fun fact: the body builder is played by actor David Prouse, later known for playing the physical part of Darth Vader (the voice was James Earl Jones of course)
Great analysis. One thing I noticed in the film, which fits your theory quite well, is that characters tend to be surrounded by and/or wearing black when being dishonest and white when being honest. While the politician at the end is wearing black and in front of a dark backdrop, the doctors are usually wearing white and sometimes shown in front of a completely light backdrop. This is because the politicians know the Ludovico technique to be a fraudulent tool of the government while the doctors likely believe in their methods. Similarly, Alex is wearing white in the beginning when he is being true to his self and doing what he wants, being a thug, and black when he is acting suave in order to seduce the two girls. Thus we can see that Alex wearing a black suit before receiving the Ludovico technique is evidence that he is using the technique as a simple way to get out of prison. In addition Alex's black suit after receiving the Ludovico technique signifies that the conditioning did not work, and he was only acting like it did out of his own self interest.
@@robzilla730 Not entirely. He did make an advance towards Alex as I recall. At the very least, he hinted at the idea of sex. In other words, just like the truancy officer that visits Alex in his bed room and slaps his hand on is crotch, the priest is hot for Alex!
When Alex is receiving the eyedrops he is wearing white... so he wasn't faking when he yelled IT'S A SIN like crazy. You never see Alex suffering like that, and he was wearing black... That disproves your theory, which sounded interesting.
The thugs nearly drown Alex while wearing black police uniforms... They were being as honest toward Alex as you can get. That also disproves your theory.
I think you have to look at the weight of examples and consistency. He creates subliminal and subtleties like repetition in all of his movies and these are things other directors do, Kubrick just did it far better. I say it’s all intentional but some of it is possible red herring or just art without intention perhaps?
@@jameslangley2196 I wholeheartedly agree and props to you for putting into words, what I've felt for years. These reasons you've stated are the reasons why I've always viewed Kubrick and Lynch of a similar mindset, while still enjoying their own unique styles.
1:45: Yes, Joe the Lodger is absolutely right about Alex, but notice his tone of voice, it's dripping with insincerity. I think Joe doesn't care at all about Alex and his parents. He's just saying that so he won't lose a cushy appartment with two old people he can tower over. When Alex's mum starts crying, he pins this down on Alex when it's clearly his words that made her cry. There are no saints in this movie.
...I think that is the point, isn't it? There are no saints, ever. We all have hidden agendas, motives, often disguised from others but from ourselves as well.
@@Wyszyncygan It is implied that the priest also has his greedy little eyes on Alex. He wants to use him just as the truancy officer wanted to use him, so no, the priest is not someone to be admired in the film at all!
Mr. Kubrick does seem to be holding up a mirror to society that says something about how crime may not pay, but neither does holding yourself back and waiting for the "proper authorities" to handle things. If anything, relying on the powerful (bodybuilder) to carry us, only results in us being brought down lower on the pyramid(-shaped stairs)
Alex didn't look at the sexualized pictures when first entering the house. And I was thinking about him leaning over his father in an aggressive way, even though he's re conditioned to act badly towards violence does not mean he is incapable of being firm or aggressive with people. Plus i believe that when he faked punched his dad and didn't have a negative reaction to doing so is because he's being playful and not being genuinely violent, also when he stood at the bridge looking at the water why did he keep the saddened look on his face for hours according to you and not a nutrial face since nobody was paying attention to him. (If any one wants to give a counter argument I'm all ears)
Alex actually did look at one picture in particular. Right before Alex hugs his mother, he makes a brief eye saccade towards the picture above his mother. However, even if Alex was not seen to look directly at the female portraits, the central idea is very conspicuous for the audience. I disagree with your statement about Alex being capable of certain types of aggression. Central to the Ludovico technique is the idea that all forms of violence and sexual behavior are conditioned to be associated with a negative subjective feeling. Therefore, Alex’s seemingly playful fake punch towards his father should illicit the same aversive state. Further, the act of throwing a “fake punch” is consistent with the overarching position that Alex is faking the treatment’s effectiveness; he continues to act in a way that expresses his reconditioning. I also disagree with the the last section of your argument. First, your statement that Alex has a sad face is subjective. Could it not be that Alex’s face is simply neutral? Further, it is logically consistent for Alex to have a sad face even if he knew nobody was perceiving him at the time. He has no home to stay in and he is alone in the world. The audience is aware that Alex displays narcissistic behavior which is apparent in his feelings of self-pity during his time near the river.
Yes, and there's a different logic one should apply when considering a scene in a movie which is _intentionally_ filmed versus an event that happens in real life, which may happen for any number of reasons. It's not enough to say, "maybe X doesn't mean Y." This isn't a documentary - the film is saying something. If you don't think X means Y, then the burden is on you to say what it _does_ mean. I would LOVE if someone could give an even better counter-explanation, but only because this one is so good
So appreciative of this reply, as I don't have to type it myself. While I find a lot of Rob Ager's theories certainly interesting, I find the majority of them to be way too far fetched. If Alex was as easily triggered as Ager suggests, I imagine you'd have a difficult time even making a second half to the movie. I find those pictures to be more maternal than sexualized, and couldn't agree more about being playful rather than violent, while still having the ability to be firm.
@@evanrude414 it's one thing to say you disagree, it's another to offer an alternative that does a better job of explaining what the author is attempting to communicate
Damn I just stumbled on your channel and videos ,, absolutely addicted,, can’t stop watching, just bookmarked your website,, you are bloody brilliant!! Thank you so much!
I still don't feel like Alex's reason for attempting suicide is adequately explained. You alluded to "a revelation about facism" but why would that make him attempt suicide?
That's something I had trouble coming to terms with, until you watch the power structure video that he also did concerning A Clockwork Orange. Alex listening to the music made him suddenly realize that he's not at the top the pyramid scheme and trapped in an endless cycle of shit rolling down hill. In fact the entirety of Europe is trapped in the same cycle because the fall of Nazism led the the creation of the EU in which Germany still controls Europe but now through financial means.
so, in other words, his choice to end himself has nothing to do with him suddenly developing a conscience and experiencing a mortal regret for being such a total piece of shit, it's just the epiphany that he is just a ridiculous tool who doesn't have the freedom or power that he thought he had. Still don't necessarily find it plausible that he would kill himself for those reasons. Alex as a character is a nihilist to begin with. It's kind of established in his narrative that he thinks society and the world, itself, is all a bunch of horseshit and he just wants to "get his kicks" regardless of who he hurts. It would probably hurt his ego to realize to what an extent he is a tool but I feel he was already at least a little aware that he was a pawn to begin with. I could be wrong. Anyways, thanks for your insight. It does help me understand Ager's point a little better. Regardless, Mr. Ager does excellent analyses of movies even if I don't completely agree with his theories. Professional movie critics should all be that insightful.
