A CLOCKWORK ORANGE

UK, 1971, 136 minutes, Colour.
Malcolm Mc Dowell, Michael Bates, Adrienne Corri, Patrick Magee, Warren Clarke.
Directed by Stanley Kubrick.

A Clockwork Orange is Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Anthony Burgess's novella. Kubrick wrote the screenplay and directed as well as supervised in meticulous detail the production (as always with his films).

By this stage of his career Kubrick had made, amongst other films, Paths of Glory, Spartacus, Dr Strangelove, Lolita and 2001: A Space Odyssey. In the next 15 years he was to make Barry Linden, the Shining, Full Metal Jacket. It was another twelve years until his final film, Eyes Wide Shut.

The film was controversial in its time. It came at the end of the '60s with the revolution in permissiveness, freedom, questioning. It also came at a time of religious questioning, the `God is dead' controversy, questions about society and ethics.

The film also was controversial in its presentation of visual violence and sexuality. It was released in the same year as Peckinpah's Straw Dogs (after his The Wild Bunch). Many considered Kubrick's presentation too violent. Others said it was stylised and ballet-like, so audiences were distanced. There was controversy about the emotional impact of the character of Alex, his antisocial behaviour, his being conditioned by aversion therapy and the Ludovico techniques and the whole question of freedom, responsibility, choice. (It is interesting that the chaplain of the prison has the lines highlighting the moral issues and dilemmas.)

The film is a masterpiece of visual style, editing, soundtrack. Kubrick uses a great range of music to great effect, especially Beethoven by Rossini, Purcell, Elgar, as well as Arthur Freed's `Singin' in the Rain' sung by Gene Kelly.

Malcolm Mc Dowell gives a striking performance as Alex. He also appeared in Lindsay Anderson's If, O Lucky Man and Britannia Hospital as well as in Royal Flash. There is an excellent supporting cast of character actors who bring a variety of personality types alive.

A Clockwork Orange is an excellent adaptation of a novel, a master film work by Stanley Kubrick, a significant film from the '60s and '70s. It has a classic status.

1.The quality of the film, its reputation? In the '70s? Classic status? A picture of society, violence, permissiveness, freedom, law and order?

2.The work of Anthony burgess, his insights into society, prophecy?

3.The work of Stanley Kubrick, writing the screenplay, direction and production? Kubrick as a perfectionist? Exploring intellectual themes visually? Through story? The film as a `psychological myth'?

4.An overview of themes: contemporary society, permissiveness, collapse of civilisation, hopes for Utopia, instinct and freedom, violence, individuals and gangs, cruelty, sexual abuse, crime and viciousness, prison and rehabilitation, authority, politics and politicking, manipulation, revenge, freedom and choice, redemption?

5.The style of the film: colour and the vivid use of colour compositions? Stylised costumed: the Droogs, Alex's family, echoes of the 18th and 19th centuries, the period flashbacks? The decor of the bar, the apartment, the apartment block, the city, homes, prison, hospitals? The ordinariness of London? The film seen as a 20th century variation on the Masque, the use of tableaux vivants? The range of artwork: paintings, sculptures? In the bar, the use of modernistic statues of women? Sex objects and pictures? In Alex's room? The cat woman's artwork? The bust of Beethoven and the pictures of Beethoven?

6.The soundtrack, the range of music: the use of Beethoven, Rossini's `Thieving Magpie' and `William Tell', Purcell and the funeral music for Queen Mary? Elgar and `Pomp and Circumstance'? `Singin' in the Rain', `I Want to be a Lighthouse Keeper'? The music as background, part of Alex's therapy? The use of background music and themes? The importance of dance and the ballet style of much of the action?

7.Camera techniques and photography: long takes, close‑ups? Fast speeds, slow motion, Lens distortions? Editing and pace? Stunt work and violence?

8.How explicit was the film in its presentation of violence, sexual encounters, sexual exploitation, language?

9.Anthony Burgess's characteristic language? Relationship with Russia, overtones of 1984? The effect on the audience, the tone?

