CrimeDrama

Straight Time

- "Please God, don't let him get caught."

After being released on parole, a burglar attempts to go straight, get a regular job, and just go by the rules. He soon finds himself back in jail at the hands of a power-hungry parole officer.

Release Date : 1978-03-18

Language :CantoneseEnglishSpanish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : First ArtistsSweetwallWarner Bros. Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Max Dembo

Original Name : Dustin Hoffman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jenny Mercer

Original Name : Theresa Russell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Willy Darin

Original Name : Gary Busey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jerry Schue

Original Name : Harry Dean Stanton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Earl Frank

Original Name : M. Emmet Walsh

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carol Schue

Original Name : Rita Taggart

Gender : Female

Character Name : Selma Darin

Original Name : Kathy Bates

Gender : Female

Character Name : Manny

Original Name : Sandy Baron

Gender : Male

Character Name : Henry Darin

Original Name : Jake Busey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grocery Clerk

Original Name : Peter Kwong

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cafe Owner

Original Name : Fran Ryan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mickey

Original Name : Edward Bunker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hotel Manager

Original Name : Tina Menard

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bar Patron

Original Name : Stephanie Ericsson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Counterman

Original Name : Dave Kelly

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter

Original Name : Don Sommese

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grocer

Original Name : Kit Jee Wong

Gender : Male

Character Name : Employment Clerk

Original Name : Jane Howard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Officer

Original Name : Bob Jarvis

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

I got stomach trouble... no guts. Based on ex-convict Eddie Bunker's novel, No Beast So Fierce, pic pitches Dustin Hoffman as ex-con Max Dembo, who after being released from prison has every intention to go straight. Easier said than done, though... It's hard to believe that Straight Time is often thought of as under seen, a hidden gem of the 1970s, this given that it stars Dustin Hoffman and the advent of the internet years has seen it garner votes and reviews aplenty. Yet it does seem to be a pic that doesn't get its due credit, annoying since it's one of Hoffman's greatest performances. Hoffman loved the material and heavily sought to direct and star in it. Something which proved too hard for him to do. He was humble enough to recognise this fact and brought in friend Ulu Grosbard to direct while he concentrated on the acting side of things - result! There is absolutely no glamour on show here, Max is surrounded by weasels, slime balls, junkies and perpetual thieves, while his own mental fortitude is suspect at best. It's both gripping and disturbing, this world he inhabits, no excuses are put forward, no "woe is me" tales, he ultimately accepts his lot. Hoffman is backed by superb performances from Harry Dean Stanton, M. Emmet Walsh and Gary Busey, and Theresa Russell gives quality turn as the naive woman in Max's life - no token here, she's in the grip of a homme career criminal and not merely here to look pretty and doe eyed. As a character study it positively bristles with brains and foolish brawn, and Grosbard directs with unfussy skill whilst showing a very good eye for a dramatic action scene. Studio interference would hurt the pic upon release, but now this can be seen as a film of great worth. 9/10