Dan ReptileHouse Cooper Maybe because he really cannot take that much of a violance and even he feels sorry for what was done in 1940's, holocaust. The individual violance is somewhat bareable and everyone has that animal in him, from the begger to the most knowlagable writer. The system punishes them by putting them in prison. There is that relation between the people and government. The government is for stopping the violence and the main charcter is used to it too. But seeing a most well organized and planned violance made by the government of National Socialists is beyond bareable, sickening even for him. It destroys all the meaning of the individual violance thus the main reason for him to exist.
"loses consciousness in a sudden and extremely unconvincing matter". The reason why he suddenly loses consciousness is because whatever sedative the writer put into the wine (or pasta) just then took effect.
Yes, and it was blatantly obvious that he was drugged. The writer was insisting that he drink the wine to an almost comical degree. This guy’s theories are nonsense. The pyramid theme has more to do with the fact that Kubrick likes symmetrical locked down, highly composed shots than to suggest some sort of hierarchy.
Ive always wondered what the shot of Alex staring at the water & bridge signified. The dramatic drop of the tides seems so obvious now! Makes complete sense, that Alex was standing there for a prolonged period of time. Expert editing.
Well........the Ludovico treatment did worked fine........on the writer. The moment he starts to hear "Singing in the Rain" he starts to blow up in RAGE rather than get ill and scared.
I always feel like I am watching Bart Simpson in his teen years when I watch Clockwork Orange. Would make an awesome Simpsons episode. I know Matt Groening references Alex with Bart a lot on the show.
There was another episode where Bart had vowed to stop playing pranks on people. There was a part where he puts that fake eyelash on his eye and he gives that same facial expression that Alex made. All the while the theme to A Clockwork Orange is playing.
Those "over-the-top violins" are actually cellos. The music is the overture to Rossini's opera "William Tell". Thanks so much for another wonderful, thought-provoking analysis - keep the videos coming!
Loving your work Rob. I saw this after your piece on the pyramid symbolism in the film and couldn't help noticing the scenes where Alex is talking with his parents and lodger, the seats are arranged in (I would say) an unusual way with Alex clearly at the head of the pyramid. I suggest this adds further evidence of the Ludovico lie, pointing to Alex being the dominant force even when it feels like he's at his lowest. I wouldn't have noticed this without seeing your pyramid video first. Fascinating how things suddenly appear when you've had your eyes opened (no reference to the Ludovico technique intended!)
I can't believe I found your videos...YOUR actual videos. I stumbled upon your website a few years ago as I was analyzing and studying different interpretations of this film. So when I stumbled with this video I knew it had to be from the same author as the website...and so it was! Glad I found the channel.
I generally find accidental meanings that tie in with, or conflict with, the film's overall themes to be amusing and entertaining. They can still be worth talking about.
When I first watched this movie (yesterday), I immediatly thought that those "dreams" weren't REALLY dreams, but memories. They worked on his brain and cured him, that's why they knew he wouldn't react badly to the 9th, and why I think that while the Ludovico Lie theory sounds badass, it's propably not true.
Interesting idea, but I didn't find much in the film to suggest that was the case. I think the weepy violins is generally used as a satire of Alex playing the victim.
I really enjoyed The Master. Having studied a lot of hypnosis and alternative therapies and self-help stuff I was glad to see PTA'd really done his research on the intricacies for that film, showing both the best and worst aspects of it. The scene where the guru guy breaks through the main character's lying habits by distracting his conscious processes by having him not blink was amazing.
Too much to say in response to those questions. Check out the full analysis on my website. 20+ chapters covering near enough everything in the film, it's my most complete Kubrick analysis to date.
It's alright don't worry about it. It's all a bit much to go into here really. There's a huge analysis of the film on my website. This vid is just a part of it.
The poster with the teeth in the glass refers to Mr Deltoids visit to Alex's home, where he rants on about crime and control of juvenile delinquents, and inadvertently drinks the water in which lie the false teeth of one of Alex's parents.
A lot of these home shots were filmed in Thamesmead SE18. Some of it has been demolished now, but the flats and the Lake are still there. (See ''Misfits'' series 1 - 3)
Thanks. I've not done any series yet because of the sheer volume of studio involved - like analyzing a 30 hour movie. Have seen an episode or two and I liked what I saw.
I never noticed the wine colouration inconsistency. Will have to go take a look. If I remember rightly, doesn't Alex hold the glass up and look at the colour of it. Could be something in that.
I didn’t think I could possibly love this movie more than I already did. But with this analysis I just have a greater appreciation for this masterpiece and the genius of Stanley Kubrick
I was re-watching this awesome analysis by Rob and I couldn't help notice the kind of relationship that I am assuming Kubrick is alluding to in the household while Alex was in prison: Notice that Alex's Dad is sitting alone but facing the couch where Alex's Mom and Joe the Lodger are sitting. Also notice how close Joe and Alex's mom are sitting together (with all that space left on the couch). It appears that they were all listening to music before Alex barged in. After the potentially violent incident with Alex, Joe first hugs and comforts Alex's mom then reaches for Alex's Dad, hugging both together. ALEX DAD IS A WILLING CUCKOLD! Could this scene indicate past unconventional sex practices in the house that might have caused Alex to keep his room locked with a combination lock? Why a combination lock rather than a standard lock and key? Might this suggest that only "selected" residents or visitors were allowed entry into Alex's room while others were not?.....hmmm
Interesting thought. To me, I always just assumed he was very private, keeping much of his evil lifestyle hidden from his parents. He keeps a snake in his room and who knows what else? But he is a criminal and may want to safeguard his stuff, knowing that people like he himself exist (and rivals might want to rob him personally as revenge.) But we do know Alex was being sexually abused by that male counselor who visited him. He grabs Alex's crotch but Alex then suppresses the pain (perhaps also suppressed trauma pain?) Although, he presents himself with slaps to his upper legs and a smile upon seeing him (perhaps he likes being valued as an object (he likes being manipulative.) Perhaps this indicates how Alex became selfish, manipulative and wicked in the first place (developing a compartmentalized personality perhaps?)