10.Malcolm Mc Dowell as Alex? The quality of his embodying Alex? The opening, the face, eyeball confrontation with the audience, unblinking defiance? The made-up eye? Alex's sinister look, the smile? How monstrous was Alex, how human? His appearance, age, use of characteristic language? The fact of the voice-over? His confidentiality, genial tone, reference to brothers, inviting the audience to share his experience? The tableau in the bar, the Droogs? His power over them? His love of the old ultra violence? How vicious? Already a clockwork orange shaped by a clockwork society? His intelligence, strengths and weaknesses? The contrast with the television people in the bar (and his delight in the diva singing the Ninth Symphony)? Moving out, the encounter with the old man, contrast between the aged and the young, his condemning him because of his filthiness, begging? The brutality of the bashing? Billyboy and the old casino, the confrontation, the attempted rape, the violence of the fight, brutality, smashing windows etc? Stunt work? Travelling in the car against the backdrop? The arrival at Home - the plea about the accident, his whining and persuasiveness? The intrusion, the cruelty, the brutality towards the writer, the brutality towards his wife, cutting her jumpsuit, the rape? His song and dance routine with `Singin' in the Rain' and his kicking his victims? The brutality with the cat woman, using the same works(words?) to get in? Spurning her sexual art? The violence of the fight and his using the phallus to kill her? The contrast with his going home, the young man and his accountability to his parents? Their lack of concern but their love for him? Going into his room, the decor, the snake and his love for it? Listening to Beethoven, the sexual arousal and excitement, the images to Beethoven, the low shot of the woman hanging, the collage of the four statues of Jesus and their dancing, the limbs and the blood? His going to the ship in the period dress? The encounter with the girls, their lollipops? Rossini and the sexual orgy - and the effect of watching it in fast motion? His staying in bed, pretending he was sick? Wandering the house in his underpants, the meeting with Mr Deltoid and the story? Deltoid's reprimands, the sexual advance and his response? The Droogs waiting outside, their rebellion against him, the voice-over and his attitudes towards them? The ballet-style walk along the riverbank, his using his staff and pushing them in the water, slashing Dim's hand with a knife? Back to the bar and his control over the Droogs? His being betrayed by them and their smashing him with the milk bottle?

11.His going to prison, the voice-over and his commentary? The interrogation, mocking the interrogators, his manhandling the interrogator? Mr Deltoid and the news that he was a murderer? The bashing and the blood? His going to the prison, the officer and the ultra-strict interrogation, his having to stand behind the white line? His valuables going into a bag, the mothballs? The stripping, the interrogation, the search?

12.The passing of two years and Alex appearing as ordinary, in the chapel ceremony, the hellfire and brimstone style of the sermon, the prisoner mouthing kisses at him, the belching and the breaking wind, the officer and his wanting strict observance? Alex finding his place in the prison? Reading the scripture, quoting it, his images and his angelic look - and the irony of his flogging Jesus on the way to the cross, slitting the throats of the enemy, Old Testament sexuality? The interview with the chaplain and his sincerity? Knowing about the Ludovico techniques, the parade, his intervention to the minister, his being chosen?

13.The transition from prison to hospital? The signature and the disapproval from the head of the prison? Going with the officer, his little dance when coming to attention? Meeting the doctor and her talk with him, his voice-over about what would happen, his hopes for freedom? Wanting to watch the films? Audience response to the hooks on his eyes? The injection? His eyes being moistened? The bashings, the pictures from Hitler and the triumph of the spirit? The irony of Beethoven music as background? Becoming sick, the aversion therapy and its mechanisms? His plea, the desecration of Beethoven as a sin? His smooth style, pretences? The doctor and the hopes? The minister and his hopes? The performance, the lighting and the staging, the audience, the prison official and his wariness, the minister and his associates confident of success? The performance with the man taunting Alex, hitting him, the violence, subduing him, making him lick his shoe? Alex's comment? The woman as sex object, the visuals of Alex reaching out? The humour of both actor and actress bowing to the audience and their applause?

14.Alex being released, as ordinary, going home, the passive reception by his mother and father, his trying to persuade them to take him in, the unexplained guest? Joe and his place in the household? Alex weeping and Joe rebuking him? Being ousted? Not even getting his room back, the death of his snake? Contemplating throwing himself off the bridge, the old man begging, the old man recognising him, taking him to the vagrants under the bridge, their revenge bashing? Being rescued by the police - and the irony that they were Dim and George? Their anger and revenge? Their holding him under the water, almost drowning him? His desperation, the irony of the coincidence of his arriving at Home? Being let in, the write and his reaction, his strongman(?)(and?) helping him, thinking him a victim of the government? Alex in the bath, getting more confident, singing `Singin' in the Rain'? The effect on the author? The spaghetti and meatballs, the offering of the wine and his fearing that it was poisoned? The visitors and the interview? His collapse? Upstairs, locked in, the music of Beethoven coming through the floor, his desperation and suicide attempt?

