Straw Dogs - actors, characters and roles
All actors and their roles in the film "Straw Dogs"
Straw Dogs (1971)
Timing:
1:56 (116 min)
7.163/10
1043
1043
7.679/10
16582
16582
7.4/10
68000
68000
Actors and characters
Donald Webster
Character Riddaway
Len Jones
Character Bobby Hedden
Sally Thomsett
Character Janice Hedden
Robert Keegan
Character Harry Ware
Cherina Schaer
Character Louise Hood
Jimmy Charters
Character Man in Pub (uncredited)
Chloe Franks
Character Emma Hebden (uncredited)
What's left behind the scenes
- Ken Hutchinson made his debut in this film.
- The full version of the film has a runtime of 118 minutes.
- The film's title was taken by the authors from a well-known saying by the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu: “Heaven and Earth are not merciful – people are to them merely straw dogs.” The saying originates from the ancient Chinese tradition of decorating religious holidays with images of dogs made of straw, which were discarded or burned at the end of the ceremony. Currently, especially in English, the term 'straw dogs' is a euphemism for something unnecessary or created with the sole purpose of being destroyed.
- Donald Sutherland, Jack Nicholson, and Sidney Poitier auditioned for the lead male role. Diana Rigg, Charlotte Rampling, and Helen Mirren auditioned for the lead female role. Dustin Hoffman, who was ultimately cast, actually hates violence in films and once admitted that he only agreed to the role because of the money.
- In the scene where Dustin Hoffman's character first appears in the local diner, director Sam Peckinpah (1925-1984) disliked the reaction of the other characters to his arrival, which they perceived as an intrusion into their own little world. In one of the takes, he decided to try filming Hoffman's character entering without pants. This time, everyone reacted as he needed them to.
- Before filming began, Sam Peckinpah made Dustin Hoffman and Susan George live together for two weeks, and they were joined by the second screenwriter, David Zelag Goodman (1930-2011). Some of their lines from that period were included in the script.
- T.P. McKenny's (1929-2011) character keeps his hand on a bandage. This was not in the script. The actor actually broke his hand at a party organized by director Peckinpah.
- The completion of filming was jeopardized when one of the scriptwriters and director Sam Peckinpah contracted pneumonia after a night-long drinking bout with Ken Hutchinson. He was treated in London, and only returned to the director's chair after a firm promise not to drink for the remainder of the shoot.
- Henry Niles' limp was not written into the script. Actor David Warner broke his leg shortly before filming began, but was able to move with a cane by the time it started. Due to the fracture, he was refused insurance, and consequently, his name was not included in the credits.
- Filming took place in a village, and local residents who had no idea what the film was about were cast in some minor roles. Upon the film's release, they were shocked to see their participation in a film that so sharply contradicted their own moral principles.
- Gordon Williams (1934-2017) was so disappointed with this adaptation that he vowed never to sell the film rights to his works to Americans again.
- Coconut shells were used in the scene where Dustin Hoffman's character beats a man to death.
- When Sam Peckinpah was planning the rape scene involving Susan George, he absolutely refused to tell the actress beforehand how he intended to shoot it. The actress insisted that he tell her everything, and Peckinpah explained exactly what was going to happen, informing her that he intended to show her entire naked body on screen. George refused and even threatened to leave the project, after which Peckinpah filmed only her eyes and face in that scene.
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