1. Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.
In class, it was brought up that after A Clockwork Orange was released, many people tried to imitate the crimes displayed in the film. In this film, Alex and his friends would rape women and be brutally violent. Alex himself was a sociopath. For people to imitate what he and his associates did is horrific. It was also said that the film was pulled from theaters due to its' controversial reviews. I, personally agree that this film was a bit too dark and therefore should not be viewed by the public.
2. Find a related article (on the film, director, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, etc.) and summarize the content.
The article, Stanley Kubrick Was Even Cheaper Than We Thought by Kendall Ashley talks about how Stanley Kubrick was known as being imaginative and for challenging film making. However, he was also known to be cheap.
Entertainment Weekly interviewed Malcolm McDowell. McDowell addressees the rumors of Kubrick being cheap. There was a conflict between Gene Kelly and Kubrick because apparently, Kubrick never paid him for the use of 'Singing in the Rain'. McDowell said, "Oh, yeah. He was cheap. And of course, I roared with laughter. Of course, he never paid him. He thought it was enough that "Stanley Kubrick" was going to use the song. That’s what he thought."
Kubrick failed at making friends in Hollywood. His previous film, 2001: A Space Odyssey ran way over budget. Thus, forcing Kubrick to film A Clockwork Orange on a very low budget. Kubrick did not intentionally use Kelly's song. In an attempt to escape realism, Kubrick advised McDowell to sing and dance. McDowell improvised and instantly began to use 'Singing in the Rain.'
McDowell says, "I jumped up and started singing "Singin’ in the Rain" as an improv, on the beats, slapping, kicking, boom. And why did I do that? Because [that song is] Hollywood’s gift to the world of euphoria. And that’s what the character is feeling at the time. So Stanley shoved me in the car, we drove back to his house, and he bought the rights to "Singin’ in the Rain." We came back, he constructed what happened in the rehearsal and for the next week, we shot it. And it’s sort of the key moment in the film, really. And then he was brilliant because he worked it into the plot that that’s how the writer knows it’s me because I’m singing it in the bathtub [later]. That was very clever." Kubrick will forever be known as a genius, but he may also be known as a cheap man forever.
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Stanley-Kubrick-Was-Even-Cheaper-Than-We-Thought-68468.html
3. Apply the article to the film screened in class.
The song, 'Singing in the Rain' is very significant to the film. It brings the plot, full circle. Although McDowell did not intentionally use the song, he still did nevertheless. Therefore, he should've paid Gene Kelly for its' use. That is why I do agree that Stanley Kubrick is a genius, but he is indeed cheap.
4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.
Overall, I did not like A Clockwork Orange. It had violent moments that I found to be disturbing and hard to stomach. The plot of the film is great, but I do not think it is for everyone. The fact that when it was first released, people tried to copy the acts that were portrayed is a very scary thought. Stanley Kubrick may be cheap, but he is a very good director. He gave Malcolm McDowell the freedom to improvise a significant part in the film and figured out a way to use it throughout the film. A Clockwork Orange is not for everyone, but everyone should attempt to watch it.