15.The hospital, in plaster, Dr Taylor and her nice sweet manner, talking about his dreams, the cartoons and his having to fill in the alternate captions? His reversion to violence and sexuality? His parents visiting him and their reaction? The minister's arrival, the photo opportunities, the apology and the explanation, the understanding the deal? The writer in the asylum? Alex's performance - wanting to be fed by the minister and demanding it? His final imagination with the elegantly dressed people watching the nude romp? His comment that he was cured? His future?

16.Alex as a character and as a caricature? Relationship with thugs of the street? Present - future? Unsympathetic, a monster and vicious? Yet the confidentiality of the voice-over? His love for Beethoven - justifying him or showing that criminals can love great music? In prison, victim of the government and the Ludovico technique? Sympathy for him? After regaining his freedom? His future?

17.The picture of the Droogs, the gangs, blind loyalty, the brutality, participation in the crimes? The lack of imagination? their rebellion against him? The fight at the riverbank, pushed into the water, Dim and his hand being cut? Their being subdued? their leaving him after the attack with the broken bottle? Their going to the police, politicians using them?

18.The sketch of the parents, ineffectual? At home, their passive manner? At work, the factory, accountability of their son? their reaction to his violence, to Mr Deltoid? The dress and the colours? The decor of the house? Knick-knacks? His visit home, their having Joe in the house, their parental relationship with him, the mother weeping, the father trying to be friendly but stammering? The visit to the hospital? Joe, taking over, his attack on Alex?

19.Mr Deltoid, manner, dress, sexual inclinations? His way of speaking and mannerisms? His place in society, understanding brutality, his reaction to Alex, the lecture, trying to grab him, drinking the water with the teeth? His glee in visiting him in prison and telling him he was a murderer?

20.The character(caricature?) of the prison officer, tough, the letter of the law, robotic? The drill? The interrogation? His disapproval of Alex? Supervision in the chapel? The Ludovico technique and his not wanting Alex to go? The interview with the head of the prison? His watching the performance, the licking of the boot, smiling at the woman and applauding?

21.The chaplain, the traditional role of the chaplain, a seeming figure of fun, his hellfire and brimstone sermon? The discussion about the Ludovico technique, his hesitations? His discussions about freedom and choice? The role of God, grace and freedom? Redemption? His presence at the performance? His objections? The pragmatism of the minister: "It works"?

22.The government, the minister, law and order platform, the minister and his suave assistants and advisers, the tour, looking at Alex's cell? The decision to take on Alex - smiling as he recounted his brutality? The performance and his reaction? The speech against the chaplain? The change in public opinion, the newspaper headlines? His coming to the hospital, the reconciliation with Alex, the deal and the understanding, the use of Christian names, Alex making him feed him? The photo opportunities?

23.The role of the media? Records and music? The newspapers and their headlines? The use of cinema and its powerful images as part of the technique?

24.The writer and his home, liberal minded, compelled to let Alex in? His wife, their relationship? The brutality they experienced? The revenge, the conspirators, the writer confined to the wheelchair, the strongman as an extension of himself carrying him around? The reaction to the recognition, his fit (and looking like the bust of Beethoven)? The playing of the music, enjoying the torture? His being put into the asylum? The conspirators and their normal reactions, the interview with Alex, sharing with the writer?

25.The cat woman, her health farm, exercise? Her artwork and its sexuality?? The cats? The comment on society? Her suspicions of Alex, his coming in, the arguments, his swearing, the fight and her death?

26.The staff and their expertise in the Ludovico treatment? The doctor and his hopes? The doctor and her working with Alex, explanations, theories, injections? The nature of aversion therapy - and its role in society? Its presumptions about instincts and responsibility, choice? The contrast with Dr Taylor?

27.Ethical issues, theological issues? Redemption? Human beings as risen apes or fallen angels?