Information
- BFI identifier26387
- Date1971 (Copyright)
1970-09-14 (Production)
1971-12-19 (Release) - Production countryUSA, United Kingdom
- Production company
- SynopsisIn a near future London, teenager Alex and his gang of droogs spend night beating a tramp half to death, fighting with a gang in a deserted theatre, and raping a girl. Then, wearing disguises, the foursome go to the countyside and invade the home of a prominent writer, beating him senseless and brutally gang-raping his wife who later dies as a result of the attack. The next day, Alex skips school while his parents go to their factory jobs, listening to Beethoven and picking up girls in a record shop. Later he and his friends invade the home of a wealthy, cat-loving eccentric, raping and killing her. Before the police arrive Alex is knocked senseless by one of his own gang in reprisal for disciplining him earlier. Arrested, Alex is sent to prison and later agrees to undergo experiments to shorten his term. The experiment (called the Ludovico Technique) involves being strapped to a chair and made to watch sex, violence and anti-social acts whilst listening to Beethoven with his eyes taped open and drops regularly administered to stop him sleeping. He becomes nauseated at the mere sight of violence and is pronounced cured. Released, he is recognised by the tramp he once attacked and is beaten by the man and his friends; later he is beaten again, this time by policemen who turn out to be his one-time gang members Dim and Georgie. Thrown out of his home, Alex wanders into the countryside and is taken in by Mr Alexander (the writer) who does not recognise him. When Alex unwittingly sings "Singin' In The Rain" - the song he had sung while raping Mr Alexander's wife - the writer recognises him and goes berserk, locking Alex in a room and turning Beethoven on full blast which sends Alex into raving hysteria. Taken back to prison, Alex recovers and is later released to live with his welcoming parents. However, he once more has evil thoughts and it is understood that he will take up his old criminal ways. (Synopsis)
- Work historyUS release 19 December 1971. UK release on 13 January 1972. UK premiere 12 January 1972.
- Genre
- Subject
- Credits
- CastMalcolm McDowell (Alex DeLarge)
Patrick Magee (Frank Alexander)
Michael Bates (chief guard)
view full cast
Title
A Clockwork Orange (Original)
EIDR identifier
10.5240/DDA3-C587-D252-DF5F-E8C7-ACategory
FictionThis work is included in the BFI Filmography.
- Collections
- Film / Video
35mm Positive - Polyester - Combined - Master
VHS cassette - Video - Status pending
Digital Betacam - Video - Master
Digital Betacam - Video - Master
view all - Scripts / DocumentsScript - Original story: Burgess, Anthony (novel) - SCR-139
Ephemera: publicity - PBS-26387
Small press-sheet held.
view all - Posters / Designs
- StillsPhotograph: print - Portrait - Black and White - bfi-00o-184
Photograph: print - Landscape - Black and White - bfi-00n-ysa
Photograph: print - Landscape - Black and White - bfi-00n-xup
Photograph: transparency - Landscape - Colour - bfi-00n-rw5
Photograph: transparency - Landscape - Colour - bfi-00n-cq2
view all - ArticlesSight and Sound v15 n5 May 2005 - ArticleEmpire n194 August 2005 - Article, FilmographyEmpire n54 December 1993 - Article, Interviewview all
- Books
- Digital documentsBFI Southbank Programme Notes October 2014
BFI Southbank Programme Notes August 2019
BFI Southbank Programme Notes September 2019
BFI Southbank Programme Notes July 2019
available to view in BFI Reuben Library
- +A Clockwork Orange
Work - 26387 - 1971 (Copyright)
USA - Film - Fiction
Hierarchy Display