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A Clockwork Orange

Being the adventures of a young man whose principal interests are rape, ultra-violence and Beethoven.

1971 · 136 min · Science Fiction
8.6 Popular
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Science Fiction Crime

In a near-future Britain, young Alexander DeLarge and his pals get their kicks beating and raping anyone they please. When not destroying the lives of others, Alex swoons to the music of Beethoven. The state, eager to crack down on juvenile crime, gives an incarcerated Alex the option to undergo an invasive procedure that'll rob him of all personal agency. In a time when conscience is a commodity, can Alex change his tune?

Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Year
1971
Studio
Polaris Productions Limited · Warner Bros. Pictures · Hawk Films

Trivia & behind the scenes

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Origins

Anthony Burgess sold the film rights to his novel for just US$500 shortly after its 1962 publication.

Origins

The film was originally envisioned to star the Rolling Stones, with Mick Jagger wanting to play Alex and Ken Russell attached to direct; both the Rolling Stones and the Beatles were considered for Alex and his droogs throughout the 1960s before Kubrick got involved.

Origins

Screenwriter Terry Southern wrote an early script with the Beatles specifically in mind for the cast, and producer Si Litvinoff even sent director John Schlesinger a petition signed by Jagger and all four Beatles requesting Jagger play Alex with the Beatles composing the soundtrack, but the project fell through due to BBFC issues.

Origins

Kubrick based his screenplay on the shortened American edition of the novel, which omitted the redemptive final chapter, and he claimed not to have read the complete original version until he had almost finished writing the script.

Casting

Malcolm McDowell was cast as Alex after Kubrick saw him in the 1968 film 'if....'; Kubrick told him he was picked because he could 'exude intelligence on the screen.'

Casting

McDowell helped design the droogs' costumes, showing Kubrick his own cricket whites, and Kubrick decided the jockstrap should be worn on top of the costume rather than underneath.

Filming

Filming took place between September 1970 and April 1971.

Filming

During the Ludovico technique scene, McDowell scratched a cornea and was temporarily blinded; a real physician stood beside him on set to drip saline into his forced-open eyes.

Filming

McDowell cracked some ribs while filming the humiliation stage show scene.

Filming

The 'Singin' in the Rain' rendition during the assault scene was an improvisation by McDowell after Kubrick, unhappy that the rape scene felt too 'stiff,' asked him to dance on the fifth day of filming; McDowell chose that song because it was the only one he half-knew the lyrics to.

Effects

The point-of-view shot of Alex's suicide attempt falling from a window was achieved by dropping a Newman-Sinclair clockwork camera lens-first in a box from the third storey of the Corus Hotel, and the camera survived six takes.

Music

Kubrick wanted to use Pink Floyd's song 'Atom Heart Mother' in the film, but the band refused.

Music

Despite Alex's obsession with Beethoven, the soundtrack actually contains more music by Rossini than by Beethoven, including the William Tell Overture and The Thieving Magpie Overture used in several key scenes.

References

In the film Alex has a pet snake, a detail invented for the movie that does not appear in the novel.

Reception

After the film was linked in the press to real copycat crimes in Britain, including a manslaughter case where a teenager cited the film's influence, Kubrick had it withdrawn from British cinemas in 1973, and it remained largely unavailable in the UK for 27 years until his death in 1999.

Reception

In the US, the film originally received an X rating; Kubrick later replaced about 30 seconds of explicit footage in two scenes to secure an R rating for a 1972 re-release.

Reception

The film was banned in several countries for extended periods, including Ireland (1973–1999), Singapore (over 30 years, uncut release only in 2011), and South Africa under apartheid (13 years).

Trivia

Anthony Burgess publicly defended the film against accusations of glorifying violence even though Kubrick largely left him to handle the backlash, souring their once-friendly relationship; Burgess's only direct profit from the film remained the original $500 he received for the rights.

Memorable quotes

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Ho, ho, ho! Well, if it isn't fat stinking billy goat Billy Boy in poison! How art thou, thou globby bottle of cheap stinking chip oil? Come and get one in the yarbles, if ya have any yarbles, ya eunuch jelly thou!

Alex DeLarge Taunting a rival gang leader before a fight

It's not fair! It's not fair that I should feel sick when I hear lovely, lovely Ludwig Van!

Alex DeLarge Protesting during his aversion therapy

[voiceover] Suddenly, I viddied what I had to do, and what I had wanted to do, and that was to do myself in; to snuff it, to blast off for ever out of this wicked, cruel world. One moment of pain perhaps and, then, sleep for ever, and ever and ever.

Alex DeLarge Voiceover before a suicide attempt

[last line of the film] I was cured all right.

Alex DeLarge Final line of the film

Viddy well, little brother. Viddy well.

Alex DeLarge Addressing his droog after an act of violence

No time for the old in-out, love, I've just come to read the meter.

Alex DeLarge Tricking his way into a victim's home

[to his Mum and Dad] Right! I'm leaving now! You won't ever viddy me no more. I'll make me own way! Thank you very much. Let it lie heavy on your consciences.

Alex DeLarge Leaving home after an argument with his parents

Being the adventures of a young man whose principal interests are rape, ultra-violence and Beethoven.

Taglines Film tagline

Excellent. He's enterprising, aggressive, outgoing, young, bold, vicious. He'll do...He's perfect. I want his records sent to me. This vicious young hoodlum will be transformed out of all recognition.

Minister Choosing Alex for the Ludovico Technique

Chief Guard: [to Alex] You are now 655321, and it is your duty to memorise that number.

Chief Guard Alex's induction into prison

Naughty, naughty, naughty. You filthy old soomka.

Alex DeLarge Mocking a victim during a home invasion

Eggiwegs! I would like... to smash them, and pick them all up, and throw—AAH! Fucking hell.

Alex DeLarge Reacting violently during aversion therapy

I know you! Isn't it your picture in the newspapers? Didn't I see you on the video this morning? Are you not the poor victim of this horrible new technique?

Mr. Alexander Recognizing Alex from the news

[voiceover] I woke up. The pain and sickness all over me like an animal. Then I realised what it was. The music coming up from the floor was our old friend, Ludwig van, and the dreaded Ninth Symphony.

Alex DeLarge Waking to hear Beethoven after his suicide attempt

I've heard about you. I know what you've done. Breaking the hearts of your poor grieving parents. So you're back, eh? You're back to make life a misery for your lovely parents once more, is that it?

Joe Confronting Alex about his parents

Policeman: [to Deltoid] If you'd care to give him a bash in the chops, sir, don't mind us. We'll hold him down. He must be a great disappointment to you, sir.

Policeman Taunting Mr. Deltoid about Alex

As I was saying, Alex, you can be instrumental in changing the public verdict. Do you understand, Alex? Do I made myself clear?

Minister Pressuring Alex to cooperate publicly

This is the end of the line for me, eh? The end of the line, yes!

Mr. Deltoid Reflecting on his failure with Alex

Being the adventures of a young man ---who couldn't resist pretty girls ...or a bit of the old ultra-violence ...went to jail ...was re-conditioned ...and came out a different young man ...or was he?

Taglines Film tagline summarizing the plot

How the community felt

😵 Shocked 67%
😭 Sad 17%
😱 Scared 17%

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