History Film / Scum

''Scum'' is a 1979 British film directed by Alan Clarke, originally based off of a 1977 [[Creator/TheBBC BBC]] teleplay. In 2010, the film was remade by Kim Chapiron, under the title ''Dog Pound''. The following page covers tropes appearing in all three versions.

''Scum'' is a 1979 British film directed by Alan Clarke, originally based off of a 1977 BBC teleplay. In 2010, the film was remade by Kim Chapiron, under the title ''Dog Pound''. The following page covers tropes appearing in all three versions.

# Though not an actual "Video Nasty", [[MoralGuardians Mary Whitehouse]] ''was'' successful in her private prosecution in the High Court case against Channel 4 for showing the film. (Channel 4 later won an appeal, however) Because of this, ''Scum'' frequently shows up under video nasty lists, despite not actually being one. Part of the reason for all the controversy was because of how [[{{Gorn}} extraordinarily violent]] the film was, as well as its brutal depictions of racism and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking harsh language]], particularly for Thatcher-era Britain.

** Davis's rapists also count.

* FanService: For some viewers, ''Dog Pound'' was ''definitely'' this. You get to see [[Series/{{Degrassi}} Spinner]], almost completely ''naked''!

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Butch in DogPound. Although not a jerk, he is a violent criminal but he's easily a character with the most redeeming qualities and even assaults people who do terrible things to several inmates for no reason.

* NoEnding: The original 1979 version, which borders on being a DownerEnding. [[spoiler:All the prisoners, including Carlin, start a riot in the prison after finding out about Davis's suicide, however they are all beaten and thrown back in their cells. Then the scene cuts to an assembly with all the prisoners as the warden speaks to them all, then the credits roll.]]

# Though not an actual [[VideoNasty "Video Nasty"]], [[MoralGuardians Mary Whitehouse]] ''was'' successful in her private prosecution in the High Court case against Channel 4 for showing the film. (Channel 4 later won an appeal, however) Because of this, ''Scum'' frequently shows up under video nasty lists, despite not actually being one. Part of the reason for all the controversy was because of how [[{{Gorn}} extraordinarily violent]] the film was, as well as its brutal depictions of racism and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking harsh language]], particularly for Thatcher-era Britain.

* GreyAndGrayMorality: Definitely in ''Dog Pound''.

# The BBC Teleplay and film both starred RayWinstone, and essentially launched his career.

## The BBC Teleplay and film both starred RayWinstone, and essentially launched his career.
## Though not an actual [[VideoNasty "Video Nasty"]], [[MoralGuardians Mary Whitehouse]] ''was'' successful in her private prosecution in the High Court case against Channel 4 for showing the film. (Channel 4 later won an appeal, however) Because of this, ''Scum'' frequently shows up under video nasty lists, despite not actually being one. Part of the reason for all the controversy was because of how [[{{Gorn}} extraordinarily violent]] the film was, as well as its brutal depictions of racism and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking harsh language]], particularly for Thatcher-era Britain.
## Though without the violence and general extremity of its remake, the original 1977 teleplay did have one thing that many modern audiences will find particularly surprising given the time period it was made in: a homosexual relationship between Carlin and another inmate. Granted, the relationship wasn't exactly positive, but still.

The film is ''very'' noteable for several reasons:

'''1.''' The BBC Teleplay and film both starred RayWinstone, and essentially launched his career.

'''2.''' Though not an actual [[VideoNasty "Video Nasty"]], [[MoralGuardians Mary]] [[BitchInSheepsClothing White]][[TheFundamentalist house]] ''was'' successful in her private prosecution in the High Court case against Channel 4 for showing the film. (Channel 4 later won an appeal, however) Because of this, "Scum" frequently shows up under video nasty lists, despite not actually being one. Part of the reason for all the controversy was because of how [[{{Gorn}} extraordinarily violent]] the film was, as well as its brutal depictions of racism and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking harsh language]], particularly for Thatcher-era Britain.

'''3.''' Though without the violence and general extremity of its remake, The original 1977 teleplay did have one thing that many modern audiences will find particularly surprising given the time period it was made in: a homosexual relationship between Carlin and another inmate. Granted, the relationship wasn't exactly positive, but still.

