Straight Time (1978)

[cash_black]

This Dustin Hoffman led crime film/character study has Michael Manns finger prints on it as he did the first draft of the screenplay. Well made, great cast, would love to see on blu-ray.

[Fred Sliman]

A big second for this great film; would buy immediately.

[HotRats]

It's a very good film and I'd buy it on blu but Edward Bunker's book is better. Bunker knew a thing or two about crime and all his books including his memoir are well worth reading. It's a pity no one has filmed Dog Eat Dog

[Gull Cottage]

I'd also like to see it get a release.Good film.
Speaking of Michael Mann, The Jericho Mile is right up there on my wishlist!

[Jobla]

This film introduced me to Theresa Russell, which would be reason enough to purchase it on Blu-ray.

[jah13]

An all-time favorite of mine. I'm doubtful WB will upgrade, but I'd love to be proven wrong.

[cash_black]

Originally Posted by jah13

An all-time favorite of mine. I'm doubtful WB will upgrade, but I'd love to be proven wrong.

we all would

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by jah13

An all-time favorite of mine. I'm doubtful WB will upgrade, but I'd love to be proven wrong.

Actually, of all the studios, WB would be the one that WOULD upgrade. I'd guess the Warner Archive Collection.

[jah13]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Actually, of all the studios, WB would be the one that WOULD upgrade. I'd guess the Warner Archive Collection.

Certainly possible, but WB's been very slow to upgrade deep catalog titles like this one to Blu-ray, even in the Warner Archive. They've been more likely to re-release out-of-print DVDs such as STRAIGHT TIME on DVD-Rs in the WA (See: PERSONAL BEST, for example) or upgrade fullscreen DVDs to 16x9 DVDs (see: VISION QUEST, STAR 80, FIRST DEADLY SIN, etc.).

In my opinion, we'd have a better chance of seeing this and other similar WB catalog titles on Blu, if the studio were more willing to license the titles out to third party labels such as Shout, Kino Lorber, and Twilight Time.

[JimMorrison]

I hope Indicator gets their hands on this one!

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by JimMorrison

I hope Indicator gets their hands on this one!

It would be great if they could interview the films uncredited writer Michael Mann.

[Schu]

I love this genre and technique... it's a great 70's flick

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Straight Time is an excellent film, with a seemingly realistic look at small-time criminals & the penal system. Like a lot of '70's films, this seems like a quasi-documentary at times. Great performances all around - in addition to Hoffman, the always reliable Harry Dean Stanton & Gary Busey do a great job here (Busey's son Jake also has a small cameo) & Theresa Russell, M. Emmet Walsh, etc. are all fantastic as well.

I haven't seen this for years; the last time was on the older OOP DVD. So, yes - a Blu is long overdue for this film.

I also consider this to be among Hoffman's top five films, which include (in no particular order):

Midnight Cowboy
Straight Time
The Graduate
Straw Dogs
Lenny

[Sisophous]

I caught this film on Turner Classic Movies and watched the first half and loved it. It's only available on DVD and I hope it gets released soon on Blu Ray. It's like being in a time warp and going down memory lane back to the 70s. Something about Theresa Russell really turns me on, so typical of beautiful, authentic women back then.

[moviemaker]

Fantastic film. You love to hate M. Emmet Walsh's character. In fact the Coen Brothers based their P.I. the character of Visser in Blood Simple on M. Emmet Walsh's parole officer character and inspired them to cast him in the role.

Based on the novel No Beast So Fierce, by Edward Bunker, it also apparently inspired Tarantino who cast Eddie in Reservoir Dogs.

C'mon Warner Archives! What's taking so long to release this along with The Year of Living Dangerously. I wonder if it's because both movies star Dustin Hoffman and Mel Gibson respectively?

[drownsoda]

I have the Warner Bros. DVD, but would upgrade in a nanosecond. This is a great movie—one of the best of the '70s. It's up there with The Last Picture Show for me. Great performances all around. I could almost see Criterion releasing it—we know they have access to Warner's catalogue. I think it would make for a good entry in their oeuvre.

[beamish13]

I’m willing to bet that Criterion wants this and Prince of the City

[drownsoda]

Originally Posted by beamish13

I’m willing to bet that Criterion wants this and Prince of the City

I've never seen Prince of the City, though it's Sidney Lumet so I wouldn't be surprised. They better get on it if they want input from those involved, though. As far as Straight Time goes, Hoffman and M. Emmett Walsh are both in their mid-80s, and the director, Ulu Grosbard, as well as Harry Dean Stanton, are both dead. Theresa Russell is the youngest member of the cast, and she's in her early 60s now. Hoffman's participation in the release would be a must IMO, especially considering he was the original director of the project, and it meant so much to him.

[cash_black]

Originally Posted by drownsoda

I've never seen Prince of the City, though it's Sidney Lumet so I wouldn't be surprised. They better get on it if they want input from those involved, though. As far as Straight Time goes, Hoffman and M. Emmett Walsh are both in their mid-80s, and the director, Ulu Grosbard, as well as Harry Dean Stanton, are both dead. Theresa Russell is the youngest member of the cast, and she's in her early 60s now. Hoffman's participation in the release would be a must IMO, especially considering he was the original director of the project, and it meant so much to him.

I was hyped for prince of the city but hated it