MovieChat Forums > Scared Straight! (1978) Discussion > One of the BEST unintentional comedies o...

One of the BEST unintentional comedies on film!

posted 18 years ago by burt_hamil
23 replies | jump to latest

I know it's tragic about the cons, and the plight of these "bad" kids..but this little reality film is one of the all time best comedies that I've ever seen. This cast of characters have the best off the cuff quips ever heard on film.

Exhibit A: Peter Falks narrates the film...nuff said. A CLASSIC!

"Don't put no tears in yo eyes..what the f#$%k I care bout tears!" - Malik

"When you watch the TV and see sumone get life, and you get up and go to the bathroom, come back, and they back on the street..it don't work like dat in here! When you do time, you do years. And when you do years that means day for day, week for week, month for month, and year for god damn year! The only thing that changes in here is the god damn calender!" - Malik

[–] bluecastlesky 18 years ago

Those kids were so Jersey. On the dvd you get to see what they look like now eeekk they are scary with ugly families ha

[–] LadyLovie 15 years ago

actually i think they were uglier when they were teens. lol.

[–] fivefids 16 years ago

I agree, when this was first broadcast in 1979 (the site is wrong for listing it as 1980, it was first broadcast in 1979) I made sure I took an audio tape and recorded the rebroadcast a few months later (VCRs were still VERY expensive) and me and my friends would listen to it over and over again and memorize the speaches. FUNNY stuff!
"You got sumpin' in yo head thach you want out? 'Cause if you move yo head one mo time..."
We still quote it till this day.
"Imo break my leg off in yo ass..."
"Men on this stage don't know what it's like to hear a f@#kin' bird chirpin'!"

Great stuff and lots of laughs.
The new Lifers depicted in "20 Years Later" are a joke.

[–] robocat893 16 years ago

My mom made me watch this when it was first shown on TV. I just got done smoking a nice joint and I was listening to some Sabbath when she busted into my room. She told me to go in the living room and watch this show.

I was pissed because she was harshing my buzz but then I got into the show and started laughing at all the stupid things the convicts were saying. Man that stuff was funny!

My mom was pissed because I wasn't "Scared Straight!"

I do believe that you made your message clear, I think I am losing my mind!

[–] smithkittycat 16 years ago

I hate to burst your bubble (fivefids) but scared straight was first shown on TV in 1978 right after the summer.. in (September or October)

[–] fivefids 16 years ago

It probably depends on the network since it was broadcast on PBS in most cases. It was broadcast May, 1979 and again in August where I lived. In any case, it was not made in 1980 as this board had stated. When I watched "Scared Straight 20 Years Later" some of the alumni that were interviewed said "Scared Straight, 78, I remember it well..." or something to that effect. That led me to believe it was filmed in 1978 and broadcast in 1979. Sounds like some areas aired it earlier then. And by the way, you can't burst my bubble that easily.

[–] cajones7611 15 years ago

IMDB is not wrong in listing Scared Straight as 1980. The date noted after films is not when the film is made, it's when it has it's theatrical release or gets distribution to the public. Even today some films are shot and it takes years to get release and distribution.

For reference, look at the film "The Strangers" (2008). It was shot in 2006 but didn't release until this year, so it's listed as (2008). Just thought you should know...

[–] fivefids 15 years ago

True, but Scared Straight aired in May and Aug of 1979 where I lived and smithkittycat, who sure sounds credible, claims 1978 in that area. As far as I know, it was never released in theaters.

[–] emailjohnprince 14 years ago

Scrared Straight actually aired to the nation in November of 1978. Scared Straight: Another Story was a dramatization and was made in 1980.

[–] LadyLovie 15 years ago

I saw this so many times. yeah it is funny. I don't know what prisoner was the funniest,but for weeks after seeing this I'd always quote,"go home bare foot ya *beep* rofl. when he takes david's sneakers.hahahaaaaa.

[–] fivefids 15 years ago

I still quote "I'm gonna break my leg off in yo ass..."

[–] MrsMonroe74 14 years ago

"if ya wanna know what it sounds like when a man is screaming cuz 4 dudes is *beep* him in his ass,we can tell you about that."

"I'll give ya 5 options,& ain't none of em worth a chinese nickle."

fixed it.

______________________________
brush your breath,brush your breath,brush your breath with dentyne.

[–] falcon2484 14 years ago

"I ain't worried 'bout it, cuz I figure if they come to me, talkin, you know, I'ma talk back. I'm not gon' shut up fa nobody, you know? Nobody." Then when they show him later, he's cowering. HAHA!!

The Falcon flies

[–] MrsMonroe74 14 years ago

can't remember his name. but he yells "GRAB IT! GRAB IT MOTHER *beep* GRAB IT!"

%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I yam what I yam.

[–] LadyLovie 14 years ago

the same 1 said just before that,"hit me, punch me in my face hard as you can, then it's my turn."
then later says "I can do bad by my mother *beep* self-go to him. you belong to him now."
sold him for 1 cigarette. could have at least got a pack.

---
I like your show,I admire your style, but your pays so cheap, I won't be back for a while.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] LadyLovie 14 years ago

Malik: "20 goddamn dollars! now you sound like a real dummy."

---------------------------------------
Scooter? what have u done to me?

[–] fivefids 14 years ago

"Men on this stage don't know what it's like to hear a dog barkin'. Men on this stage don't know what it's like to hear a f@#kin' bird chirpin'. But if you ask us what it's like to hear a man gettin' stabbed to death we'll tell you about that..."

And MrsBonner, it's "Four dudes..." not five. Not that it matters. Good laughs just the same.

"What's your number!?!!"

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mark_ward1 13 years ago

I watched this in high school as part of a class on legal systems. All the students found it hilarious and laughed during the prisoners' speeches. The teacher kept saying, "guys, this isn't funny!"

[–] buzzcartier 12 years ago

I guess all the folks who think this flick is funny have not been locked up, even worn F'n jewelry or went for a ride in a prowl car or two.

This is some serious s*** and it was very important in influencing a lot of us kids way back when.

Scared Straight may not have convinced some of us way back when to not do anything illegal, but it sure damn well did convince some of us to commit only misdemeanors or to be super freakin careful if we were committing felonies.

Keep downloading tunes and throwing out your Mountain Dew cans instead of recycling, ya criminals. You will find all of the dialogue in a holding cell to be hilarious as your face is smashed to the floor during the arse-banging.

Cheers...

Buzz Cartier
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3496526

"Filthy Rich Filthy Uncle Phil" - Writer / Director / Producer and monthly guest on The Defective Jukebox on WFDU 89.1 FM /www.wfdu.fm

FREE DOWNLOAD:
http://ukulelelovers.com/buzz/Filthy_Rich_Filthy_Uncle_Phil.wmv

Please do feel free to review or comment HONESTLY on imdb.

Reviews (w/ SPOILERS!!!):
http://www.trashcity.org/BLITZ/BLIT2233.HTM
http://moviecynics.com/filthy-rich-filthy-uncle-phil-2010-independent- film-review/
http://firefox.org/news/articles/3490/3/Notable-Recent-and-Upcoming-DV D-Releases-Featuring-Sex-and-Violence/Page3.html

[–] Nikon11 11 years ago

I agree.

I'd like to see how funny they think it is if they were locked up for real.

I've spent an overnight in a single holding cell, was chained up to other prisoners, and rode in the wagon to court the next morning.

That was real enough to scare me straight.