Without question that is hinted at. I think Rob has even pointed this out in the written analysis, but sex is everywhere in this film. Everyone is at it. Alex, although thuggish, is a product of his environment. This is just another example. Alex is despised for how he uses sex and violence. He is seen as being morally corrupt. Others, like the truancy officer, the Cat Lady and Alex's folks are all as obsessed with sex as he is, but they are considered respectable. You could say it is Kubrick's way of showing how rotten and false the world that Alex lives in is.
@@davidlean1060 u hit it spot on, David. Another anomaly is the Bodybuilder/Bodyguard at the writer's house. See how he is dressed?...a bit odd, no? It is as if the writer replaced his wife with the Bodybuilder in some ambiguous relationship between them...very odd. Kubrick never hits you over the head with stuff like that. he wants you to wonder...to think about it.
@@wrestledeep Perversion everywhere you might say. Another thing to watch for next time is the graffiti on the walls inside Alex's tower block. You know the scene where he is sitting around with his Droogs in the building foyer? 'If it moves, kiss it' is one bit of graffiti. It all hints at a sexually perverse society. In a nut shell, Kubrick is asking 'is it any wonder Alex is the way he is?!' That is a huge thematic diversion from the book. As I remember it, the question of how Alex's environment has effected him doesn't come up. He's rather two dimensional as I remember, though it has been a long time since I read the Burgess novel.
@@davidlean1060 Well David, that is the marvel of the medium of Cinema and the talent of Kubrick. I don't know if Burgess could have shown, through prose, the intricate details of Alex's environment as well as the medium of Film. For me, the film itself is an ironic representation of sex as both vulgar & sinful but also Respectable and Classy (ie. the Cat Ladies "porn" art). The scene with the Teacher sitting with Alex on his bed and fondling him was the most direct indication of past abuse. There is alot of ambiguity about what happens to Alex in Prison but i think it is pretty clear that the Priest and Prison Clergy are all involved sexually with Alex. I think the overall message is the dual nature of humanity: to utilize SEX which is natural, organic and essential to our existence and then adding man-made "attributes" validating society's VALUE system with sex but at the same time PERVERTING that same self-validating system with hypocritical Clandestine Sexual behavior. This is why Alex mixes SEX and VIOLENCE endlessly in this movie.
Kubrick rarely told his collaborators what he was up to. The boot removal thing would be ideal cover when shooting. The clips of flowing lava and crashing trains are very in keeping with the self-stimulation metaphor that was present in the novel :)
I think its from 2001: a space odyssey. theres a couple references to that movie in this film. Another one is a poster for the movie while Alex is browsing the record store ..
oh at the point you mentioned the body builder calls the man in the wheelchair "frank" which is the first name of the the other astronaut in 2001 .. Dr Frank Poole? (the other guy not Hello Dave) anyway i think its from 2001 lol
Alex's sickness responses always seemed like bad acting to me, though it was only when I was studying the film in detail I started to notice these glaring details that pretty much spell out him faking it.
Lol no. The film has a double narrative, like all of SK's films from Space Odyssey onward. See full text article on my site. This video only covers a small aspect of the film.
Very interesting. That detail about the tides is great and Alex's reason being that he wants to be recognized and saved from his pitiful suicidal state is simply an amazing analytical catch. No way would shots that were seperated by 8 to 10 hours (real world time) be mere continuity, they were intentional visual indications of time passing. While alex's reasoning fits precisely into what had been established in the lead up scenes. this is why Your analysis of a movie is always worth watching. Thank you.
I have mixed feelings on this one - I think you've hit some nuggets but maybe not put together the puzzle (nor have I, but thank you for the nuggets). Pyramids and left/right compositions represent the establishment (power structure, pyramid) and the political 'left'/'right'. The right is openly violent towards the left, and the left has a penchant for being/playing the victim, but the left is also more ruthless. There are obvious warnings that the left, so compelled by the roll of victim that they willingly become 'the b*tch', feels they can 'understand' (as a transitive verb) the delinquent into recovery. Perhaps Alex, playing along, even finds comfort in the role - but it is superficial. He might be faking it, but I think he's trying to 'fake it until he makes it' - if you are familiar with that phrase. Once the crippled writer with the big man servant puts Alex in a dress, however - he comes to realize that he has been made a cuckold and sincerely decides to end it. Upon surviving, he realizes he can best victimize his torturers by playing the superlative victim - he learns the true ruthlessness of the victim role. Anyway, something like that - just thinking out loud here.
@SeaTac411 Yes, the whole second visit to writer's house is a dream sequence with Alex sorting out his shifting pathology through characters playing parts of himself. Have not read any John Watson stuff yet.
I don't generally look for hidden themes because most movies don't have them or if they do they're just the standard conveyor belt assembly fare. I've really liked Paul Thomas Anderson since I first saw Punch Drunk Love. There Will Be Blood was great of course, but The Master is his best film so far - I already had read a lot about hypnosis, scientology and L. Ron Hubbard so a lot of that film hit home for me. He's the best new film maker around imo.
@frostbitten205 There are a couple of possibilities. See full article on my site for details. One thing I should have added here in the vid is that Alex hasn't had any brain surgery. His head hasn't been shaved.
I find if I use that approach I just get bombarded with questions that are answered later in the vid anyway. Withholding the conclusions initially and guiding the viewer through the same process of discovery works much better all around. The viewer has to watch the whole video instead of mailing questions :)
As the video says, he didn't need to fear the bums. They were barely capable of harming him. If the officers hadn't have been his former droogs he may have won sympathy. Remember that Kubrick's method is to make tweaks to the source material to alter the story. To put Alex on a high window sill would remove the encounter with the bum. The ludo sickness simply wouldn't work either as against actual violence or the thought of it. And Kubrick knew it, as is thoroughly explained in the video.
@playadominical The tides could be passed off easily as careless errors, but in the context of all the other stuff it fits in just a little too well. The Psychology of Learning book is certainly no accident.
If the house sequence is a dream, how do you explain the extent of Alex's injuries? The policemen didn't injury him badly enough to warrant all those casts and if they did, who found Alex's body and put him in the hospital?
when alex leaves home, he also raises his own hand and slaps down his own knee the way deltoid slapped down on alex's leg. He then gets up and claims he's leaving now and it is on their conscience that he is leaving, which having seen your vid on the parental abuse he could;ve endured, may be an allusion to this (he's leaving home to get away from their abuse).
