Directed by Sam Peckinpah
U.K. 1971
| '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 lies a savagery and violence that threatens to destroy the couple, culminating in a brutal test of Sumner’s manhood and a bloody battle to the death. One of the most controversial films ever made, Sam Peckinpah’s Straw Dogs is a harrowing and masterful investigation of masculinity and the nature of violence.' |
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Theatrical Release Date: December 29, 1971
IMdb Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
MGM - Region 1- NTSC vs. FreMantle - Region 0 - PAL vs. Anchor Bay - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion (OOP) - Region 0 - NTSC
Big thanks to Ole of DVDBasen for the FreeMantle and Anchor Bay Screen Caps!
(MGM - Region 1- NTSC LEFT vs. FreMantle Home Entertainment - Region 0 - PAL - 2nd -. Anchor Bay - Region 1 - NTSC - 3rd -. Criterion Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)
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MGM Region 1 - NTSC |
FreMantle Home Entertainment Region 0 - PAL |
Anchor Bay Region 1 - NTSC |
Criterion
Collection Region 1 - NTSC |
| Runtime | 1:57:20 | 1:52:45 (4% PAL Speedup) | 1:57:19 | 1:57:44 |
| Video |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average
Bitrate:4.87 mb/s |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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MGM
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Freemantle
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Anchor Bay |
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Criterion |
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) |
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) |
| Subtitles | English, French, Spanish, None | None | None | English, (removable) |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: October 19th, 2004 Keep case Chapter stops: 20 |
Release Information:
On
location documentary (7:43)2 Audio Commentaries:
DVD
Release Date: Oct. 7th, 2002 Chapters 15
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Release Information: Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Aspect Ratio: DVD Release Date: Jan 19th, 1999 Keep Case
Chapters 13
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Release Information: |
| Comments: |
ADDITION - MGM (Oct.
2004) - Advertised as the "extended version" of the film - but frankly I
don't see it and the time codes tend to confirm it. I guess they mean
the "uncut" version that Criterion talks about. The scene in
question (as anyone who has watched the film may know - Susan George's
character 'Amy' is raped) seems the same to
me. The video quality
seems a duplicate of the Criterion as far as I can tell (perhaps
Criterion sold them their transfer?). There are no
extras though, but they offer some additional subtitle options. For those
that only want the film (and the price is right), this looks like the
best option, but I am hanging onto my Criterion.
***** On initial viewing the Anchor Bay Region 1 shows itself very well in the image department, but I do see shade of contrast boosting. The Criterion, on the other hand is as close to perfection as you can get. I don't know what the problem with the recent FreMantle PAL release is, but the image is quite hazy. The Extras on the Fremantle are well done, but you are talking another step-up for the Criterion, who obviously take their jobs incredibly seriously with a whole 2nd disc of Extras. Because it is a shade darker the Criterion appears to lose the sharpness battle to Anchor Bay, but in fact it does not. You can see some nice film grain in the Criterion. If you are not concerned with the massive extras that the Criterion gives you (and you want to save a penny or two) or you are not bothered by the lack of anamorphic-ism get the Anchor Bay while it is still out there. Film buffs with widescreen TV's will, of course, want the Criterion. |
DVD Menus
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Screen Captures
(MGM - Region 1- NTSC TOP vs. FreMantle Home Entertainment - Region 0 - PAL - 2nd -. Anchor Bay - Region 1 - NTSC - 3rd -. Criterion Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(MGM - Region 1- NTSC TOP vs. FreMantle Home Entertainment - Region 0 - PAL - 2nd -. Anchor Bay - Region 1 - NTSC - 3rd -. Criterion Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(MGM - Region 1- NTSC TOP vs. FreMantle Home Entertainment - Region 0 - PAL - 2nd -. Anchor Bay - Region 1 - NTSC - 3rd -. Criterion Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(MGM - Region 1- NTSC TOP vs. FreMantle Home Entertainment - Region 0 - PAL - 2nd -. Anchor Bay - Region 1 - NTSC - 3rd -. Criterion Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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Report Card:
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Image: |
Criterion / MGM tie |
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Sound: |
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| Extras: | Criterion |
| Menu: | Criterion |
| DVD Box Covers |
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| Distribution |
MGM Region 1 - NTSC |
FreMantle Home Entertainment Region 0 - PAL |
Anchor Bay Region 1 - NTSC |
Criterion
Collection Region 1 - NTSC |
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Gary Tooze
Mississauga, Ontario, CANADA |
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