| Clockwork Orange is a notoriously violent film, that was withdrawn for public showing by the
Director Stanley Kubrick. The film could actually still be seen by adults all over the world - apart from England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The ban only applied to the UK, as Kubrick considered our society to be too inherently
violent for any art-form that might provoke further violence. He was concerned by newspaper reports of
'copycat' attacks after the release of Clockwork Orange.
He also received death threats, and was advised by British police to withdraw the film for his
own safety!
Clockwork Orange - Work in Progress
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- Oil on Canvas - work in progress
It's a very negative view of British society, but unfortunately one I concur with. You can hear
the violence in the profanity strewn language of the young, and the not-so-young. England is also the only country
in the world that equates alcohol to fighting. In every other civilised nation beer is a source of pleasure and
joy. The only positive aspect is that it does make us good fighting soldiers when it comes to war.
After Kubrick's death the film ban has been lifted, and Clockwork Orange has even been shown on British
mainstream TV.
I first saw the film as a 17 year old teenager and I don't remember the violent images having
any effect on me. However I tried watching the film again as an adult and I couldn't bear it. The extreme violence
is just too unpleasant to watch as entertainment.
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Clockwork
Orange - Oils on Canvas (20" x 16")
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Clockwork Orange is undoubtedly however a great work of art, and still one of my favourite
films. Thanks to Kubrick I can't listen to some Beethoven pieces without associating it with scenes of
ultra-violence. On the other hand, also thanks to Kubrick, whenever I hear the Johann Strauss waltz 'Blue Danube' I
am transported on a Space Odyssey.
John McNally
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