I thought he was leaving because his parents threw him out of the house. After all they rented out his room to Joe the lodger. And they said that he was staying because he already paid next month's rent.
The Thames river doesn't run through any shopping centers. The location was probably picked because it is near both the river and a tunnel, being that he beat up the tramp in a tunnel. So it works thematically regarding his past violence. As I've mentioned to LEGOBOY below Kubrick's method is to make tweaks to the source material to alter the story. To send Alex off to some other location and omit the encounter with the bum would betray the double narrative technique entirely.
I really like your ability to analyze film, but this idea that he is faking the cure to the treatment is very far fetched. If Alex was faking passing out in his spaghetti, what does that imply about who knows what's going on during that scene? I mean, did the writer poison him or not? Just doesn't make sense to think he is faking it all. And the scene with the homeless men... to suggest that he knew that the police would come to help, and that he wasn't afraid of them because of their age is completely reaching. Kubrick is playing with something here about the truthfulness of the narrator. You're right about that, but I think it has to do with his actual nature, which is basically supposed to be a character of incarnate devil. For example, when he describes how he can picture himself in that scene with Jesus carrying the cross he is looking up all serene-like, and his lie is attempting to make the audience sympathize to his nature. That this is simply who he is and that he can't actually help himself. The narration tone, likewise, at other times is tempting the audience to have sympathy for the devil, in essence, and asking us to see Alex as a sort of pariah hero. The fact that Alex is always shown to be in control of situations, able to pick up ladies effortlessly, etc all plays into that temptation of the audience. Kubrick made sure that the scenes showing crimes were completely absent of any conscience of those committing them. There is not simply no hesitation, but an actual joy and pleasure in very despicable acts. This is all part of the role of pure evil in the film that tempts the audience to lay their guilt or shame down and root for the bad guy. When Alex shrieks during the treatment after hearing Beethoven, saying "it's against society"(etc), there is when he shows the lie he's been concealing. He, the devil, knows that what he does is evil, and is not innocent by some defense of the nature he was given.
did you notice that towards the end of the movie, when they are panning through a series of newspapers, Burgess's name is mention in part of it, but the viewer can't make out entirely what the title of the newspaper says, have you noticed that/do you know what it says?
I'm reminded of my studies of psychopathy watching your reviews, which I undertook several years after seeing A Clockwork Orange. Psycopaths are usually capable of lying pathologically and can generally spot other psychopaths very easily. This would match with Alex assessing and taking his opportunity in the ironically psychopathic psychologist who's only interest is career advancement or perhaps fulfilling clandestine plans as part of political conspiracy (making room for political prisoners).
Hey Rob, Did you notice that when Georgie and Dim come to beat him, Dim appears first then Georgie 2nd. Just like in the opening scene in the bar. And the same opening music plays and instead of the camera zooming out on Alex it zooms in.
You said that it was improbable that Kubrick would leave so many continuity errors regarding the tide, which means that he wanted to hint to the passage of time. If this is true, what is the explanation behind the inconsistency of the color of the wine?
@thumminxy I haven't seen a copy of the Wartime Lies book yet. As for Alex being conditioned against Nazism - yes, he (and the audience) are being conditioned against totalitarianism in all its forms. See full article for more.
There's actually another continuity error near the river. In the marina scene, Alex gets a scuff on his leg, but then we cut to a pov shot. And the scuff is gone. Odd alot of simple "errors" like that happen near the water.
Great video! One of the things I love about Kubrick is how much can be found in his movies. They are so rich and multi-layered, so full of tiny details and hidden clues, he himself said he'd rather people take away their own interpretation of the story no matter how straightforward it appears to be. Very intriguing things you've pointed out. Regardless of whether they are intentional or not, it makes the movie all the more an interesting watch!
Another massive difference between the book in the movie is the now infamous twenty-first chapter in which Alex swears off violence but due to the natual process of maturing than any medical intervation. This chapter was excluded from the first several American editions and it was one of these upon which Kubric based his film.
Sony executives placing copyright infringement claims with YT, which are bullshit as it's clearly an educational film study. I've spoken to one of them by email and they assure me they've since retracted the claim. But YT still won't renew it and every time I submit a counter-notification the infringement claim gets renewed within a few hours. Looks like someone at either YT or Sony wants to censor the message. You can download the video from my site though.
Let's assume that Alex's "dream" at the end is a straightforward indication of the doctors breaking down the Ludovico conditioning in Alex's brain. It has puzzled me for a long time how they can just do that so... perhaps "simply" is the wrong word, but at least in a completely different manner than how it was instated in the first place.
The 'weepy violins' are from the first part of Rossini's William Tell overture. The more famous part of the same overture is used during the speeded-up threesome scene.
There is a an interview with Malcolm McDowell from recent times which is here on youtube in which he goes through various bits of Kubrick's old stuff from this film. One bit he holds the front page of a copy of the script with "A Clockwork Orange" crossed out and "The Ludovico Treatment" written by the side, as if he was thinking of changing the title, which Malcolm said he knew nothing about until now.
its a very compelling theory, one i want to believe except it doesnt fit into why he comits suicide or what he says at 8:23, It indicates that the doctors fiddled with his head and he recovered from his brain washing
any thoughts on the use of the colors in the film? the printer in the writer's room was red in the beginning of the film, and blue (or purple…I'm colorblind) at the end. Likewise, the title cards in the opening credits are red and blue, and there are plenty of red and blue props trickled throughout the film. I can think of blood and water as connotations, but that's a little boring and not nearly interesting enough to be Kubrick-ean
@robag88 Rob. When you say the Psychology of Learning book was no accident, do you think SK ever intended to have that "clue" discovered? Even if the viewer was familiar with the content of The Psychology of Learning, there is little chance that that book would ever be spotted by simply watching the film (opposed to dissecting the film for clues).
I just noticed this through your editing at 8:18. When Alex falls into the spaghetti he is wearing the writers robe and ascot but when he wakes up he is wearing his suit again. Why would kidnappers bother redressing an unconscious man they intend to torture, in a suit no less? Also did you look up the work of John B. Watson for Part 1 of this review? His work with baibies and his famous Little Albert experiment seem very relivant to the Ludovico. Little Albert / Little Alex? Great work Rob!
very interesting analysis. i honestly cannot believe that alex was faking the sickness response post treatment. you make some very interesting observations that are thought provoking but the sickness scenes of CO are so vivid and seem so physically felt on the part of alex that they seem to outweigh the subtle almost subliminal evidence to the contrary.
