A Clockwork Orange

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Writers: Stanley Kubrick (screenplay), Anthony Burgess (novel)

Release Date: 13 January 1972 (UK)

Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller

Producers: Stanley Kubrick (producer), Si Litvinoff (executive producer), Max L. Raab (executive producer), Bernard Williams (associate producer)

Production Companies: Warner Bros. Pictures, Hawk Films

Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures, Columbia-Warner Distributors

Asociácia slovenských filmových klubov (ASFK), Argentina Video Home, Warner Home Video, Warner Bros.

Sound Mix: Mono, Dolby Digital (re-issue)

User Comment:

********** - ickyptang

"Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" is one of the first movies that proved that cinema can be the most enlightening and amazing art form around."

"the film did exactly what it was supposed to. It showed how the world can be a weird and horrible place, and how this young man who goes around torturing people and being a wicked person ultimately doesn't have to pay for what he does"

"So this film brilliantly satirises this world, showcasing pure evil and people who ordinarily do not perform such evil are forced to laugh and observe what we all hate to admit is the truth. It's sick, but at the same time brilliant. And when one gets down to the core, you can't really explain it. It just is what it is. It's real. No one really sees it very often, but it is out there and everyone knows. And no one does anything about it. In essence, "A Clockwork Orange" is the ultimate satire, and one of the ultimate film experiences. It's art, it's life, and in a funky way, it's entertaining."

User Ratings:

Males- 8.6

Females- 8.2

Under 18- 9.3

Males Under 18- 9.2

Females Under 18- 9.4

Aged 18-29 - 8.7

Males 18-29 - 8.7

Females 18-29 - 8.5

Awards:

Won: Hugo Award, Silver Ribbon, KCFCC Award, NYFCC Award,

Nominated: Oscar (4), BAFTA Award (7), DGA Award, Golden Globe (3), WGA Award (screen)

The film starts with a sound-bridge of classical music- it creates tension instantly. The first image shown is of an unusual character staring at the screen; his make up is over exaggerated for use in ordinary day to day life and his facial expression is suspicious and ominous. The camera then slowly zooms out, revealing more characters and the room around them. This opening is very theatrical; making the audience question the genre. However, it then quickly cuts to a homeless man singing; tall shadows of people walking to towards him appear on the road. The people walking up to the tramp are the same characters from the start.

The lighting is very dark, with only streetlights in the distance- this is a generic convention of a Thriller. It is suggested from he oncoming group of people that they are some sort of gang. This is reinforced by their appearance; they all seem to be dressed similarly- the black hat being the common feature in all of their costumes. All of their costumes are light coloured though, which connotes innocence; this is ironic as the group seem to be far from it.

There is a close-up of the main character looking quite evil and dangerous- this suggests that something bad might occur. All of the men have bats; suggesting that they are violent. This shot if very interesting as you can only really see the outline of the men because of the darkly lit street. It then swiftly cuts to another group of men trying to rape a woman. This group is dressed in camouflage clothing, suggesting that they are rivals of the first gang.

After violently beating up the other gang, the first group of men get into a car and drive off. The image of them driving is another theatrical feature; the background flashes past rapidly in the background, making it seem slightly unreal. You then get a point of view shot of the long dark road they are driving on. Their driving is reckless and they don't mind out for other vehicles or people- suggesting that they too are reckless and quite laid back about it.

The main character lies to a woman to get inside her house; this makes the audience even more aware that he is a dark character. The group, once inside the house, proceed to attack the woman and her husband. The main character doing this all whilst singing "singing in the rain"- this suggests that he is very calm and does not care about what he is doing to the couple. It also could suggest mental instability. A lot of long shots and mid-long shots are used in this scene; close-ups are used when necessary, showing the extremity of the situation for the victims and how violent and unnerved their attackers are.

After this attack it cuts back to the first location- the milk bar. The colour scheme inside the room is monochrome which is well suited to the film. The colour black represents the group of men; their dark behaviour and violent attitude. Whereas the white represents the innocents; the victims of the gangs actions. The use of a voiceover is to tell the story, as there isn't a huge amount of dialogue used. However, the non-diegetic classical music is played almost constantly- creating tension and fear all the way through.