A Clockwork Orange (1971)
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A charismatic delinquent is subjected to an experimental psychological conditioning technique after a violent crime spree.
The story
In a dystopian near-future Britain, Alex DeLarge is the charismatic leader of a gang of 'droogs' who engage in a lifestyle of 'ultra-violence,' including theft and assault. After a particularly brutal crime leads to his arrest, Alex is offered a place in a government-sponsored experimental program. The 'Ludovico Technique' is an experimental aversion therapy designed to rehabilitate criminals by conditioning them to feel physical illness when confronted with the stimuli of violence and sex. The film explores the moral and political implications of using such psychological conditioning to strip individuals of their free will in the name of public safety.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Alex DeLarge leads a gang of 'droogs' in a series of violent acts, including the assault of a writer and the rape of his wife. Following his arrest and a period of imprisonment, Alex becomes a test subject for the Ludovico Technique, a state-sponsored aversion therapy. The process involves conditioning him to feel physically ill when exposed to sex and violence. While the treatment is successful in making him 'docile,' it strips him of his ability to choose his actions. Upon his release, Alex is initially confronted by his former friends, who are now police officers. He is eventually captured by the man he previously victimized, who intends to use him as a political pawn. After a failed suicide attempt, Alex is institutionalized. In the final scene, he is shown to be 'cured'—he no longer feels the urge to commit crimes, but he also no longer possesses the free will to choose not to. He concludes that he is 'cured' while contemplating a future of state-sanctioned compliance.
- First release year
- 1971
- Runtime (minutes)
- 136
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Stanley Kubrick
- Writers
- Stanley Kubrick · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Malcolm McDowell · Alex; Michael Tarn · Pete; James Marcus · Georgie; Warren Clarke · Dim; Steven Berkoff · police officer; David Prowse · Mr. Alexander's attendant Julian; Carol Drinkwater · nurse
- Genres
- dystopian; crime; comedy
- Themes
- morality; free-will; behavioral psychology; totalitarianism; dehumanization
- Tone and mood
- disturbing; dystopian
- Premise and plot tags
- crime; psychology; social satire
- Source material / true-story basis
- Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel
- Content notes
- violence; sex
- Reception
- The film was met with polarized reviews and became a cult classic, noted for its disturbing imagery and high artistic value.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 86% · scale: percentage · review count: 85; Metacritic · score: 77 · scale: 100 · review count: 21
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Awards · Best Picture · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was originally intended to star the Rolling Stones or the Beatles.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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