@robag88 I don't think the tides necessarily have to be "errors". They may be intended to be spotted by a careful viewer, simply suggesting that Alex indeed does stand still gazing into the water for a long time. The thing that's far-fetched however, is the assumption that his motivation is to await some innocent witness passing by. Why choose such an isolated spot if that was his plan? The idea closer to my mind is that he has turned into a hollow machine, with no direction or motivation left
@jcairns111 That was quite a big sentence. I think one of the functions of his multi-layered films is to show people that they shouldn't take everything at face value, that if you surpass immediate assumptions and study the details things often turn out to be very different. I'd say he probably enjoyed making films in this way too.
@slayerareawesome I usually start with the broad spectrum, keeping judgments as minimal as I can. After all the detailed info is in (usually consisting of hundreds of pages of notes and info) I start cross referencing to see what patterns emerge naturally.
@biglapo13 I think the najority of these clues in SK's films were designed only to be spotted if the viewer is aware that there's a hidden narrative to be decoded. Eyes Wide Shut was released after SK's death and that film, with it's blatant conspiracy theory themes, triggered a lot of people into re-examing Kubrick's entire body of work. That's when I started finding some of the easier to spot stuff in The Shining and ACO. Then I got onto the monolith as cinema screen and I knew there was more.
Not sure if someone has already noticed this, but another thing that adds to this is Alex fakes sick earlier in the movie to get what he wants. He tells his mom and P.R. Deltoid that he has a headache - clearly foreshadowing what you're saying.
hi -- the reason the water level changes in the river shot with alex is because they began the shot on one side of alex and his interaction with the homeless person, then turned around to get his other side, and then ended by pushing in on the bridge pillars. the tide lowers as the shots, and day of shooting, progress. you have overinterpreted a very simple fact of film production.
I have seen this movie 20 times. One thing that most people are not aware of is the milk plus part. Think about the meaning of this. It is really important from a symbolic point of view. Milk is this pure wholesome thing that babies start life with. It is a good sustaining substance of life for many life forms. Yet, in this horrid future where everything is perverted and evil even the pureness of milk is tainted with drugs. This is part of the symbolism of the milk laced with the drugs as milk plus in the movie. It shows just how screwed up this fantasy future is.
Milk Plus is a symbolism of the dark future that the story takes place in. Milk Wholesome nourishing from the bosom good, white, pure. plus drugs, tainted, evil, artificial added to the purity of the Milk. Even in this future evil and all is tainted. It is symbolic and that is what milk plus is in this movie. The whole movie is symbolism and allegory! It is also about the right to choose whether it is for good or bad.
Shoulda been vodka redbulls. JK. Some of the additives to the milk may be future or synthetic versions of eg. adrenochrome (drenchrome) and mescaline (synthemesc) (my spelling might be incorrect). Love how the movie also predicted ladies even elderly having loudly dyed hair. I don't have a specific point to rebut, just that Kubrick and Burgess were goddamed geniuses, thank Bog this stuff exists!
I also seem to remember the same cheesy violins playing during the overview shots of the prison, do you think Alex might have chosen to get caught by the police on purpose?
Do you think he put extra care into making the plot twists harder to find because that made film making more enjoyable for him or because he cared for the industry and wanted to keep a high level of quality in films so maybe other directors would take notice and ultimately make the human race smarter although who are we competing against?
That was fascinating. I had never thought to look at the film that way. This is a whole new way of seeing it. I'm going to drag out my old vhs of this movie and look at it again.
(hate that youtube limit.) I don't know if I'm rambling at this point, but I just meant that PTSD is potentially a pretty big example of why the Ludivico Treatment would not work. Very common reaction to a PTSD trigger is anger. This is what I think the writer went through. I don't know how much information was available when this movie was made for this to be intentional or not and I'm just using anecdotes.
you level of perception, analytical understanding, and comprehension is incredible. When you watch a movie what do you do when you are looking for these deep underlying themes? Also are you a fan of Paul Thomas Anderson?
If Alex was standing at the water by the bridge for hours and hours then why is the sky the same in each shot? If it was hours later then the sky would be darker or brighter but it's the same. Does it mean he stood by the water for days and the beggar showed up at the same time as when he first got there but on a different day?
fun fact: the body builder is played by actor David Prouse, later known for playing the physical part of Darth Vader (the voice was James Earl Jones of course)
It took 3 people to play Darth Vader, Prouse, Earl Jones and the father of Skywalker seen in a ghostlike form, well spotted though mate!!
Also, Alex’s dad was played by the same actor who portrayed as Delbert Grady from The Shinning, another movie made by Stanley Kubrick.
Some solid knowledge here lads, great stuff.
@@connermoss1994 Apart from getting names right (Prowse, Shining).
Rest In Peace, you absolute legend.
Great analysis. One thing I noticed in the film, which fits your theory quite well, is that characters tend to be surrounded by and/or wearing black when being dishonest and white when being honest. While the politician at the end is wearing black and in front of a dark backdrop, the doctors are usually wearing white and sometimes shown in front of a completely light backdrop. This is because the politicians know the Ludovico technique to be a fraudulent tool of the government while the doctors likely believe in their methods.
Similarly, Alex is wearing white in the beginning when he is being true to his self and doing what he wants, being a thug, and black when he is acting suave in order to seduce the two girls. Thus we can see that Alex wearing a black suit before receiving the Ludovico technique is evidence that he is using the technique as a simple way to get out of prison. In addition Alex's black suit after receiving the Ludovico technique signifies that the conditioning did not work, and he was only acting like it did out of his own self interest.
The priest was wearing black and he was honest.
@@robzilla730 Not entirely. He did make an advance towards Alex as I recall. At the very least, he hinted at the idea of sex. In other words, just like the truancy officer that visits Alex in his bed room and slaps his hand on is crotch, the priest is hot for Alex!
When Alex is receiving the eyedrops he is wearing white... so he wasn't faking when he yelled IT'S A SIN like crazy. You never see Alex suffering like that, and he was wearing black... That disproves your theory, which sounded interesting.
@@davidlean1060The priest never made any advance towards Alex
The thugs nearly drown Alex while wearing black police uniforms... They were being as honest toward Alex as you can get. That also disproves your theory.
