TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Scum (2 Disc Special Collector's Edition) [1977]


RRP: £15.99
Our Price: £1.78 (subject to change)

TV version is better
Review date: 2008-10-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

This set of the BBC original and the cinema release is well worth getting. The excellent and informative commentary on the TV original has the TV producer plus Phil Daniels and David Threlfall (the original Archer, tied into an RSC contract during the time of the remake). All the ins and outs of the TV ban are dealt with both during the commentary and in a separate interview with the producer, but of especial note among the extra is the interview with Roy Minton who is remarkably frank about Clarke's attempts to rewrite the script without Minton's involvement for the film - it ended their close relationship - and about his own subsequent falling out of favour with TV bosses.

I had only seen clips of the cinema film before viewing these two versions together so I'm not particularly wedded to it. The TV one does seem better: David Threlfall's take on Archer as deceptively gentle and disembodied means that the hard centre he reveals in the key scene with the warden obliged to supervise him is far more effective. Indeed, had Roy Minton been allowed, as he wished, to buy the original from the BBC at cost (once the rights had reverted to him following non-transmission) there would have been little point in making the film: the picture quality is fine (all film, not video) and could have been screened.

Similar Products

Reviews


A great package for a great film, or rather two
Review date: 2008-04-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

As most know, Scum was made twice. After the initial BBC version was declared unfit for broadcast, the film was remade for cinematic release. While the first was the one that was banned, the second is by far a tougher watch. Both films are presented here, alongside a host of extras, at long last.

Scum is one of Alan Clarke's many films which deal with violence as a way of life with little reason given for why it is. For Ray Winstone's Carlin, staying on top is simply a way of staying alive, and vice versa, in the tough realm of British Borstal, more or less a prison for young offenders. The inmates in this prison are left to their own devices, which of course culminates in tragedy (twice even, depending on which version you watch). There is no catharsis in Scum; no resolution and no character development. If anything, all we see is character disintegration, both guard- and self-inflicted. That said, there are touches of humanity in the film, often overlooked. Some of the boys keep their heads out of trouble, and some even help others, although in Carlin's case, only when it benefits himself.

The cast is great, with Ray Winstone all swagger (allegedly he was hired because of his walk) and talk, hiding well Carlin's myriad insecurities. David Threlfall and Mick Ford both give entertaining takes on Archer, the institute's resident free-thinker and cheeky bother-maker. The supporting cast of villains all play their parts well, most convinced that they're much more important than they really are. Egos run rampant, and you can really see the actors having fun with it. Clarke's recognizeable style is clearly emerging in this picture. Many have said that the BBC version feels too much like a documentary, which holds up even today. Roy Minton's script is flawless and doesn't feature a single line that feels out of place, due in large part no doubt to his extensive research for the film.

The extras in this set are short but informative. Both discs feature retrospective interviews about their respective production, and serve to tell why the film was made, and the impact it had. Although I have yet to listen to the BBC commentary, I did give the Ray Winstone film version a spin, and despite the poor audio quality it keeps your interest throughout, and he clearly has plenty to say. It is worth noting that his homosexual subplot is only in the version of the film he does not comment on, and he has been vocal about his dislike for this element in the past. It is also interesting to hear how Minton and Clarke fell out over some of plot threads eschewed in the film version, only to reunite as Clarke was dying. A couple of trailers round out the package.

Overall, Scum is not an easy watch. Its hard to emphasize with characters who want to beat each other up with pipes, encourage racial violence and commit rape unpunished. But for the message it carries and its sheer, unpolished presentation of what are basically true events, its a must see.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Mick Ford
Ray Winstone
Phil Daniels

Creators:
Ray Winstone (Primary Contributor)
Mick Ford (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Odyssey Video
Manufacturer: Odyssey Video
EAN: 5050824203854
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Box set, Colour, Dolby, PAL,
Release date: 2005-06-13
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 167 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1977
Language: English (Original Language)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional