If.... (1968)

In this allegorical story, a revolution led by pupil Mick Travis takes place at an old established private school in England.

Director:

Lindsay Anderson

Writers:

David Sherwin (screenplay), David Sherwin (original script: "Crusaders")

Stars:

Malcolm McDowell, David Wood, Richard Warwick

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Malcolm McDowell	...	Mick: Crusaders
David Wood	...	Johnny: Crusaders
Richard Warwick	...	Wallace: Crusaders
Christine Noonan	...	The Girl: Crusaders
Rupert Webster	...	Bobby Philips: Crusaders
Robert Swann	...	Rowntree: Whips
Hugh Thomas	...	Denson: Whips
Michael Cadman	...	Fortinbras: Whips
Peter Sproule	...	Barnes: Whips
Peter Jeffrey	...	Headmaster: Staff
Anthony Nicholls	...	General Denson: Staff
Arthur Lowe	...	Mr. Kemp: Staff
Mona Washbourne	...	Matron: Staff
Mary MacLeod	...	Mrs. Kemp: Staff (as Mary Macleod)
Geoffrey Chater	...	Chaplain: Staff

Storyline

In an indictment of the British public school system, we follow Mick and his mostly younger friends through a series of indignities and occasionally abuse as any fond feelings toward these schools are destroyed. When Mick and his friends rebel, violently, the catch phrase, "which side would you be on" becomes quite stark.

---

Plot Keywords:

student rebellion | boys' school | hate | tradition | bully | 

---

Taglines:

Winner "Best Film" Cannes Film Festival

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

21 May 1969 (France)

Also Known As:

If....

Filming Locations:

The Packhorse Cafe, Kensworth, United Kingdom

Company Credits

Production Co:

Memorial Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Very early in the film the viewer is given a hint of the counter-cultural themes the film revolves around when in the young boys' dormitory there are posters of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara (man of revolution) and Geronimo a.k.a. Goyathlay (man of rebellion).

---

Goofs

The Chaplain attributes the Voluntary being played on the Chapel organ to 'Dieterich Buxtehude' when in fact it is the Toccata from Charles Marie Widor's Organ Symphony.

---

Quotes

[after lights-out]
Mick Travis: [whispering] Stephans. Whatever you're doing now... don't.

---

Crazy Credits

The film's opening prologue states: Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding PROVERBS IV:7

---

Alternate Versions

In the UK, the BBFC requested that scenes of male and female frontal nudity be removed from the film in order to pass with an X certificate. The director removed the male frontals however, he negotiated with the BBFC and the female frontal nudity of a woman walking down a hallway was allowed.

---

Connections

Referenced in Slaughterhouse Rulez (2018)

---

Soundtracks

Toccata, 5th Organ Symphony Opus 42 No 1
(uncredited)
Composed by Charles Marie Widor

User Reviews

Well I know who I side with

And it's not Travis! I've always hated the type of public school rebel portrayed by Travis. The finest rebels are those who stick with but subvert the system they despise. George Orwell (Eton) was such a person, who made fun of those who claimed to have been scarred by public school, or 'four years in a tepid bath of snobbery' as he called it. I admire far more the character of Mike (?) who finds release in his astronomy.

Having said that, I did find the film an excellent satire on the type of person who loves rules and regulations for their own sake - these people exist in every walk of life. But attempting to defeat these people by hysterical overreaction such as that of Travis merely results in them clamping down further.

I also realised how much Monty Python's Meaning of Life draws on the film - during the chapel scenes I could have sworn Arthur Lowe was going to stand up and intone 'Oooooh God you are so big!'

What we don't see from the likes of Lindsay Anderson is a similar satire on state schools, with their equally vicious and degrading practices. The nearest I've come to seeing this is the excellent 'Kes'.