Dustin Hoffman Gets Gritty!

You may know Dustin Hoffman for a lot of great movie roles, but I bet you don’t know him as a hardened ex-con trying to do his “Straight Time!

“Straight Time” is a neglected gem – this 1978 crime drama starred Hoffman alongside Harry Dean Stanton and Gary Busey.

Here is the gritty trailer from 1978:

The film begins with Hoffman being paroled after serving several years in prison. He attempts to go straight, get a regular job, and just go by the rules, but due in part to a corrupt Parole Officer, Hoffman ends up going back to his very rough ways.

A young Theresa Russell co-stars as a social worker who gets involved with Hoffman, and sees how his past is catching up to him once again. She is just one of many young faces to show up in the film…

Hello, Kathy Bates!

Yes, you may think of Kathy Bates from films like “Misery” and “Primary Colors”, but a very young Kathy Bates also stars in the film as Gary Busey’s wife, who fears that Hoffman’s return may spell trouble for her husband…

Dustin Hoffman Fires… Dustin Hoffman!

Here’s a great movie legend surrounding “Straight Time”: Dustin Hoffman was going to direct himself in the movie, but after the first day he fired himself!

Yes, Hoffman allegedly “fired” himself after the first day, giving the job to friend Ulu Grosbard so he could focus on acting the complex lead role of Max Denbo!

“Straight Time” is a great crime drama, with an amazingly intense performance by Hoffman, who spent time in prison to research his role. This is one of the last of the great 70’s films. Only a few years later, Hoffman would show his flair for comedy with the brilliant “Tootsie”!

Here’s a look at his performance in that film, along with a look at his co-star Bill Murray’s directorial debut:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/08/27/quick-change-bill-murrays-forgotten-classics-tootsies-and-clowns-welcome/

“Straight Time” was directed by Ulu Grosbard, who years earlier had directed Dustin Hoffman in one of the most obscure films of the 70’s:

“What A Title!”

“Who Is Harry Kellerman And Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?” is one of the wildest movies titles ever – and here are five more!

https://johnrieber.com/2015/11/30/cinemas-strangest-movie-titles-sex-witches-dustin-hoffman-slimeballs-too/

Of course, folks who were there in the early days of E! know that Dustin Hoffman made history when he came to the set of the iconic “Talk Soup!”

Yes, Hoffman appeared with his “Lawyer” Jon Lovitz, an amazing end to a wild stunt the show team pulled…read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/01/18/dustin-hoffman-directs-quartet-dustins-best-one-liners-is-it-safe-hey-im-walkin-here/

Since it’s Oscar season, Hoffman also is part of the Academy Awards “X-rated Oscar” history:

Only one X-rated film has won Best Picture, and Hoffman was in it! Read all ALL 13 of Oscar’s X-rated nominations by clicking on my story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/05/07/x-rated-butter-cowboys-droogs-oscars-x-flirtation/

As I mentioned, films like “Straight Time” and “Midnight Cowboy” were gritty action films, and here’s another 70’s classic of the genre:

Lee Marvin, Gene Hackman and a very naked Sissy Spacek star in this 70’s crime drama – you can read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/03/23/prime-cut-grindhouse-classic-gene-hackman-vs-lee-marvin/

And the 70’s had some unusual action heroes as well – like Walter Matthau!

Matthau starred in a number of gritty action classics like “The Laughing Policeman”, which you can read all about here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/02/07/bank-robbers-and-bus-massacres-charley-varrick-the-laughing-policeman-walter-matthau-action-star/

And finally, Roy Schneider starred in 70’s classics like “Jaws” and “Sorcerer”, but he was also in one of the early 70’s best crime thrillers!

“The Seven Ups” has one of the best car chases in movie history, all up the west side of Manhattan! Read all about this classic crime drama here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/09/07/new-yorks-gritty-movie-streets-taxi-drivers-subway-hijackings-cop-chases/

Leave a note and let me know which of these classic 70’s crime dramas you’ve seen!

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