Straw Dogs

Sam Peckinpah examines the instinctual capacity for violence in his controversial 1971 film, loosely based on the novel The Siege of Trencher’s Farm. To avoid the Vietnam-era social chaos in the U.S., American mathematician David Sumner (Dustin Hoffman) moves with his British wife, Amy (Susan George), to the isolated Cornish town where she grew up, but their presence provokes antagonism among the village’s men. As the hostilities escalate from routine bullying to the gang rape of his wife, David finds his pacifistic self backed into a corner. When the hooligans attack his house, David finally resorts to the gruesome violence that he abhors.

In the scene where Dustin Hoffman’s character first enters the local pub, Sam Peckinpah was unhappy with the other actors’ reaction to this stranger entering their world. Eventually, he decided to do one take where Hoffman entered the scene without his trousers on. He got his reaction, and these are the shots shown in the final film.

Among the actors initially considered for the role of David Sumner (Dustin Hoffman) were Beau Bridges, Stacy Keach, Jack Nicholson and Sidney Poitier.

Judy Geeson, Jacqueline Bisset, Diana Rigg, Linda Hayden, Helen Mirren, Carol White, Charlotte Rampling, Judy Huxtable and Hayley Mills were considered for the role of Amy before Susan George was finally selected.

Dustin Hoffman disagreed with the casting of Susan George, as he felt his character would never marry such a ”Lolita-ish” kind of girl. Sam Peckinpah insisted on George, an unknown actress at that time.

1971

R

0883904251415

Movie

7.5

2018-02-07 18:15:06

1.77:1

118

1971-12-29

H.264 / AVC (MPEG-4 Part 10)

1080p

16:9

50 GB (Blu)

1

A

Snap Case

~$14.90

2025-03-21

2018-02-07 18:15:06