WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Straw Dogs
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 23 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Dustin Hoffman, Susan George, Peter Vaughan, T.P. McKenna, Del Henney, Jim Norton, Donald Webster, Ken Hutchinson, Colin Welland

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 2
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 800585
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $49.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 118
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1971
(LD Release Date): 12/9/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Sam Pechinpah
(Screenplay/Written By): David Zelag Goodman & Sam Peckinpah
(Story): NA
(Music): Jerry Fielding
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Julia Trevelyan Oman
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): NA
(Editor): Roger Spottiswoode, Paul Davies & Tony Lawson
(Supervising Sound Editors): NA
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Roger Spottiswoode, Paul Davies & Tony Lawson

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
(Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
In Sam Peckinpah’s Straw Dogs, Dustin Hoffman stars as David Sumner, an easy-going man who is suddenly pushed beyond his limits. Upon moving to the quiet English countryside, his flirtatious wife, Amy (Susan George) is taunted by the workmen on their farm. His failure to stand up to them invites their aggression, finally forcing David to decide how far he’ll go to protect his home, his wife and his dignity. A startling drama about human endurance, Straw Dogs has been considered one of cinema’s most disturbing and insightful explorations of man’s violent nature.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture exhibits a fully saturated color fidelity that appears oversaturated in some scenes. Fleshtones are natural with deep solid blacks. Images are sharp but shadow detail is poor. There is slight noise and the element appears to be a print with some slight damage with distracting artifacts and scratches throughout. The aspect ratio is 1.85:1.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is undistinguished monaural with background hiss and hum. Jerry Fielding’s Oscar®-nominated score is presented in stereo on the analog tracks.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: