violence of America but their placid life is brutally interrupted when the savagery and violence they sought to escape engulf's them and threatens to destroy their lives.
selected original 35mm film from Sam Peckinpah movie Straw Dogs. The collection has a black mount with black frame, an individually numbered plaque and certificate of authenticity.
Production Year: 1945 - Drama - Director: David Lean - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway, Joyce Carey, Cyril Raymond
Production Year: 1981 - Drama - Director: Franco Zeffirelli - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Brooke Shields, Martin Hewitt, Shirley Knight, Don Murray, Richard Kiley, Penelope Milford, Beatrice Straight
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
A review by sunmeilan on Straw Dogs (DVD) October 13th, 2008
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Loved it
Story
Outstanding
Characters / Performances
Outstanding
Special Effects
Standard
How does it compare to similar films?
Outstanding
Advantages:
Compelling, great build - up of suspense
Disadvantages:
Some will be disturbed by the rape scene
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
When quiet American mathematician David Sumner and his wife Amy return to her native Cornwall, they are expecting a quiet life. And initially, it seems that they will get their own way. But David has a job to do, Amy feels neglected and bored, and flirting with an ex-boyfriend and his friends, who are helping to repair their delapidated home, seems an obvious way out. It soon becomes apparent that the locals have not taken to David - they go out of their way to make him feel unwelcome, including strangling the Sumner's cat and raping Amy. Then a girl is killed by a local man, who ends up at the Sumners' home, shortly followed by a gang of men baying for his blood. Before long, their home is under siege. Will the Sumners manage to get out alive?
This film was a complete surprise to me. I have heard of it, and its director, Sam Peckinpah, but I had no idea what it was about, or that it was so old - it was made way back in 1971. It is apparently known as Peckinpah's most famous film - I am just sorry that it hadn't come to my attention before. This is a deeply intriguing film, with a hint of The Wicker Man and Night of the Living Dead about it, and one that I found compelling from start to finish.
Dustin Hoffman plays David Sumner, although he looks so young that he is barely recognisable. I haven't really known Hoffman to give a poor performance, and he certainly doesn't disappoint here. David is not a particularly likeable man - he seems to have difficulty in getting on with people, including his wife, and certainly doesn't realise that the locals have not taken to him at all. However, he really comes into his own when his home is under siege. Maddened by the locals' refusal to listen to anything he has to say, he is determined that they will not cross the threshold. At this point, I found his performance mesmerising - I really couldn't take my eyes off him - and although he seemed to have lost his marbles at times, I really wanted him to come through unscathed. This is one of his best performances as far as I am concerned.
Susan George plays Amy Sumner, again looking painfully young. She is beautiful and it is easy to see why the locals were so willing to flirt with her. As a character, she does not have as much to work with as Hoffman - she really only needs to look good. However, she does come into her own in the rape scene, which focuses in on her face, and is really quite distressing. In other scenes, it is quite hard to watch her act as a secondary citizen, feeling that she cannot do anything without the prior approval of her husband - however, this is more of a sign of the social standards of the time, rather than any criticism of George as an actress.
Peter Vaughan plays Tom Hedden, the ringleader of the locals. He would only have been around fifty at the time of filming, but his long beard and old-fashioned ways make him seem much older. Hedden seems, to begin with at least, an ordinary man, determined to keep his children safe, but it is soon clear that he is capable of great violence. He is ably assisted by Charlie Venner, played by Del Henney, who is truly scary at times. Hedden's daughter is played by a very young Sally Thomsett in a very sexual role quite different from that in The Railway Children.
This film has been heavily criticised over the years for its rape scene, in which Amy is portrayed as enjoying part of it. This has been seen as highly derogatory to women. As a woman, I always find rape scenes distressing - it is always a reminder that at times we are powerless. However, I didn't find the rape scene overly distressing or particularly derogatory to women (at least, no more so than any other film rape I've seen). Amy does seem to enjoy the first part of it, which involves her ex-boyfriend, but she certainly doesn't savour the second part. In any case, we see so little - the focus really is on Amy's face rather than the action - that it is hard to be terribly offended. And I did see the uncut version, so it wasn't as if bits had been censored out. I suspect that audiences at the time the film was released were much less desensitized than a modern audience. However, of course, if you think you may be upset by it at all, then you should keep well clear of this film.
