A Clockwork’s 40!

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Stanley Kubrick’s anarchic masterpiece A Clockwork Orange . That’s not a typo – it has been four decades since Alex DeLarge and his pack of Droogs drank at the Korova milk bar and engaged in an evening of  ”the old ultra-violence”. Today sees the anniversary edition of its Blu-ray release, jam-packed with commentary from Malcolm McDowell, four ‘making-of’ documentaries (including the 2001 Tom Cruise narrated A Life in Pictures) all cleverly concealed onto two disks.

For those of us with little cash to throw around, Kubrick’s official Facebook page, regularly updated by those in the know, conducted a special online Q&A with McDowell at the official junket launch of the Blu-ray. Included were ‘friend’ submitted questions asking the acting great details on a range of topics from his fear of type-casting, recollections on set, dealing with success and notoriety etc.

McDowell answers each question with refreshing honesty and unusual clarity. Regarding the question of typecasting; McDowell acknowledges that certain roles have always come his way as a result of playing the infamous Alex DeLarge;

“I know that because I did it (Clockwork), of course I was offered Caligula. Which is sort of Alex DeLarge of 2000 years earlier, but, in a way it was such an overwhelming thing that I’m not sure whether it really did have the effect of maybe a lesser role may have had. It was so overwhelming that I think, somehow they thought I was like this!”

For those unaware, Caligula was a 1979 Roman romp through historical vice and decadence, border-lining on porn (X-Rated scenes inserted later) produced by Penthouse Magazine that had McDowell alongside Peter O’Toole, John Gielgud and Helen Mirren… seriously.

If you, like us, just can’t get enough of Kubrick, ‘like’ him on Facebook. He will reward you.