Stanley Kubrick’s dystopian vision of violence, control, and Beethoven in near-future Britain.
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
Being the adventures of a young man whose principal interests are rape, ultra-violence and Beethoven.
In a near-future Britain, young Alexander DeLarge and his pals get their kicks beating and raping anyone they please. When not destroying the lives of others, Alex swoons to the music of Beethoven. The state, eager to crack down on juvenile crime, gives an incarcerated Alex the option to undergo an invasive procedure that'll rob him of all personal agency. In a time when conscience is a commodity, can Alex change his tune?
This is one dystopia where the milk bar won’t comfort you.
Kubrick lets loose with an audacious cocktail of ultraviolence, classical music, and jet-black satire, all set against a dystopian London that looks like a Brutalist fever dream. Malcolm McDowell’s Alex DeLarge is as malicious as he is mesmerizing, bouncing from Beethoven to brutality with equal glee. Definitely not your average stroll through the future.
— Flashington Programmer
A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 United Kingdom and United States science fiction and crime film directed by Stanley Kubrick about Alex DeLarge, a young delinquent in near-future Britain who undergoes a state-sponsored procedure to curb his violent tendencies.
- Director
- Stanley Kubrick
- Writers
- Anthony Burgess, Stanley Kubrick
- Release
- 1971
- Runtime
- 2h 17m
- Country
- United Kingdom, United States of America
- Language
- English
- Genres
- Science Fiction, Crime
- Also Known As
- Kellopeliappelsiini, Clockwork Orange - Urverkappelsin, Otomatik Portakal, Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange
Why Cult
The film's notorious blend of graphic violence and pitch-black comedy skewers society’s attempts at control and reform.
Stanley Kubrick crafts a chilling, stylized vision of a dystopian Britain, equal parts cinema and social critique.
A classical soundtrack runs through the chaos, with Alex’s love for Beethoven adding a twisted elegance to his rampages.
The film’s bleak vision of social decay and personal agency explores the dark corners of both psychology and society.
Themes & Keywords
Trailer
Questions from the Vault
What is A Clockwork Orange about? +
A Clockwork Orange follows Alex DeLarge, a violent young man in near-future Britain, who faces a government-imposed procedure designed to strip him of his free will and violent impulses.
When was A Clockwork Orange released? +
A Clockwork Orange was released in 1971.
Who directed A Clockwork Orange? +
Stanley Kubrick directed A Clockwork Orange.
How long is A Clockwork Orange? +
A Clockwork Orange has a runtime of 137 minutes.
What genre is A Clockwork Orange? +
A Clockwork Orange is a science fiction and crime film.
Where can I watch A Clockwork Orange? +
A Clockwork Orange is available to watch on Flashington.
