"There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, Georgie, Pete and Dim. And we sat in the Korova Milk bar trying to make up our rassoodocks what to do with the evening. The Korova sold milk plus, milk plus velocet, synthemesc or drencrom which was what we were drinking. And this would sharpen you up for a bit of the old ultraviolence"

This bold statement marks the beginning of the late Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. Based on the novel by Anthony Burgess, it describes the confessions of our young hero as he beats, robs and rapes people for fun before being turned in the a guinea pig for what's referred to as the Ludovico's technique; a soul destroying treatment that renders it's host incapable of free choice, in effect "a clockwork orange".

Now depending on where you are reading this, you may have seen the film or even own it on video/laserdisc/dvd. But if you live in the U.K., you will know that this film carries one of the greatest film bannings ever.

A Clockwork Orange was released in 1971 and was instantly discarded by the British public as a social menace, and in some cases without even having seen it, let alone studying it real meaning. Stanley Kubrick decided to withdraw the film in the summer of 1973.

Kubrick stated that the film would never be released in the U.K. until after his death. So almost exactly a year after his death, the film was re-release on 17th March 2000.

Essentially it about the human condition, about how a human should be given the right to make up its own mind. A quote from the film (and book) perfectly sums it up:

"When a man cannot chose, he ceases to be a man."

The film is split into three acts, which in the novel were originally divided into 3 lots of 7 chapters. The film is in fact based on the American edition of the book which excluded the 21st chapter. Stanley Kubrick decided against including the final chapter as it is too far removed in style from the rest of the novel, which therefore leaves the end of A Clockwork Orange with a hideous question, is Alex really cured?

The first act gives us a view of Alex and his droogs (friends) as they rob, beat, rape and kill people for pleasure. It features some wonderful cinematic moments through its use of music and visual effects (see memorable scenes).

The second act deals with Alex's imprisonment and his reclamation treatment which involves repeated viewing of the extreme violence and rape that he was once accustomed to. The more he watches, the more he is conditioned against it to the extent that he demonstrates a crippling reflex that leaves him sick whenever he comes into contact with a violent or sexual situation. Alex has been turned into a Clockwork Orange.  Oddly, the film leaves out a classic quote from the book that Alex shouts out when hideously exhibited to an audience, this being:

"Am I just to be like a Clockwork Orange?"

The final act deals with Alex's release back into society and his struggle against his parent's rejection, corrupt police, dodgy politicians and ironically an old friend, the author who was brutally attacked by Alex and his droogs. The author traps him in a house while blaring out Alex's favourite piece of music, Ludwig van Beethoven's 9th Symphony which Alex has now become conditioned against. In an attempt to relieve himself of his suffering, he decides to commit suicide by jumping from a window.

While we see Alex in the hospital (yes he survived), he is visited by none other that the Minister of the Interior who tries to repair his reputation, which has been damaged after reports of this experimental treatment he approved, having massive side-effects as shown by Alex. He is ultimately the villain of the story, by trying to make it up to Alex in order to win popularity. It is here we leave the film with a hideous question. Is Alex cured?

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As with all of Stanley Kubrick's films, it is a master piece of film making with a superb and very human performance from Malcolm McDowell who was spotted by Kubrick in Lindsey Anderson's "If..." (1969). A film in which he produced another splendid performance as the leader of a group of crusader's in an English public school. A Clockwork Orange also contains early performances by Warren Clarke (I.D.) as his droogie "Dim", and Steven Berkoff as the brutal young copper that interigates Alex after he is arrested.

The image of Alex and his droogs has also become well recognised with such references in programs such as the "The Simpsons" and numerous pop videos and adverts. The droogs dress in white overalls, cod-piece, army boots and donning a traditional bowler hat. Other trademarks include the single eyelash, which may have been inspired by the cover illustration from the original novel (see Images).

Another element that really brings the film alive is Wendy Carlos' stunning electronic score featuring original composition as well as arrangements of classics such as Beethoven's Ninth and the William Tell Overture using early technology such as Moog synthesizers and the Vocoder sound processor for vocals. It helps give a technological vision of the future. This has recently been re-released, newly restored under the title "Wendy Carlos' A Clockwork Orange" (See Images for cover sleeve).

A majority of the classic scenes and images that people usually associate with the film occur during the first act. The whole film features great scenes but here are a few of my favourite.

"There was me, that is Alex..."

The films opens with Wendy Carlos' Title theme when we are suddenly confronted with a close-up on Alex posing Kubrick's trademark stare. The camera pulls slowly back to reveal more of the Korova Milk Bar. Watch out for Malcolm McDowell's subtle acknowledgement of the audience by tilting his glass towards us just before drinking.

"Home"

Alex and his droogs decide that a "bit of the old ultrviolence" is in order for the evening and after stealing a car, descend upon a house with "Home" written on a sign. The group trick their way into the house and beat up a writer (Patrick Magee), who actual writes a book entitled "A Clockwork Orange", and rape his wife (Adrienne Corri). What is really memorable about this scene is Malcolm McDowell's eerie rendition of the famous show tune "Singing in the Rain". Never again will this song have the same meaning.

"An evening with Ludwig Van"

Alex returns home to listen to his favourite composer. Wonderful use is made of the music along with a series of dreamy images including a group of dancing statuses due to some excellent editing.

"And viddy films I did"

Alex is given his first taste of the treatment that is to reform him. He is bound to a chair in a straight-jacket while eye clamps prevent him from shutting his eyes or looking away from the screen. We see two of the many films that Alex is subjected to. One shows a man being brutally beaten by a vicious gang. The other features the raping of a woman by another gang. The more Alex watches, the more conditioned he becomes. This scene features an excerpt from the Wendy Carlos' track "TimeSteps", a collage of synthesizer sounds with a distinctive mechanical (or clockwork) edge. The style is similar to the early work of French musician Jean-Michel Jarre. The full-length version of this track can be found on the newly released album by Wendy Carlos (see Movie Soundtrack).

Click on the images to view an enlarged version

The following list consists of music comes from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

The following list consists of music that comes from the recently released "Wendy Carlos's Complete Original Score" for A Clockwork Orange.