Editing Straight Time (section)

===Development===
[[File:Edward Bunker.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The screenplay was adapted from the novel ''No Beast So Fierce'' by [[Edward Bunker]] (pictured)]]
The screenplay was written by [[Alvin Sargent]], [[Edward Bunker]] and [[Jeffrey Boam]], based on Bunker's novel ''No Beast So Fierce''.<ref name=afi/> [[Michael Mann (director)|Michael Mann]] served as an uncredited cowriter on the project.<ref name=afi/> Actor Dustin Hoffman originally wanted to direct the project himself.{{sfn|Zucker|2013|p=317}} According to Grosbard, he was called to take over directorial duties by Hoffman: "He'd already spent a substantial amount of the budget—and it was a small budget. He had stopped preproduction because he was waiting for the latest draft of the script...&nbsp; I saw a direction, I saw a point of view, I saw something that interested me."{{sfn|Zucker|2013|p=317}}