Scum (1979)

Director:

Alan Clarke

Writer:

Roy Minton (writer)

Release Date:

2 May 1980 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | Crime

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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...

Plot Keywords:

No Music | Gay Interest | Male Rape | Rape | Greenhouse

Cast

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
Jo Kendall	...	Matron
Patrick Murray	...	Dougan
Herbert Norville	...	Toyne
George Winter	...	Rhodes
Alrick Riley	...	Angel
Philip DaCosta	...	Jackson (as Philip Da Costa)
Peter Francis	...	Baldy
Andrew Paul	...	Betts
Sean Chapman	...	James
Ozzie Stevens	...	Smith
Ricky Wales	...	Chambers
James Donnelly	...	Whittle
Joe Fordham	...	Reg
Ray Jewers	...	Gym Instructor
Ian Liston	...	White
Charles Rayford	...	Philpott
John Rogan	...	Escort
Perry Benson	...	Formby
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Danny John-Jules	...	Extra (uncredited)
Michael Tarn	...	Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Alan Clarke

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Roy Minton		writer

Produced by
Davina Belling	....	producer
Don Boyd	....	executive producer
Martin Campbell	....	associate producer
Clive Parsons	....	producer
Michael Relph	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Phil Meheux

Film Editing by
Michael Bradsell

Casting by
Esta Charkham

Art Direction by
Michael Porter

Makeup Department
Debbie Scragg	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Raymond Day	....	first assistant director
Michael Hamlyn	....	assistant director
Chris Rose	....	assistant director

Art Department
Bob Hedges	....	props (as Bobby Hedges)
Judith Lang	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
John Chandler	....	boom operator
David John	....	sound mixer
Tony Message	....	sound effects editor
Terry Poulton	....	sound editor
Steve Spencer	....	assistant sound editor
Hugh Strain	....	dubbing mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Terry Edland	....	gaffer
Joe Felix	....	grip
Graham Hazard	....	focus puller
Paul Jordan	....	clapper loader
Joe Pearce	....	still photographer
Mike Proudfoot	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Monica Howe	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Roy Burge	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Sallianne Branson	....	production assistant
Terry Connors	....	production accountant
Geoff Freeman	....	unit publicist
Alison Thorne	....	continuity
Rik Walters	....	researcher (uncredited)

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• G.T.O. Films Ltd. (1979) (UK) (theatrical)
• World Northal (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Prism Entertainment Corporation (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Odyssey Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• PolyGram Video (1993) (UK) (VHS)
• Odyssey Video (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Blue Underground (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• GBS Film Lighting  electrical equipment
• GSE  titles

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2006) | West Germany:18 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 (1980) | UK:18 (video rating) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Berwick Street Productions

Trivia:

David Threlfall, who originally played Archer in the BBC version of Scum (1977) (TV), was offered the role in the movie but was unavailable owing to prior commitments with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Goofs:

Factual errors: All Borstal inmates were subject to the same mandatory haircut of short back and sides, yet a vast array of hairstyles are shown throughout the film, including afros.

Quotes:

[Mr Sands discovers Angel's room is a mess shortly after Angel's beating]
Mr Sands: What's this then? On your feet, lad! What do you think this is? Stand up! Name and number?
[Angel stands up slowly]
Angel: Angel, sir.
Mr Sands: Number?
Angel: Can't remember, sir.
Mr Sands: Can't remember? Your number, lad, that's all you are, a number! A number! Four digits. That's all you are! 4736! Name and number?
Angel: 4736, Angel, sir.
Mr Sands: Who did this?
Angel: What, sir?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Scum EPK Interviews with Clive Parsons & Roy Minton (1999) (TV)

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.