Where I think this film excelled is the build-up of suspense. Right from the start, it is clear that there are undercurrents of which we have no knowledge. I can imagine that the Cornish weren't overly welcoming of the film, because it doesn't portray them in the way that the local tourist board would have us think. In this respect, it is very like The Wicker Man, although there is no outwardly strange behaviour - it is a rural setting where people clearly have too much time to think. Then small incidents make us realise that David is never going to be accepted by the locals, no matter how friendly he is. The rape scene occurs about half way through, proving that the situation is going to come to a head, and thereafter it is a real breathless race through to the end. The last half hour is really quite amazing - I just had no idea what was going to happen next and as such, was completely glued to the screen.
It is a long time since I have been so affected by the film - and I am not talking about the rape here, I am talking about the absolute fear that the last half hour brought out in me. It is very far from being a horror film, but as far as I am concerned, it is a heck of a lot scarier than most horrors I've seen recently. I think this is because it was so realistic - I could really believe that the actors involved felt the hate that they were showing - more importantly, I could believe that such a situation could happen to any of us. I must go and lock my back door...
I was totally delighted (in a weird way) with this film. It is well-acted, but most importantly, it kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, something modern day films rarely seem to achieve. I just wish that it had been brought to my attention earlier. For those who struggle with the grainy quality of old films, you may find this difficult to watch. And of course, if you don't like violence, then you are not going to enjoy it. Otherwise though, I highly recommend this film; it is certainly one that will take pride of place in my DVD collection from now on.
The uncut DVD is available from play.com for £5.99.
Advantages: Cinematography, pace,decent story, Susan George Disadvantages: Poor acting from Hoffman, direction, rape & violence, sound & picture quality
...Goodman and director, Sam Peckinpah, Straw Dogs became one of the most controversial movies of the 70s & 80s even though the film itself disappeared from the box office on its first release in 1971.
Anyway, to the story: a weak minded American mathematician (Dustin Hoffman) chooses the quiet life out in the English country based around Cornwall with a rather frisky wife who wants more from her husband than just equations. Amy (Susan George), is ... ...hell anyway.
But in Straw Dogs I felt he had lost the plot at an early stage. The message was made clear to all of us more or less right at the beginning, we didn't need to have it repeatedly rammed down our throats with more graphical signposting.
The rape (and this was no ordinary rape but what appeared to be buggery) was totally unnecassary, in fact the entire treatment of Amy is unacceptably sexist & ugly. Peckinpah could have held back and ...
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...action.
This is how Straw Dogs finally came to be reclassified and released for home viewing, and with the lengthy saga of 'that' scene out of the way, this 1971 Sam Peckinpah thriller has alot to recommend it. Dustin Hoffman and Susan George head the cast as an American mathematician and his younger wife. David Sumner (Hoffman) and wife Amy (George) have moved to a remote Cornish village, and Amy's birthplace, to escape the growing violence and ... ...deep dark resentment builds against David and his beautiful young wife, who once rejected the charms of local workman Charlie Venner (Del Henney). Employed to work on the dilapidated farmhouse into which the couple have moved, Venner and accomplices from the Hedden family, begin a slow campaign of hate and spite against the Sumners. Starting as playful, but ending in shattering violence, as David realises that he can no longer escape the bullying, ...
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Advantages: See opinion Disadvantages: See opinion
~ ~ I recently came across this old movie from the early 70’s while scouring my local video shop for something to pass away an idle evening. This is a thriller from the stable of director Sam Peckinpah, who was renowned, (some say notorious) for the graphic portrayals of violence in his films. He was one of the first Hollywood directors to use the slow motion technique to further highlight violent scenes, and to better shock the cinema audience ... ...first used in his very violent Western “The Wild Bunch” (1969) I recall being fairly shocked by this film when I first watched it in the cinema in 1971, so decided to have a second look to see how it had worn with age. Later I was surprised to learn that the censor here in Ireland had actually banned it up until as recently as 1999, and it is still banned to this day in the UK.
(so if you really want to watch it, you’ll have to ...
