SCUM
(Alan Clarke, 1979)
Release date: 24 June 2019
Limited Blu-ray Edition
After the banning of their original 1977 BBC TV version, director Alan Clarke (The Firm) and writer Phil Minton (Funny Farm) set out to remake their drama for the big screen to ensure that their vision got the audience it deserved. The resulting film, released here in a special Blu-ray edition to mark its 40th anniversary, was an even more vitriolic portrait of a corrupt and violent institution which stunned cinema audiences and caused outrage.
Uncompromising in its depiction of everyday violence, retribution, suicide and sexual assault, Scum remains a cornerstone of the British realist cinema movement, and a savage and still shocking indictment of institutionalised violence and abuse.
INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:
• 2013 2K restoration from the original negatives, newly re-graded and approved by cinematographer Phil Méheux
• Original mono audio
• Audio commentary with actor Ray Winstone and film critic Nigel Floyd (2006)
• Interview with actor Mick Ford (2019)
• Interview with actor Ray Burdis (2019)
• Interview with actor Perry Benson (2019)
• Interview with cinematographer Phil Méheux (2019)
• Interviews with association producer Martin Campbell (2019)
• Interview with producer Don Boyd (2019)
• Interview with editor Michael Bradsell (2019)
• Cast Memories (2005): featuring interviews with Phil Daniels and Julian Firth
• Archival interview with writer Roy Minton and producer Clive Parsons (2004)
• Archival interview with writer Roy Minton (2005)
• Archival interview with producers Davina Belling and Clive Parsons (2005)
• Archival interview with producer Don Boyd (2005)
• Original ‘U’ and ‘X’ certificate theatrical trailers
• Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
• New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Ashley Clark, recollections from cast and crew members, archival interviews with Alan Clarke, an extract from writer Roy Minton’s novelisation, a look at Mary Whitehouse’s High Court case over the film’s television broadcast, an overview of contemporary critical responses, archival articles, and film credits
• Limited Edition of 5,000 copies
• All extras subject to change
#PHILTD156
BBFC cert: 18
REGION FREE
EAN: 5037899084045
156 Scum
Moderator: MichaelB
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
156 Scum
- Boosmahn
- Joined: Mon Sep 04, 2017 10:08 pm
Re: ??? Scum
I was thinking of buying the Kino version just yesterday. Good thing I held off...
A phenomenal extra would be the TV broadcast version, but I wouldn't hold it against Indicator if they can't include it.
A phenomenal extra would be the TV broadcast version, but I wouldn't hold it against Indicator if they can't include it.
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- Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 3:43 am
Re: ??? Scum
is this in the works? new restoration? don't Odeon still have it?
- rapta
- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:04 pm
- Location: Hants, UK
Re: ??? Scum
Licensed via Screenbound/Odeon it seems, as are No Orchids for Miss Blandish and Black Joy (I think).M Sanderson wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:30 amis this in the works? new restoration? don't Odeon still have it?
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: 156 Scum
It's worth noting that there's a big production-team overlap between this new edition of Scum and the BFI's massive Alan Clarke box (Sam Dunn, David Mackenzie, John Robertson, Nick Wrigley), and I'm very happy to confirm that similar curatorial standards will be maintained throughout.
And while I didn't work on the BFI box, I've been a Clarke fan for nearly four decades, so hopefully I won't let the side down.
And while I didn't work on the BFI box, I've been a Clarke fan for nearly four decades, so hopefully I won't let the side down.
- Big Ben
- Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2016 12:54 pm
- Location: Great Falls, Montana
Re: 156 Scum
I picked up a rather lackluster version some time ago and well I'm looking forward to seeing it again. I suppose her name is a bit of a joke to me as an American but I get a chuckle whenever I see Mary Whitehouse's name because she feels like such an artifact of that time period. Granted I know of her mostly from her bizarre crusade against Dr. Who (Baffling!) but the old Blu-Ray I have of this film has a brief section of Whitehouse's lambasting of the TV version and eventual loss in court and it reminded me of how utterly strange her whole deal was. Pleased to see more quality Clarke though, I'll certainly be picking this up.
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
Re: 156 Scum
It’s happened again! As with 2018’s limited edition release of NIGHT OF THE DEMON, we have been stunned by the number of pre-orders for our 24 June 2019 release of SCUM.
Due to the high levels of demand, we are increasing the # of the limited edition to 8,000 copies. Thank you very much for your pre-orders and your continued support!
- Boosmahn
- Joined: Mon Sep 04, 2017 10:08 pm
Re: 156 Scum
^ That's nice to hear. I'm not sure why this one is such a big seller, though; Kino's version only came out in 2013.
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
Re: 156 Scum
I suspect that unlike Night of the Demon, sales here might be strongly reflective of the large UK audience for the movie
- MichaelB
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Re: 156 Scum
Not in the UK.Boosmahn wrote:^ That's nice to hear. I'm not sure why this one is such a big seller, though; Kino's version only came out in 2013.
And even if far more people imported discs than is in fact the case, the Indicator is a much more lavish package.
I’m not sure how much people outside the UK appreciate the size of this film’s local cult following.
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- Joined: Wed May 01, 2019 9:27 am
Re: 156 Scum
It's certainly a very well known film in the UK but I'd also suggest that unlike when the previous Odeon release came out, there's now - thanks to the BFI set - a lot more awareness of Alan Clarke as a filmaker, rather than just "the guy who directed....".domino harvey wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 8:07 pmI suspect that unlike Night of the Demon, sales here might be strongly reflective of the large UK audience for the movie
Add in the Indicator collectors buying the lot, the fans of the film in general wanting the best edition and the overseas customers wanting something more definitive than the Kino, which came and went with little fanfare given Scum not being a big title in the US, and I think it's understandable why this is selling strongly.
