Straw Dogs

Contents.- Acknowledgements.- A Note on References.- Introduction.- Synopsis.- PART I: STRAW DOGS THEN.- Production History.- Genesis and Pre-Production.- Shooting and the Problem of Susan George.- The Editing Process: Shaping an Ending.- Original Release and Reception.- England Swings, America Rocks: Straw Dogs in its Cultural Context.- Feminism and the Sexual Revolution.- Backlash: Morality, Censorship and the MPAA.- Straw Dogs and the American Censors.- Straw Dogs, American Audiences and American Critics.- Sixties Britain: a Quieter Revolution.- Straw Dogs and the UK Critics.- PART II: STRAW DOGS NOW.- Home Video Release: the Video Nasties Debate.- Eighteen Years in the Wilderness.- Moving with the Times: the BBFC and sexual violence.- Straw Dogs Unbound.- PART III: KEY THEMES AND IDEAS.- Introduction.- Straw Dogs, Masculinity and Violence.- Straw Dogs and Vietnam.- A Man's House Is.- The Problem of Amy.- PART IV: KEY SCENE ANALYSIS.- The Rape Scene: Introduction.- Venner's Arrival.- The First Rape.- The Second Rape.- Script Development.- Eroticising, Endorsing.- PART V: THE LEGACY OF STRAW DOGS.- Straw Dogs, Survival Horror and Rape Revenge.- Remake/Remodel.- Closing Thoughts.- APPENDICES.- Appendix A: Key Details.- Appendix B: List of References.- Endnotes.

Stevie Simkin

'A swift, compelling read. Thorough and scholarly without the faintest whiff of academic stuffiness, Stevie Simkin's study of Straw Dogs summons up the turmoil of the 1960s and 70s and illuminates the highly charged subject of sexual violence on film' - Stephen Farber, Film Critic, The Hollywood Reporter "fascinating stuff, written in a way that thankfully avoids too much media studies pomposity and instead takes a straightforward, very readable approach to the story. ... a fascinating account of the long and complex history of this difficult but brilliant film. If the remainder of the series are as impressively produced, then Controversies looks like being the essential book series of the year." - David Flint, strangethingsarehappening.com"What first impresses about this book is its depth of research. There are lots of fascinating insights into production and revelations that make it a must for those interested in Peckinpah as a filmmaker. ... If you find Straw Dogs the film interesting, ... this comes highly recommended, and if you intend to go on to watch the remake, it's a must-read." - Jennie Kermode, eyeforfilm.co.uk'Exceptionally well-written .... needs to be read by anyone interested in understanding Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs as a serious work of cinematic art.' - Garner Simmons, author of Peckinpah - A Portrait in Montage. 'Stevie Simkin, one of the Controversies series' co-editors (with Julian Petley), picks his way through this potential minefield with exceptional tact, skill and thoroughness...Anyone interested in teaching on the film, as Simkin has over many years (experience which has surely enriched his understanding of it), will find this monograph an invaluable resource and an instructive model of contextual and textual analysis.' - British Universities Film and Video Council 'Both books throw out so many insights and new ideas concerning these two examples of cinéma maudites that they are studies valuable both to cinéastes and students of the way