Straight Time (1978) Part 1

Straight Time is an amazing film directed by Ulu Grosbard and starring Dustin Hoffman as Max Dembo, a lifelong thief recently released from prison. The film is based on Edward Bunker's semi-autobiographical novel, No Beast So Fierce. Bunker, best known for his role as Mr. Blue, in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1992), is featured as Dembo's longtime confidant, Mickey. The film also features M. Emmet Walsh, Gary Busey, Harry Dean Stanton, Kathy Bates and touching performance by Theresa Russell as Jenny Mercer. Originally intended to be directed by Hoffman, the film's screenplay was written by Jeffery Boam, Alvin Sargent and Bunker. It's also the film debut of actor Jake Busey (age 6). Straight Time is one of my all time favorites. I know I always say that, but I mean it with all my heart. I know it's already been posted, but here it is in it's original theatrical aspect ratio.

"No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity. But I know none, and therefore am no beast."
-William Shakespeare (The Tragedy of King Richard III)

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Straight Time
• No Beast So Fierce
• Ulu Grosbard
• Edward Bunker
• Dustin Hoffman
• Theresa Russell
• Gary Busey
• Harry Dean Stanton
• M. Emmet Walsh
• Kathy Bates
• Jake Busey
• Jeffery Boam
• Alvin Sargent
• Stanley Beck
• Tim Zinnemann
• David Shire
• Sam O'Steen
• action
• crime
• drama

[callipposhots]

this is a well made and underrated movie about a bad, stupid man. I saw it first age 13 in 1981 on a Polish ocean liner in Polish subtitles on its way to Canada from Gydnia. The movie was obviously selected by the commies because it questions just how great the USA was supposed to be.

[thepirateboy81]

@callipposhots What do you know about bad men? Do your police even carry guns?

[thepirateboy81]

@callipposhots Yeah, killing is wrong; yourself or someone like you. Life is one hard cluster fuck.  You can take it from me. I'm not going to elaborate, but those who know me personally would assure you.

[cholulasaucehot1]

@thepirateboy81 i think in england the cops yell "stop" !  or i'll yell "STOP" again! lol...but im not sure....maybe they carry little pea shooters by now?

[NYerintransit]

I love the opening track. It perfectly conveys the main character's contempt for society after he's been set free.

[SalemStorm]

A20284 is his prison number

[SalemStorm]

@DartmouthAlum96

Folsom

[DartmouthAlum96]

Does anyone know which prison is featured in the opening shots of this picture? Is it Folsom?

[TRKizm]

"Ebert presents at the movies" brought me here - (a throw back episode from 1979)

[thegunclub123]

Only movie I've ever seen. It's good, but then again I have no standards, lol

[hamtrak]

Saw this in 1978 during its initial release, a week later and I went and saw it again.

[cinemavirtualis]

Classic film, thanks for posting!

[callipposhots]

what I meant is that the central character is a manipulative, psychotic criminal with no redeeming features and who is also a terrible thief who always gets caught quickly and rightly banged up in jail. Not just a total asshole but also incompetent. This is not a bad movie but not a great performance from Hoffman. He's miscast. This is not his sort of character at all.