DOG BOYS

US, 95 minutes, 1997, Colour.
Dean Cain, Bryan Brown, Tia Carrerre.
Directed by Ken Russell.

Dog Boys is a surprising choice of a director's chore for the flamboyant Ken Russell (Women in Love, The Music Lovers). This is a prison film focusing on Dean Cain as an irascible ex Marine who comes under the power of Warden Bryan Brown. Brown has a secret - revealed as having a grudge against prisoners who murdered his girlfriend and dog. He trains dogs to pursue prisoners - and has turned it into a scam whereby prisoners without relatives are hunted and killed and their money banked.

The film is fairly obvious in its treatment of Brown's character, though Bryan Brown (his Australian accent and background given rather lengthy explanation) is perhaps too laconic for the role. There are heroics as Dean Cain and Tia Carrerre as a representative of the District Attorney confront the criminal scheme.

1. Prison film? Variations on themes? The corrupt warden and his scheme?

2. The prison setting, the forests, the special effects and action with the dogs? Musical score?

3. The title, the focus on Captain Brown, his training of the dogs, the pursuit of the criminals let loose?

4. The focus on Julian Taylor: clean-cut ex-Marine, the warnings as he entered the prison, his trying to help the prisoner who fell, the confrontation with the black prisoner and his skill in fighting and defeating him? Captain Brown and his warnings? His setting him to work with the dogs under Pappy's direction? The group with the dogs, the confrontations? The training of the dogs, the running? The friendship with Willie? Willie wanting to trust him, Willie's death in the kennel? The visit from the DA's office? His refusal to collaborate? His fears about being killed? His run, the discovery of the truth about Brown? His being let loose? His meeting Ms Dern? The confrontation with Brown, setting the dog on him? His freedom?

5. Brown, his Australian background, the video and the explanation of his story? His scheme, training the dogs, his skill with them, choosing the dog boys? The training runs? His book and the names? His scheme with the money? The collusion with the governor of the prison? The confrontation with Ms Dern? The final flight, the tables turned on him, the dogs pursuing him? His shooting of Pappy?

6. The governor, managing the prison, Ms Dern, the collusion with Brown, his death? The wealthy businessman, entering the scheme, pursuing the criminals in the hunt, confrontation of Brown, Brown shooting him?

7. Willie, as a dog boy, the investigations, undercover agent, his death? Ms Dern, the visit to the prison, her disguise? Her return, the confrontation with the governor? Her assistants and their investigating the schemes? Her return, witnessing the smoking out of Taylor? The pursuit, the governor turning on her, her using the mace, the mace to ward off the dogs? The final vindication?

8. The usual characters in prison films, their contribution?

9. Prison themes, the corruption of government, treatment of prisoners, ruthlessness?