#182: PECKINPAH, Sam: Straw Dogs (1971)

PECKINPAH, Sam (United States)

Straw Dogs [1971]

Spine #182
DVD/Blu-ray

A young American mathematician, David Sumner (Dustin Hoffman), and his English wife, Amy (Susan George), move to a Cornish village, seeking the quiet life. But beneath the seemingly peaceful isolation of the pastoral village lie a savagery and violence that threaten to destroy the couple, culminating in a brutal test of Sumner's manhood and a bloody battle to the death. Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs is a harrowing and masterful investigation of masculinity and the nature of violence.

117 minutes
Color

Monaural

1:78:1 aspect ratio

Criterion Release 2003/2017

Director/Writers

Screenplay by Sam Peckinpah and David Z. Goodman.

Peckinpah was 46 when he directed Straw Dogs.

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

DVD: Twenty-page booklet featuring an essay by Joshua Clover and an interview with Peckinpah by Andre Leroux.

Blu-ray: Twenty-six page booklet featuring the above essay and interview.

DVD/Blu-ray:

Commentary

By film scholar Stephen Prince, author of Savage Cinema: Sam Peckinpah and the Rise of Ultraviolent Movies.

Sam Peckinpah: Man of Iron

A documentary of reflections by members of Peckinpah’s family, his friends, and his collaborators. 

Video interviews

With actress George, producer Daniel Melnick, and Peckinpah biographer Garner Simmons.

Behind-the-scenes footage

Theatrical trailer and TV spots

DVD:

Isolated music and effects track

On Location: Dustin Hoffman

26 minutes.

Peckinpah Responds

Select correspondence to critics and viewers.

Blu-ray: 

Mantrap: “Straw Dogs” — The Final Cut

A 2003 documentary about the making of the film. 

Conversation

Between critic Michael Sragow and filmmaker Roger Spottiswoode, one of the editors on the film. 

Interview

With film scholar Linda Williams about the film’s controversies. 

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

99

By Director
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