Sometimes I can't tell whether these things are a fluke, or if Kubrick really meant to do all of this. We'll never know...
He meant.Trust me.
I will ask after 80 years
I think you have to look at the weight of examples and consistency. He creates subliminal and subtleties like repetition in all of his movies and these are things other directors do, Kubrick just did it far better. I say it’s all intentional but some of it is possible red herring or just art without intention perhaps?
Boooooooo you can know if you don’t have your eyes wide shut. Thanks 🙏
@@jameslangley2196 I wholeheartedly agree and props to you for putting into words, what I've felt for years. These reasons you've stated are the reasons why I've always viewed Kubrick and Lynch of a similar mindset, while still enjoying their own unique styles.
1:45: Yes, Joe the Lodger is absolutely right about Alex, but notice his tone of voice, it's dripping with insincerity. I think Joe doesn't care at all about Alex and his parents. He's just saying that so he won't lose a cushy appartment with two old people he can tower over. When Alex's mum starts crying, he pins this down on Alex when it's clearly his words that made her cry. There are no saints in this movie.
...I think that is the point, isn't it? There are no saints, ever. We all have hidden agendas, motives, often disguised from others but from ourselves as well.
and he is rubbing his hands while talking - the hand of hypocrisy (from Part1)
Jail priest is the only sane person in this whole movie
@@Wyszyncygan It is implied that the priest also has his greedy little eyes on Alex. He wants to use him just as the truancy officer wanted to use him, so no, the priest is not someone to be admired in the film at all!
Mr. Kubrick does seem to be holding up a mirror to society that says something about how crime may not pay, but neither does holding yourself back and waiting for the "proper authorities" to handle things. If anything, relying on the powerful (bodybuilder) to carry us, only results in us being brought down lower on the pyramid(-shaped stairs)
Alex didn't look at the sexualized pictures when first entering the house. And I was thinking about him leaning over his father in an aggressive way, even though he's re conditioned to act badly towards violence does not mean he is incapable of being firm or aggressive with people. Plus i believe that when he faked punched his dad and didn't have a negative reaction to doing so is because he's being playful and not being genuinely violent, also when he stood at the bridge looking at the water why did he keep the saddened look on his face for hours according to you and not a nutrial face since nobody was paying attention to him. (If any one wants to give a counter argument I'm all ears)
Alex actually did look at one picture in particular. Right before Alex hugs his mother, he makes a brief eye saccade towards the picture above his mother. However, even if Alex was not seen to look directly at the female portraits, the central idea is very conspicuous for the audience.
I disagree with your statement about Alex being capable of certain types of aggression. Central to the Ludovico technique is the idea that all forms of violence and sexual behavior are conditioned to be associated with a negative subjective feeling. Therefore, Alex’s seemingly playful fake punch towards his father should illicit the same aversive state. Further, the act of throwing a “fake punch” is consistent with the overarching position that Alex is faking the treatment’s effectiveness; he continues to act in a way that expresses his reconditioning.
I also disagree with the the last section of your argument. First, your statement that Alex has a sad face is subjective. Could it not be that Alex’s face is simply neutral? Further, it is logically consistent for Alex to have a sad face even if he knew nobody was perceiving him at the time. He has no home to stay in and he is alone in the world. The audience is aware that Alex displays narcissistic behavior which is apparent in his feelings of self-pity during his time near the river.
Yes, and there's a different logic one should apply when considering a scene in a movie which is _intentionally_ filmed versus an event that happens in real life, which may happen for any number of reasons. It's not enough to say, "maybe X doesn't mean Y." This isn't a documentary - the film is saying something. If you don't think X means Y, then the burden is on you to say what it _does_ mean.
I would LOVE if someone could give an even better counter-explanation, but only because this one is so good
I think, you're right!
So appreciative of this reply, as I don't have to type it myself. While I find a lot of Rob Ager's theories certainly interesting, I find the majority of them to be way too far fetched. If Alex was as easily triggered as Ager suggests, I imagine you'd have a difficult time even making a second half to the movie. I find those pictures to be more maternal than sexualized, and couldn't agree more about being playful rather than violent, while still having the ability to be firm.
@@evanrude414 it's one thing to say you disagree, it's another to offer an alternative that does a better job of explaining what the author is attempting to communicate
Damn I just stumbled on your channel and videos ,, absolutely addicted,, can’t stop watching, just bookmarked your website,, you are bloody brilliant!! Thank you so much!
The British weather is often miserably cloudy like that all day :)
Never ceases to amaze me the depth of Kubrick's work, and your ability to spot and analyse it Rob . .. we are not worthy !
I feel the same way
When you start noticing the tide, you know you’ve become a badass at film analysis
Your analysis and revealing the hidden meaning in Kubrick's works makes me an even larger fan of him.
Thank you, Ager! 👍
I still don't feel like Alex's reason for attempting suicide is adequately explained. You alluded to "a revelation about facism" but why would that make him attempt suicide?
That's something I had trouble coming to terms with, until you watch the power structure video that he also did concerning A Clockwork Orange. Alex listening to the music made him suddenly realize that he's not at the top the pyramid scheme and trapped in an endless cycle of shit rolling down hill. In fact the entirety of Europe is trapped in the same cycle because the fall of Nazism led the the creation of the EU in which Germany still controls Europe but now through financial means.
so, in other words, his choice to end himself has nothing to do with him suddenly developing a conscience and experiencing a mortal regret for being such a total piece of shit, it's just the epiphany that he is just a ridiculous tool who doesn't have the freedom or power that he thought he had. Still don't necessarily find it plausible that he would kill himself for those reasons. Alex as a character is a nihilist to begin with. It's kind of established in his narrative that he thinks society and the world, itself, is all a bunch of horseshit and he just wants to "get his kicks" regardless of who he hurts. It would probably hurt his ego to realize to what an extent he is a tool but I feel he was already at least a little aware that he was a pawn to begin with. I could be wrong. Anyways, thanks for your insight. It does help me understand Ager's point a little better. Regardless, Mr. Ager does excellent analyses of movies even if I don't completely agree with his theories. Professional movie critics should all be that insightful.
Dan ReptileHouse Cooper Simply put: an existential crisis.
