A Clockwork Orange (1971)

In the future, a sadistic gang leader is imprisoned and volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment, but it doesn't go as planned.

Director:

Stanley Kubrick

Writers:

Stanley Kubrick (screenplay), Anthony Burgess (novel)

Stars:

Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates

Top Rated Movies #107 | Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Malcolm McDowell	...	Alex
Patrick Magee	...	Mr Alexander
Michael Bates	...	Chief Guard
Warren Clarke	...	Dim
John Clive	...	Stage Actor
Adrienne Corri	...	Mrs. Alexander
Carl Duering	...	Dr. Brodsky
Paul Farrell	...	Tramp
Clive Francis	...	Lodger
Michael Gover	...	Prison Governor
Miriam Karlin	...	Catlady
James Marcus	...	Georgie
Aubrey Morris	...	Deltoid
Godfrey Quigley	...	Prison Chaplain
Sheila Raynor	...	Mum

Storyline

Protagonist Alex DeLarge is an "ultraviolent" youth in futuristic Britain. As with all luck, his eventually runs out and he's arrested and convicted of murder. While in prison, Alex learns of an experimental program in which convicts are programmed to detest violence. If he goes through the program, his sentence will be reduced and he will be back on the streets sooner than expected. But Alex's ordeals are far from over once he hits the streets of Britain..

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Plot Keywords:

gang | dystopia | future | beating | unprovoked violence | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alex and his Droogs have been compared to the girls in Spring Breakers (2012), or a teenaged version of the boys in Lord of the Flies.

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Goofs

In the music store, the camera is briefly reflected in the mirrors to the right.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Alex: There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, and we sat in the Korova Milkbar trying to make up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening. The Korova milkbar sold milk-plus, milk plus vellocet or synthemesc or drencrom, which is what we were drinking. This would sharpen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultra-violence.

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Crazy Credits

There are no opening credits after the title, which is followed by the opening shot of Alex the Droog. Although it is now commonplace for major films to not have opening credits, in 1971 it was considered rather unusual and was considered a trademark of director Stanley Kubrick.

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Alternate Versions

The home video version originally released in Brazil lacks the religious service in prison. This scene is only available in the recently released Stanley Kubrick Collection DVD/VHS versions.

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Connections

Referenced in Friends: The One Where Monica and Richard Are Just Friends (1997)

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Soundtracks

Molly Malone
(1883) (uncredited)
aka "Cockles and Mussels"
Traditional Irish folk song
Performed by Paul Farrell

User Reviews

My Fave Movie

This film is beyond good. It is a rare instance of a film that is as good as the book it was based on and indeed betters it.

Where do i start? Gratuitous violence that is actually the whole point of the film and clarifies the nature of humans when confronted with its own unleashed nature. The stylized unflinching violence is one thing. Meeting to suppress it at the hands of society, religion and convention is another. The cold nature of the parents, the easy girls who are coerced by gentle flattery and orders of an alpha male to receive the old in and out, the use of milk and Classical music.. and Kubrik's genius settings... perfect film.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 February 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$2,200,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$26,589,355

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$26,904,636

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Polaris Productions, Hawk Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (re-issue) Mono

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1