Scum (1979)

This is the hard and shocking story of life in a British Borstal for young offenders. Luckily the regime has changed since this film was made. The brutal regime made no attempt to reform or... See full summary »

Director:

Alan Clarke

Writer:

Roy Minton

Stars:

Ray Winstone, Mick Ford, Julian Firth

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ray Winstone	...	Carlin
Mick Ford	...	Archer
Julian Firth	...	Davis
John Blundell	...	Banks
Phil Daniels	...	Richards
John Judd	...	Mr Sands
Philip Jackson	...	Greaves
Peter Howell	...	Governor
John Grillo	...	Goodyear
Ray Burdis	...	Eckersley
Alan Igbon	...	Meakin
John Fowler	...	Woods
Bill Dean	...	Duke
P.H. Moriarty	...	Hunt
Nigel Humphreys	...	Taylor

Storyline

This is the hard and shocking story of life in a British Borstal for young offenders. Luckily the regime has changed since this film was made. The brutal regime made no attempt to reform or improve the inmates and actively encouraged a power struggle between the 'tough' new inmate and the 'old hands'. The film was originally made as a BBC play but it was banned before ever being shown. So 'Alan Clarke' and 'Roy Minton' got it re-made as a film. This is a tough and brutal film and should not be viewed lightly.

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Plot Keywords:

no music | child suicide | england | sadist | male rear nudity | 

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Taglines:

The film they tried to ban! A brutal story of today.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 March 1980 (France)

Also Known As:

Escoria

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Berwick Street Productions, Boyd's Company, Kendon Films Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally, Carlin was a Glaswegian but was changed to a Cockney when Alan Clarke saw a then unknown Ray Winstone walk in a unique way.

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Goofs

when Carlin enters the 'games' room for the first time he passes three lags playing snooker. the score board on the wall behind them changes between one score and another and then back and then back again.

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Quotes

Archer: You know when I was in the Scrubs, sweating it out in that filthy cell, I had this matchbox. And it said on this matchbox that it takes 60 muscles to frown but only 13 to smile, so why waste energy? You see, I'm doing me time in a matchbox.

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Connections

Referenced in Ban the Sadist Videos! (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Robertson's Marmalade Jingle"
(uncredited)
Music by John Kongos

User Reviews

difficult to watch, but worth seeing once

I've now seen this movie several times, although admittedly watching it can hardly be classed as a 'pleasure'. Alan Clarke made this feature after his TV play from two years earlier was banned, and perhaps had more freedom here to explore the issues.

Carlin (an early, showy appearance from Ray Winstone) is sent to Borstal where he quickly establishes himself as a tough boy with a regime of strength. Typical Winstone performance in many ways. In the prison with him are his shadow Richards (played by Phil Daniels); cynical, bare-footed Archer (Mick Ford, these days more often seen the other side of the law in such dramas as 'Silent Witness'); black inmate Angel (Davidson Knight); and quiet Davis, the boy who gets picked on for being a loner (a quite staggering performance from Julian Firth, who never really lived up to this early promise).

Scum is uncompromising - violent (there's a rape which leaves little to the imagination, a suicide, several fights); scathing in its condemnation of the 'system' (which thankfully is not like this now) - and yet finds time for character development and convincing plot. Without any music it is purely presented in documentary style, matter-of-fact 'this is how it is'.

Not a fun movie, but one which tries to make a point, and, if nothing else, has the power to shock and make you remember certain sections for a long time after viewing. Recommended.