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Straw Dogs

Straw Dogs is a 1971 film directed by Sam Peckinpah. Dustin Hoffman and Susan George play the lead roles. David Warner, although uncredited, is also featured. The screenplay is based on the novel The Siege of Trencher's Farm by Gordon Williams.

The film was released theatrically in the US the same year as A Clockwork Orange and Dirty Harry, sparking a heated controversy over apparently excessive violence in films.


The movie gained notoriety in the UK following its being banned in 1984 by the British Board of Film Classification under then newly introduced Video Recordings Act due to a scene of sexual violence wherein Amy Sumner is raped sparked the UK controversy. A portion of the scene had already been cut by the studio, prior to US release in order to obtain an R rating from the MPAA. The film was again refused a licence in 1999, following the distributors refusal to cut the scene cited as problematic. The film was finally certified uncut for video and DVD release on July 1, 2002.

The story is of an American mathematician, David Sumner and his British wife Amy (played by Hoffman and George) who move to Amy's home town in Cornwall, UK to escape crime and violence in the United States. They face increasing levels of harassment by the local residents. Finally David retaliates with extreme violence.

Last updated: 05-21-2005 01:55:21