Scum | 
| Director: Alan Clarke
Actors: Ray Winstone, Mick Ford, Julian Firth, John Blundell, Phil Daniels
Studio: Blue Underground
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $11.21
You Save: $8.77 (44%)
New (24) Used (9) from $10.24
Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 22929
Format: Color, Dolby, Dvd, Limited Edition, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 98 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: RKOD581043D
UPC: 827058104395
EAN: 0827058104395
ASIN: B000096IAA
Theatrical Release Date: 1979
Release Date: February 28, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The son of a bricklayer who also spent some time as a laborer before studying acting and directing in Canada, Alan Clarke (who died in 1990) got his start at the BBC in the 1960s. By 1977, he had directed his explosive and controversial television feature, Scum, starring Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast) as a survivor at a corrupt and brutal juvenile prison. Harrowing, claustrophobic, and deeply tragic, Scum was banned by the BBC for graphic brutality (and, quite likely, criticism of the justice system), leading Clarke to remake it with Winstone and the same script as a 1979 theatrical release. Both versions are included on this disc, and each is a unique experience. The earlier Scum is a lean, low-budget, relentlessly nightmarish drama while its second take is moodier, slower, and intermittently shocking. --Tom Keogh
Product Description
Studio: Wea-des Moines Video Release Date: 02/28/2006
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| Customer Reviews:
 Haunting September 23, 2008
euroyankee (Ar Ramadi, Iraq)
This DVD was the last of my short lived fascination with British crime. In "Scum" we got to see some of the English Youth Correctional system in action. Apparently this movie was so controversial that it was banned for life by the BBC. It is disturbing but not nearly as haunting as the American version "Bad Boys" starring Sean Penn. Yes us Yanks tend to make things better (or worse depending on who you talk to!) We do take things to the extreme, but this film is already out there.
RAW , HEARTBREAKING AND SCARY June 2, 2007
Oliver Penn (New York City)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
I watched the first version of this film, but had to wait a couple of days before I viewed the latter version of two years later. It was THAT strong -- brutal and vile. "Man's inhumanity to man" fits this film perfectly.
Yes, out-of-control youth must be dealt with, but not by inhuman, depraved authoritarians! The administrators of this borstal (reformatory) were all sick, demented sex perverts, who seem to get pleasure out of watching these young men devour one another.
Both versions are brutal, but the remake went even further, especially the greenhouse rape. In the first version, there were two harmless-looking lads who attacked "James". In the sequel, three toughs were the perpetrators. The attact went on for what seemed, several minutes (screen time). For the victim, it probably felt like hours.
Both films are nearly identical with some of the same actors repeating their roles, especially the lead, Ray Winstone, but the actors were so good, it didn't matter that all of the originals didn't return. It was interesting to see other actors take on the parts.
The latter version does seem more "modern." But the sexual angle was played down. In the second version, Winstone's character didn't seek out a "wife" to take care of his sexual needs. Also, the suicide of the rape victim was more graphic, therefore shocking.
A hardcore version of the movie is now out called "Borstal Boy" and it provides what even SCUM couldn't: graphic sex, which was probably the major activity that went on in these institutions, out-ranking violence.
Exceeding Expectations November 20, 2006
Michael Kerjman (The Earth)
4 out of 8 found this review helpful
Since reading "The Gulliver's Travels", an ancient black and white classic publication, a grey color is being associated with too many UK masterpieces.
This movie depicting a brutal ignorant juvenile correction institution has definitely exceeded my expectations by cynically exaggerated screening of human life meaningless and oppressive state employees of whom the major factual task highlighted is annihilating even a shadow of intelligence and individuality of inmates.
Bushing, same-sex gang raping and in-charge deployed voyeurism, suicides, explicit provocations to suite the wards and masters of wards at all governing levels in exchange for own perverted gratification and miserable-in-outer-world benefits, are shocking testimony to a movie- authors' reality for viewers worldwide.
 Scum December 20, 2008
Joseph S. Lightfoot (Ontario, Canada)
0 out of 6 found this review helpful
This film is appropriately titled, because that's all it is. Absolute trash. I couldn't look myself in the eyes in the mirror for a week, knowing that I actually paid for such waste. The description for this movie is completely innacurate, and I'm absolutely perplexed as to why the British Broadcast Corporation would ban this. I wish that I could meet the director of this defilement of cinema, simply to spit in his face and demand my hard-earned money back.
Reading this, I am absolutely sure that Amazon will not post this review, and it is likely the first and last time that you will ask me to post a review. But it is good to let you know that I just paid you for absolute putrescence.
Aside from this purchase, and other than the order that I have been waiting almost one year for, all of my other orders have come in a timely fashion and have proved quite enjoyable for me. Thank you.
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