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- Clockwork Orange -

10 years ago the ban was lifted from this film after 27 years and it was released into the public domain.

Stanley Kubrick’s Highly Controversial Film is a dark and thought provoking journey through the depths of depravity and mindless violence. –

A brilliant yet highly disturbing portrayal of life and society in future times.-

The Iconic Poster of the Film

Released in 1971. Genre Crime/Drama/Thriller. Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Starring Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee and Michael Bates. Based on the 1962 book of the same name written by Anthony Burgess. BBFC Rating: 18. Running time: 136 Minutes.

- Clockwork Orange -

Clockwork Orange is one of the most shocking, controversial and mesmerising films that I have ever seen. Stanley Kubrick’s future-shock vision screen adaptation brings to life accurately and masterfully the same name novel by Anthony Burgess. Adhering strictly to the book, Clockwork Orange both astounds and enthrals.-

Clockwork Orange follows the lives of a group of young thugs (’The Droogs’, Russian for friend or buddy) as they call themselves, who are lead by the charismatic and arrogant psychopath, Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell). The Droogs terrorise people, for money, sexual pleasure and just plain kicks and they instil fear and create havoc wherever they go. With nihilistic lifestyle and anti establishment values that shun authority, the gang rape, mug, attack and stick two fingers up hard and fast to any form of authority. Retaliating against conformity they use their own private language called ‘Nadsat’ and they communicate to each other in this mix of Russian, corrupted English and Cockney Rhyming slang throughout the film.

The leader of the gang, Alex, is a deranged personality of no moral conscience. His mindless acts of violence are orchestrated totally devoid of any form of compassion or rationalisation. He and his gang strut around the streets of futuristic Britain wearing bowler hats, carrying canes and wearing strange black eye make-up comprising of large, thick, black lower lashes, and wearing fake, bloody eyeballs, which hang off their sleeves. The gang give forth an alarming and bizarre appearance. Alex cuts a particularly frightening figure, because he is a young man capable of any degree or form of violence, with no aforethought or responsibility of action.

Ruling the streets, the Droogs wander about seeking out violent activity for their entertainment, an action known to them as ‘Ultraviolence’. Drugged up to their mascare’d eyes on a mixture of milk and drugs which they call ‘vellocet’, they posture and strut around the streets appearing like performers within a play, looking for a scene to act out their violence within. The Droogs provoke, ridicule and parody their victims before they go in for the kill. Ultraviolence is their ‘Sport’ and the gang hunt for their unsuspecting prey wherever they go.-

Set in a futuristic Britain Clockwork Orange is a surreal visual masterpiece, a modern day Opera. Brilliantly orchestrated by Stanley Kubrick. The film draws inspiration from a highly imaginative mind and the results are therefore fascinating to watch. The scenes play out as a stage production, as Alex tap dances his way through a vicious mindless attack on a helpless victim, whilst the happy strains of ‘Singing in the rain’ serenade us. We are compelled to watch someone take the battering of their life. I think that this effect is applied to make us feel the impact of the scene consciously, without added dramatic music or sound effect to heighten our sense of horror at what we are witnessing. But instead, to view it on a conscious level and not because the directors tools tell us that what we are witnessing is wrong. There is also a lot of use of subliminal messaging going on throughout the film, and snapshots and fast cut collages with images of Hitler and Nazis.

The film often slows down the motion at pivitol points, and then cranks the speed up again to full speed ahead. Giving Clockwork Orange its dream like fantasy, merry go round feel. There is also quite a bit of use of the fisheye lens to heighten this effect. What I love about Clockwork Orange is its clean cut lines, its beautiful shots. It is compelling to watch with its absolutely stunning cinematography. The film is horrifically perfect in every way, there are no rough edges. Stanley Kubrick is a perfectionist and it shines through in this film. The scene of the attack within the house are stunning cinema. I loved it for the staging and choreography of sequence. Amazing and unforgettable images assault our vision. With Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony aiding in the contrast between the visual violence we are watching accompanied by the audible beauty of classical music.

There are startling musical counterpoints used within the film with stark imagery and contradictory messages of right and wrong. The soundtrack is amazing with much use of classical music. The films message is quite clear. Are the government to blame? or the thugs on the street? Shifts in belief continue throughout from the government, as they rebel against totalitarianism, and also against the use of behaviour modification and dehumanisation.

The underlying message I got from the film was who was right? And who was wrong? Were the thugs on the street just a product of the ruling powers? There is a real Russian motif running through the film with many references. The bar where they get their milk is the Korova milk bar, the singer mentioned in the record store is Johnny Zhivago, their language ‘Nadset’ is a mixture of slang and Russian. Could it be that the titular government fear that Britain is becoming less of a free state, with lack of free speech and their decision making being stifled? Where control over their fellow man is going against the very grain. Or are communistic values already instilled? An Ironical and satirical swipe at political hypocrisy, and values, Clockwork Orange is both shocking and hypnotising.

Clockwork Orange gives us the choice; which is preferable? Being bad by free will? Or being good by command? - Hugely controversial with extreme sexual violence. When it was first released the film was blamed for a spate of copycat murders that sprang up depicting a scene within the film. Clockwork Orange was also blamed by the press for a rape which took place after the film was released, when the attackers sang ‘Singing in the Rain’ whilst committing their crime.

Kubrick immediately requested the film to be withdrawn from UK distribution. Effectively banning his own film. Subsequently though it was revealed in a television documentary made after Kubrick’s death that his widow Christiane stated that A Clockwork Orange was banned on police advice after threats were made against Kubrick and his family. The film remained under ban for 27 years and was only lifted upon Kubrick’s death in 1999.

Indicative of society today with its mindless violence where old ladies are mugged and even raped, beaten and kicked to a pulp, perhaps Clockwork orange wasn’t too far in its portrayal of the future after all. -

-Directed by-

Stanley Kubrick
Produced by Stanley Kubrick
Written by
Anthony Burgess
Stanley Kubrick
Starring Malcolm McDowell
Music by Wendy Carlos
Cinematography John Alcott

- Clockwork Orange. - Soundtrack -

“The Thieving Magpie Overture”
Composed by Gioacchino Rossini
Recorded by Deutsche Grammophon

“Symphony No.9 in D Minor, Opus 125″
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Recorded by Deutsche Grammophon

“William Tell Overture”
Composed by Gioacchino Rossini
Recorded by Deutsche Grammophon

“Pomp and Circumstance March No.I”
Composed by Edward Elgar
Conducted by Marcus Dods

“Pomp and Circumstance March No.IV”
Composed by Edward Elgar
Conducted by Marcus Dods

“Overture to the Sun”
Composed by Terry Tucker

“I Want to Marry a Lighthouse Keeper”
Written by Erika Eigen
Performed by Erika Eigen

“Singin’ In the Rain”
Written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown
Performed by Gene Kelly

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