That being said, the main gist of the film(s) is something like this:

Three thugs; Carlin (Butch in Dog Pound), Davis, and Angel, are all taken into custody and brought to a good ol' British Borstal (an American Juvenile Correctional Facility in Dog Pound). What they proceed to discover is that where they have been sent is in fact a WretchedHive of Racism and Violence, and corrupt wardens/officers. And that's just the beginning. From then on, [[FromBadToWorse it gets worse.]] Much, ''MUCH'' worse.

Three thugs; Carlin (Butch in Dog Pound), Davis, and Angel, are all taken into custody and brought to a good ol' British Borstal (an American Juvenile Correctional Facility in Dog Pound). What they proceed to discover is that where they have been sent is in fact a [[WretchedHive Wretched Hive]] of Racism and Violence, and corrupt wardens/officers. And that's just the beginning. From then on, [[FromBadToWorse it gets worse.]] Much, ''MUCH'' worse.

* GokartingWithBowser: One memorable scene in ''Scum'' has one of the guards give Archer his coffee and actually engage in a serious conversation with him. Unfortunately, Archer oversteps the intelligence and tolerance of the guard, and his argument against the entire system is taken as a personal insult.

* HandOrObjectUnderwear: During the beginning of ''Dog Pound'', the viewers are treated to all three male leads essentially naked, save for them cupping their privates with their hands. [[JustifiedTrope Justified, however]]: they ''are'' being checked into a Juvenile Correctional Facility, and ''would'' need to be strip-searched.

* PrisonRape | RapeAsDrama: [[spoiler: Davis.]]

* ViolentGlaswegian: [[AvertedTrope Averted]], due to casting. Originally, Carlin was intended to be from Glasgow, but the director was so impressed with Ray Winstone's audition, that he dropped that and cast him.

!!!Tropes appearing in Scum/Dog Pound:

* DawsonCasting: Played straight with Ray Winstone (both Theatrical and BBC teleplay versions of ''Scum''), David Threlfall (BBC Teleplay), Mick Ford (Theatrical version), Adam Butcher, and Shane Kippel (both ''Dog Pound''); all were 20 or over during filming of their respective versions. One [[AvertedTrope aversion]] occurred with Julian Firth in the 1979 theatrical version; he actually ''was'' a teenager.

* ParentalIncest: In ''Dog Pound'', one of Davis's stories this. It's most likely bull, especially given his actual interactions with his mother.
** It was actually the mother of the girl he was with at the time.

* BlatantLies: Davis's sex stories in ''Dog Pound'' are this. At least, [[{{Squick}} we hope.]]

* ImprovisedWeaponUser: One of the reasons Carlin is such a dangerous fighter is that he doesn't hesitate to use things like iron bars and a sock filled with snooker balls.

* HotMom: Davis's mom in ''Dog Pound'', especially during his story sequence with her large breasts and sexy back.

* ParentalIncest: In ''Dog Pound'', one of Davis's stories this. It's most likely bull, especially given his actual interactions with his mother.

* FanService: For some viewers, ''Dog Pound'' was ''definitely'' this. You get to see [[{{Degrassi}} Spinner]], almost completely ''naked''!

* HeroicSociopath: Carlin/Butch.

Three thugs; Carlin (Butch in Dog Pound), Davis, and Angel, are all taken into custody and brought to a good ol' British Borstal (an American Juvenile Correctional Facility in Dog Pound). What they proceed to discover is that where they have been sent is in fact a [[WretchedHive Wretched Hive]] of Racism and Violence, and corrupt wardens/officers. And that's just the beginning. From then on, [[ItGotWorse it gets worse.]] Much, ''MUCH'' worse.

* CombatPragmatists: Carlin does ''not'' fight fair, and most of his victories come from taking people by surprise and/or using improvised weapons.

* DepravedBisexual: Carlin is this in the original BBC Teleplay.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Davis.]]

* YouRebelScum: For the first two versions. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin It's right there in the title]].

* WorkingOnTheChainGang: Sort of. Nobody is actually chained together, but they ''do'' do manual labor while huddled close.

'''1.''' The BBC Teleplay and film both starred Ray Winstone, and essentially launched his career.

* HotMom: Davis's mom in ''Dog Pound'', especially during his story sequence with her large breasts and [[SexyBack Sexy Back]].