A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film adapted, produced, and directed by Stanley Kubrick. It is based on Anthony Burgess’s 1962 novel, A Clockwork Orange. It employs disturbing, violent images to comment on psychiatry, juvenile delinquency, youth gangs, and other social, political and economic subjects in a dystopian near-future Britain.
The storyline is set in a near-futuristic society, late teen Alex DeLarge is the leader of a gang of thugs – his “droogs” – who commit acts of ultra-violence, often with sexual components, without any regard for their victims, and purely because it strikes their collective fancies. These acts are largely fuelled by drug use.
Alex is a lover of music, especially that of Ludwig van Beethoven, which, when he listens to it during these acts, intensifies his pleasure, and in turn inspires him to commit further such acts. He does not tolerate any challenge to his leadership by his droogs. Although the authorities in general know of Alex’s delinquency, they have so far been unable to catch him in the act of his crimes, until one night after a sexual assault of an older woman. Alex and Alex alone is charged, convicted and incarcerated. When Alex sees what he believes is an easy way out when the government looks for subjects to participate in a new rehabilitation therapy, the end result being release from prison after the two week therapy. The therapy ends up having consequences that Alex did not envision. The questions becomes about how Alex will function, and how others will act toward him in his changed state.
The soundtrack to A Clockwork Orange features mostly classical music selections and Moog synthesiser compositions by Wendy Carlos (then known as Walter Carlos). The artwork for the now-iconic poster of A Clockwork Orange was created by Philip Castle with the layout by designer Bill Gold.
Film Details
Title
A Clockwork Orange
Year of Film
1971
Director
Stanley Kubrick
Starring
Malcolm McDowell, Warren Clarke, Michael Bates, James Marcus, Michael Tarn, Patrick Magee
Origin of Film
UK | USA
Genre(s) of Film
Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi
Box Office
Budget: $2,200,000 (Estimated)
Opening Weekend: £618,615 (UK)
Gross: $26,589,355 (USA)
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