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Advantages: Fantastic performances, great story Disadvantages: Very Violent
Straw Dogs is a Sam Pekinpah film, adapted from 'The Siege of Trenchers Farm' a 1969 novel by Gordon Williams, it is known by many simply for the brutal violences which seemed shocking at the time but now seems brutal but not out of the ordinary. It has a reputation due to a brutal rape scene, which is awful, but absolutely relevant to the story and the dramatic events that follow. As it was not allowed for home release it developed a notoriety along ... ...film is about David and Amy Sumner (Dustin Hoffman and Susan George) a couple who move to the remote Cornish village where Amy grew up ironically to escape the violence and brutality of inner city America. Due to a misunderstanding over some building work the Sumners ask for on their broken down farmhouse, a local builder Charlie Venner (Del Henney) and his workmen create whispers about the Sumners and a campaign of deep seated mistrust and resentment ...
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Advantages: originally 'Banned' gives it must see appeal Disadvantages: rape scene uncomfortable to watch
Released in 1971 Straw dogs caused outrange due to the level of violence and resulted in the film being banned for 18 years. Right, I’m going to try get through this review without using the words ‘cult’ and ‘classic’. Directed by Sam Peckinpah, whom it could be argued was famed for the portrayal of violence in his work, the film is set in a sleepy Cornish village (filmed only about 5 miles from Lands End in St. Buryan) and it can be difficult to ... ...From the opening it shows a close nit community looking like it by-passed the last 6 decades completely and decided to stay in the post war era, and it’s clear that they don’t take to outsiders. The story centres on the newly married couple the Sumner’s played by a (back then) fresh faced Dustin Hoffman (David) and Susan George (Amy). The couple have moved back to the village where Amy grew up to escape the violence in the U.S. and so American Mathematician ...
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Advantages: An intresting subject Disadvantages: Terribly poor delivery towards the end
...of common sense will end that thought no sooner have they inserted the DVD. Straighthead and StrawDogs are a million miles apart, yes both females get raped, yes there are country thugs, but that is where the comparison ends. In StrawDogs the truth about the rape victims assault is never revealed, whereas here it is as subtle as a car crash; never are our lead characters allowed to get away from this issue. Furthermore Straightheads simply does not have the fuel to power it in the same way as StrawDogs, the latter was consistent but Straightheads after an energetic 60 minutes just fizzles out into nothing, nice build up with abysmal final delivery.
Sex is a big focal point of the film, from the first five minutes of the movie sex is brandished like a weapon. Later as the movie progresses the couple go from experiencing great sex, to...
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Advantages: Great Acting and originality Disadvantages: Very little.
.... The directing is great and the setting itself is very picture-esque. What I really enjoyed about thisfilm was the originality. No-one in the film is an outright hero. Everyone is conflicted about what to do, all of them think about just giving it up at points and just running away. No-one is invincible, beyond death and beyond making mistakes. There are no cliches apart from that mentioned and the ending says it all. Whether you'd call it a twist, anti-climatic perhaps or just a perfect ending I doubt you'll ever see it coming. I highly recommend this film.
The DVD cost me £12, which is abit more than I usually spend on a DVD but I wanted it soon being a big Gary Oldman fan. It has no real DVD extras just a trailer. According to the DVD case it is very similar to Dead Man's Shoes and StrawDogs if anyone enjoyed those films (I haven't seen them...
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Plot: In Sam Peckinpah's brutal thriller, a quiet, peace-loving American (Dustin Hoffman) moves with his British-born wife (Susan George) to an isolated English village where he is constantly harassed by the locals. He is finally pushed into a violent confrontation in order to protect himself and his wife.
Video Category: Feature Film
Country Of Origin: United States of America
DVD Description
In Sam Peckinpah's brutal thriller, a quiet, peace-loving American (Dustin Hoffman) moves with his British-born wife (Susan George) to an isolated English village where he is constantly harassed by the locals. He is finally pushed into a violent confrontation in order to protect himself and his wife.
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): FREMANTLE HOME ENTERTAINMENT; ARVATO SERVICES, PRISM LEISURE
Special Features: On Location Documentary, Theatrical Trailer, US TV And Radio Ad Spots, Commentary With Paul Seydor Garner Simmons David Weddle Katy Haber, Jerry Fielding Score Plus Additional Score, Interviews With Garner Simmons Dan Melnick And Susan George, Deleted Scenes Info, Straw Dogs History, Behind The Scenes, Location And Publicity Stills, Original Colour Lobby Cards, Original Posters From Around The World, Reviews, Views, Correspondence
Sound: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 1.85 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Professional reviews
Review: "...[The film] has lost neither its power nor its filmmaking brilliance..." (USA Today, p.9D, 02/07/1998)
![Straw Dogs [1971] [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78496737.jpg)
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