A Clockwork Orange

One of the movies in the early 70s that really made an impact. Facing death threats, Kubrick pulled the picture from theaters.

Listen to the commentary by Malcolm McDowell. Some of his comments: Darth Vader actor David Prowse is in Clockwork; he's the muscular man with the author who carries both Alex and the author. Also, he trained Christopher Reeve to bulk up for Superman.

Notice the opening shot of the first 3 scenes: each time there's a camera pulling back: the camera pulls away from Alex, then pulls away from the man in the alley, then pulls away from the theatre interior, then the next scene is with them in the car: camera holds but the road pulls away from us.

Another key technical aspect: Kubrick used pen mikes so all audio was realistic, no post production audio from actors needed. Malcolm said his acting wasn't realistic but it was real.

Malcolm McDowell reveals that improv played an important role in the movie. He did improv during his reaction to the photos at the end with the nurse. Malcolm said he went off on tangients.

Also, Malcolm said "I understood the feeling of the times - there was rebellion in the air." Actors, creatives: know the feeling of the times.

25: A school admin arrives at Alex's apartment and warns him to stay out of the dirt. He wants to save Alex from himself and asks if there's a devil inside Alex. The admin drinks from a glass with teeth in it. The birth of something new.

45: Alex resists interrogation, he's accused of murder. The school admin arrives and says it's the end of the line for him. Alex realizes he's going to prison. Now that I'm aware.

60: A new treatment is discussed between Alex and a minister. Alex is warned about serious dangers but wants to be good. Minister: "Will this technique make a man good? When a man cannot choose he ceases to be a man." There's no going back now.

-45: In his old apartment, Alex realizes he's been replaced. He tries to fight but gets too sick to attack. His snake is dead. "What's to happen to me?" Joe says he's to suffer bkz he made others suffer. Discovery.

-25: In the writer's home, Alex is in the tub singing "Singing in the rain," and the author (played by the extraordinary Patrick Magee) realizes Alex raped his wife and ruined his former life. The author later causes Alex to attempt suicide and this snowballs into a public scene with Alex being "cured." The final turning point.