Plot
In future Britain, charismatic delinquent Alex DeLarge is jailed and volunteers for an experimental aversion therapy developed by the government in an effort to solve society's crime problem... but not all goes to plan.

Release Year: 1971

Rating: 8.5/10 (256,700 voted)

Critic's Score: 78/100

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Stars: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates

Storyline
Protagonist Alex is an "ultraviolent" youth in futuristic Britain. As with all luck, his eventually runs out and he's arrested and convicted of murder and rape. While in prison, Alex learns of an experimental program in which convicts are programed 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 mean streets of Britain that he had a hand in creating.

Writers: Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Burgess

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

Taglines: The Breakthrough Presentation Of Stanley Kubrick's Clockwork Orange For The Millions Who Were Not Allowed To See It Until Now!

Release Date: 2 February 1972

Filming Locations: Binsey Walk, Southmere Lake, Thamesmead South, London, England, UK

Box Office Details

Budget: $2,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: £618,615 (UK) (19 March 2000) (328 Screens)

Gross: $26,589,355 (USA) (1973)

Runtime: 136 min

Trivia:
The first line of the novel is "What's it going to be then, eh?" and this line is repeated frequently throughout the book. Another recurring phrase is "dressed in the heighth [sic] of [insert adjective here] fashion," which is how Alex describes every single set of clothes that he or anyone else is wearing. The movie omits all but one occurrence of each phrase. Prison Chaplain Godfrey Quigley is introduced with the line "What's it going to be, eh?" In the next scene Alex imagines himself as a first-century executioner "dressed in the height of Roman fashion."

Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: The wine Alex drinks appears far too light in color to be a 10 year old Medoc. Stanley Kubrick did use the actual wine described by Alex (specifically a 1960 Chateau Beau Site Haut Vignoble). But after each take water was added, ostensibly to keep the wine level consistent without intoxicating Malcolm McDowell. By the time Kubrick got what he wanted the wine was visibly watered down.

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.

One of those films you have to watch multiple times

Rating: 10/10

It's hard to judge a film such as this. Its cold and hard, yet can be exhilarating and sarcastic. It can be average, yet it can be visionary. Exploitive? Satirical? Too many questions to consider when one watches this film.

Even after 34 years, this film still speaks volumes about our current culture, which many ideals are ringing true today. The younger generations are out of control due to lack of parental control, junk culture is becoming commonplace, violence is desensitizing the masses, and we all seem to be enjoying the ride on the way down. It's very difficult to find movies which can make such startling commentary, yet hold on to such accusations for an extended period of time. Nowadays, films are focused-grouped to death, conformity is more powerful than artistry, and money is far more important than quality. Kubrick took a huge leap with this film, challenging society to take a hard look at itself. Unfortunately, society wasn't ready for this film, which is why it is revered now more than ever.

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