Dan ReptileHouse Cooper Maybe because he really cannot take that much of a violance and even he feels sorry for what was done in 1940's, holocaust. The individual violance is somewhat bareable and everyone has that animal in him, from the begger to the most knowlagable writer. The system punishes them by putting them in prison. There is that relation between the people and government. The government is for stopping the violence and the main charcter is used to it too. But seeing a most well organized and planned violance made by the government of National Socialists is beyond bareable, sickening even for him. It destroys all the meaning of the individual violance thus the main reason for him to exist.
@@andrewbrenton8092 You people are such an embarassement
"loses consciousness in a sudden and extremely unconvincing matter". The reason why he suddenly loses consciousness is because whatever sedative the writer put into the wine (or pasta) just then took effect.
Yes, and it was blatantly obvious that he was drugged. The writer was insisting that he drink the wine to an almost comical degree. This guy’s theories are nonsense. The pyramid theme has more to do with the fact that Kubrick likes symmetrical locked down, highly composed shots than to suggest some sort of hierarchy.
this isnt the full breakdown
@@nicky2coats no need to be testy, to each their own
Ive always wondered what the shot of Alex staring at the water & bridge signified. The dramatic drop of the tides seems so obvious now! Makes complete sense, that Alex was standing there for a prolonged period of time. Expert editing.
Well........the Ludovico treatment did worked fine........on the writer. The moment he starts to hear "Singing in the Rain" he starts to blow up in RAGE rather than get ill and scared.
@jdsowa Yes. See full analysis on my site for further details ... oh I have a video on here about the Beethoven stuff too. check my channel
I always feel like I am watching Bart Simpson in his teen years when I watch Clockwork Orange. Would make an awesome Simpsons episode. I know Matt Groening references Alex with Bart a lot on the show.
There was another episode where Bart had vowed to stop playing pranks on people. There was a part where he puts that fake eyelash on his eye and he gives that same facial expression that Alex made. All the while the theme to A Clockwork Orange is playing.
Those "over-the-top violins" are actually cellos. The music is the overture to Rossini's opera "William Tell". Thanks so much for another wonderful, thought-provoking analysis - keep the videos coming!
Loving your work Rob. I saw this after your piece on the pyramid symbolism in the film and couldn't help noticing the scenes where Alex is talking with his parents and lodger, the seats are arranged in (I would say) an unusual way with Alex clearly at the head of the pyramid. I suggest this adds further evidence of the Ludovico lie, pointing to Alex being the dominant force even when it feels like he's at his lowest. I wouldn't have noticed this without seeing your pyramid video first. Fascinating how things suddenly appear when you've had your eyes opened (no reference to the Ludovico technique intended!)
I can't believe I found your videos...YOUR actual videos. I stumbled upon your website a few years ago as I was analyzing and studying different interpretations of this film. So when I stumbled with this video I knew it had to be from the same author as the website...and so it was!
Glad I found the channel.
I generally find accidental meanings that tie in with, or conflict with, the film's overall themes to be amusing and entertaining. They can still be worth talking about.
8:52 , anyone has any idea why does the doctor made that terrified ultra confused expression? , like if alex had just find out something he shouldnt
When I first watched this movie (yesterday), I immediatly thought that those "dreams" weren't REALLY dreams, but memories. They worked on his brain and cured him, that's why they knew he wouldn't react badly to the 9th, and why I think that while the Ludovico Lie theory sounds badass, it's propably not true.
Her line about 'patients often having those sorts of dreams' seem quite odd, given the specificness of the 'dream' described.
@@totaltotalmonkey they were undoing the ludovicio technique to please voters for the government, it's not meant to be seen as a dream in this film.
Interesting idea, but I didn't find much in the film to suggest that was the case. I think the weepy violins is generally used as a satire of Alex playing the victim.
I really enjoyed The Master. Having studied a lot of hypnosis and alternative therapies and self-help stuff I was glad to see PTA'd really done his research on the intricacies for that film, showing both the best and worst aspects of it. The scene where the guru guy breaks through the main character's lying habits by distracting his conscious processes by having him not blink was amazing.
The fact that the camera zooms in to the water near the bridge support (4:20) suggests Kubrik wanted us to pay attention to the water level.
Too much to say in response to those questions. Check out the full analysis on my website. 20+ chapters covering near enough everything in the film, it's my most complete Kubrick analysis to date.
It's alright don't worry about it. It's all a bit much to go into here really. There's a huge analysis of the film on my website. This vid is just a part of it.
The poster with the teeth in the glass refers to Mr Deltoids visit to Alex's home, where he rants on about crime and control of juvenile delinquents, and inadvertently drinks the water in which lie the false teeth of one of Alex's parents.
A lot of these home shots were filmed in Thamesmead SE18. Some of it has been demolished now, but the flats and the Lake are still there. (See ''Misfits'' series 1 - 3)
Thanks. I've not done any series yet because of the sheer volume of studio involved - like analyzing a 30 hour movie. Have seen an episode or two and I liked what I saw.
I never noticed the wine colouration inconsistency. Will have to go take a look. If I remember rightly, doesn't Alex hold the glass up and look at the colour of it. Could be something in that.
I didn’t think I could possibly love this movie more than I already did. But with this analysis I just have a greater appreciation for this masterpiece and the genius of Stanley Kubrick
I was re-watching this awesome analysis by Rob and I couldn't help notice the kind of relationship that I am assuming Kubrick is alluding to in the household while Alex was in prison: Notice that Alex's Dad is sitting alone but facing the couch where Alex's Mom and Joe the Lodger are sitting. Also notice how close Joe and Alex's mom are sitting together (with all that space left on the couch). It appears that they were all listening to music before Alex barged in. After the potentially violent incident with Alex, Joe first hugs and comforts Alex's mom then reaches for Alex's Dad, hugging both together. ALEX DAD IS A WILLING CUCKOLD! Could this scene indicate past unconventional sex practices in the house that might have caused Alex to keep his room locked with a combination lock? Why a combination lock rather than a standard lock and key? Might this suggest that only "selected" residents or visitors were allowed entry into Alex's room while others were not?.....hmmm
Interesting thought. To me, I always just assumed he was very private, keeping much of his evil lifestyle hidden from his parents. He keeps a snake in his room and who knows what else? But he is a criminal and may want to safeguard his stuff, knowing that people like he himself exist (and rivals might want to rob him personally as revenge.)
But we do know Alex was being sexually abused by that male counselor who visited him. He grabs Alex's crotch but Alex then suppresses the pain (perhaps also suppressed trauma pain?) Although, he presents himself with slaps to his upper legs and a smile upon seeing him (perhaps he likes being valued as an object (he likes being manipulative.) Perhaps this indicates how Alex became selfish, manipulative and wicked in the first place (developing a compartmentalized personality perhaps?)