- HitchcockLang
- Joined: Tue May 28, 2013 1:43 pm
Re: 156 Scum
Any hopes that the original television play may make it onto the disc as a last minute addition or does some rights or other hang-up prevent such an eventuality?
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
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Re: 156 Scum
It's in the BFI set
- MichaelB
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Re: 156 Scum
Indeed, and of course the BFI will still have the UK video rights tied up for many more years (the Alan Clarke box only came out in 2016), so it was never even the tiniest possibility.
- HitchcockLang
- Joined: Tue May 28, 2013 1:43 pm
Re: 156 Scum
Fair enough. Thanks for the info swo and MichaelB. Unfortunately, that set is region B locked and (regardless of how supposedly easy and affordable it is), I am not equipped for all regions. Even if I were, that set is a little pricey given my lack of knowledge about Alan Clarke in general. Still preordered what looks to be another lovingly produced release from Indicator in order to dip my toe in the Clarke pool.
- MichaelB
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Re: 156 Scum
The irony here is that if Indicator had managed to license the BBC play, they'd have been required to region-lock the entire package!
(Sadly, the Blu-ray spec doesn't allow for selective region-locking, so if just one item on the disc is contractually required to be region-locked, that means that the whole disc has to be.)
(Sadly, the Blu-ray spec doesn't allow for selective region-locking, so if just one item on the disc is contractually required to be region-locked, that means that the whole disc has to be.)
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: SLC, UT
Re: 156 Scum
Honestly the BFI set is the main course and this Indicator release (stacked as it is) is comparably a salad fork
- Ogre Kovacs
- Joined: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:04 pm
Re: 156 Scum
Incredibly excited for this release as I believe it is the last Clarke that is not lost that I have not seen (having recently tied up loose ends in the form of The Gold Robbers and The Edwardians episodes). I was about to pull the trigger on the Kino blu when rumors of the Indicator popped up. Glad I held off.
The BFI box set was a revelation and one of those rare moments where a blind buy (thanks to this forum for the enthusiasm and discussion up to its release that pushed to take the plunge) resulted in not only seeing an excellent film (which is common) but introducing a director and so many films that quickly became some of my all time favorites. Going through the box for me was wonderful discovery after wonderful discovery with so many of the films just leaving my jaw on the floor feeling drained and stunned. I can't recommend it enough.
For HitchcockLang and others who are region locked, if you are looking to see some more Clarke to get a better idea of his work without the investment of a region locked boxed set, the Made In Britain and The Firm are fairly well available but there's also The Edwardians series (of which Clarke's contribution of the Horatio Bottomly episode is excellent) on DVD from BBC Video which shows more breadth of what Clarke was capable of beyond the angry, violent men of his most well known work (which is overly generalizing these films and not intended as a dismal on my part as they are incredible). It is currently cheap second hand on Amazon . The quality is watchable--it has some strange movement occasionally that might be a result of PAL->NTSC or just video in general (I'm kind of bad about these technical details).
Unfortunately for the region locked, I have to believe that the vast majority of Clarke's catalog will never see the light of day outside of Region B including some of his best in my opinion--The Hallelujah Handshake, Under the Age, Penda’s Fen, Diane, Beloved Enemy, Contact, Christine. The best reason I know of to make the move, but I am not looking to preach or convert anyone on this issue.
The BFI box set was a revelation and one of those rare moments where a blind buy (thanks to this forum for the enthusiasm and discussion up to its release that pushed to take the plunge) resulted in not only seeing an excellent film (which is common) but introducing a director and so many films that quickly became some of my all time favorites. Going through the box for me was wonderful discovery after wonderful discovery with so many of the films just leaving my jaw on the floor feeling drained and stunned. I can't recommend it enough.
For HitchcockLang and others who are region locked, if you are looking to see some more Clarke to get a better idea of his work without the investment of a region locked boxed set, the Made In Britain and The Firm are fairly well available but there's also The Edwardians series (of which Clarke's contribution of the Horatio Bottomly episode is excellent) on DVD from BBC Video which shows more breadth of what Clarke was capable of beyond the angry, violent men of his most well known work (which is overly generalizing these films and not intended as a dismal on my part as they are incredible). It is currently cheap second hand on Amazon . The quality is watchable--it has some strange movement occasionally that might be a result of PAL->NTSC or just video in general (I'm kind of bad about these technical details).
Unfortunately for the region locked, I have to believe that the vast majority of Clarke's catalog will never see the light of day outside of Region B including some of his best in my opinion--The Hallelujah Handshake, Under the Age, Penda’s Fen, Diane, Beloved Enemy, Contact, Christine. The best reason I know of to make the move, but I am not looking to preach or convert anyone on this issue.
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- Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 3:43 am
Re: 156 Scum
I much prefer this version especially for Mick Ford’s interpretation of Archer.
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: 156 Scum
The plan was for David Threlfall to repeat the part, and he was apparently up for it, but he'd just signed a contract with the Royal Shakespeare Company and so couldn't do it.
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
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Re: 156 Scum
Beaver:
An intensely uncompromising and impacting film experience and the Indicator Blu-ray advances on every area (video/audio/extras).
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- Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2016 3:43 am
Re: 156 Scum
How different in terms of A/V is this from the solid Odeon Entertainment version from a few years back?
Regardless, whether it's a new scan or a tighter encode of the same remaster, I'm still all over this version.
Regardless, whether it's a new scan or a tighter encode of the same remaster, I'm still all over this version.
- MichaelB
- Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm
- Location: Worthing
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Re: 156 Scum
Same source master, but it’s been given a going-over by cinematographer Phil Meheux prior to a David Mackenzie encode.