Without question that is hinted at. I think Rob has even pointed this out in the written analysis, but sex is everywhere in this film. Everyone is at it. Alex, although thuggish, is a product of his environment. This is just another example. Alex is despised for how he uses sex and violence. He is seen as being morally corrupt. Others, like the truancy officer, the Cat Lady and Alex's folks are all as obsessed with sex as he is, but they are considered respectable. You could say it is Kubrick's way of showing how rotten and false the world that Alex lives in is.
@@davidlean1060 u hit it spot on, David. Another anomaly is the Bodybuilder/Bodyguard at the writer's house. See how he is dressed?...a bit odd, no? It is as if the writer replaced his wife with the Bodybuilder in some ambiguous relationship between them...very odd. Kubrick never hits you over the head with stuff like that. he wants you to wonder...to think about it.
@@wrestledeep Perversion everywhere you might say. Another thing to watch for next time is the graffiti on the walls inside Alex's tower block. You know the scene where he is sitting around with his Droogs in the building foyer? 'If it moves, kiss it' is one bit of graffiti. It all hints at a sexually perverse society. In a nut shell, Kubrick is asking 'is it any wonder Alex is the way he is?!' That is a huge thematic diversion from the book. As I remember it, the question of how Alex's environment has effected him doesn't come up. He's rather two dimensional as I remember, though it has been a long time since I read the Burgess novel.
@@davidlean1060 Well David, that is the marvel of the medium of Cinema and the talent of Kubrick. I don't know if Burgess could have shown, through prose, the intricate details of Alex's environment as well as the medium of Film. For me, the film itself is an ironic representation of sex as both vulgar & sinful but also Respectable and Classy (ie. the Cat Ladies "porn" art). The scene with the Teacher sitting with Alex on his bed and fondling him was the most direct indication of past abuse. There is alot of ambiguity about what happens to Alex in Prison but i think it is pretty clear that the Priest and Prison Clergy are all involved sexually with Alex. I think the overall message is the dual nature of humanity: to utilize SEX which is natural, organic and essential to our existence and then adding man-made "attributes" validating society's VALUE system with sex but at the same time PERVERTING that same self-validating system with hypocritical Clandestine Sexual behavior. This is why Alex mixes SEX and VIOLENCE endlessly in this movie.
Kubrick rarely told his collaborators what he was up to. The boot removal thing would be ideal cover when shooting. The clips of flowing lava and crashing trains are very in keeping with the self-stimulation metaphor that was present in the novel :)
Like so many of Collative's reviews, once you see it, you can't unsee it
As the video says - see the full analysis on my website, which answers that question.
Maybe the part where Alex's teacher drinks from the glas with the false teeth is a metaphor for him gulping down Alex's lies?
At 7:49 as Alex is being carried in it looks like there's a man in a space suit or hazmat suit by the coat closet. What's up with that?
I think its from 2001: a space odyssey. theres a couple references to that movie in this film. Another one is a poster for the movie while Alex is browsing the record store ..
oh at the point you mentioned the body builder calls the man in the wheelchair "frank" which is the first name of the the other astronaut in 2001 .. Dr Frank Poole? (the other guy not Hello Dave) anyway i think its from 2001 lol
You know, i think i noticed the shots of the river subconsciously but didnt realize it till now, Kubrick is the master... thanks for ypur videos
Alex's sickness responses always seemed like bad acting to me, though it was only when I was studying the film in detail I started to notice these glaring details that pretty much spell out him faking it.
Lol no. The film has a double narrative, like all of SK's films from Space Odyssey onward. See full text article on my site. This video only covers a small aspect of the film.
Very interesting. That detail about the tides is great and Alex's reason being that he wants to be recognized and saved from his pitiful suicidal state is simply an amazing analytical catch. No way would shots that were seperated by 8 to 10 hours (real world time) be mere continuity, they were intentional visual indications of time passing. While alex's reasoning fits precisely into what had been established in the lead up scenes.
this is why Your analysis of a movie is always worth watching. Thank you.
I have mixed feelings on this one - I think you've hit some nuggets but maybe not put together the puzzle (nor have I, but thank you for the nuggets). Pyramids and left/right compositions represent the establishment (power structure, pyramid) and the political 'left'/'right'. The right is openly violent towards the left, and the left has a penchant for being/playing the victim, but the left is also more ruthless. There are obvious warnings that the left, so compelled by the roll of victim that they willingly become 'the b*tch', feels they can 'understand' (as a transitive verb) the delinquent into recovery. Perhaps Alex, playing along, even finds comfort in the role - but it is superficial. He might be faking it, but I think he's trying to 'fake it until he makes it' - if you are familiar with that phrase. Once the crippled writer with the big man servant puts Alex in a dress, however - he comes to realize that he has been made a cuckold and sincerely decides to end it. Upon surviving, he realizes he can best victimize his torturers by playing the superlative victim - he learns the true ruthlessness of the victim role.
Anyway, something like that - just thinking out loud here.
You just sound like another right wing ideologue.
yeah sure, he's a right wing ideologue but he also said that the right is openly violent towards the left, can you even read lol
@SeaTac411 Yes, the whole second visit to writer's house is a dream sequence with Alex sorting out his shifting pathology through characters playing parts of himself. Have not read any John Watson stuff yet.
Those videos are based on some of the chapters in the article. There are odd details that aren't in the article, but not a great deal.
I don't generally look for hidden themes because most movies don't have them or if they do they're just the standard conveyor belt assembly fare. I've really liked Paul Thomas Anderson since I first saw Punch Drunk Love. There Will Be Blood was great of course, but The Master is his best film so far - I already had read a lot about hypnosis, scientology and L. Ron Hubbard so a lot of that film hit home for me. He's the best new film maker around imo.
@frostbitten205 There are a couple of possibilities. See full article on my site for details. One thing I should have added here in the vid is that Alex hasn't had any brain surgery. His head hasn't been shaved.
I find if I use that approach I just get bombarded with questions that are answered later in the vid anyway. Withholding the conclusions initially and guiding the viewer through the same process of discovery works much better all around. The viewer has to watch the whole video instead of mailing questions :)
As the video says, he didn't need to fear the bums. They were barely capable of harming him. If the officers hadn't have been his former droogs he may have won sympathy.
Remember that Kubrick's method is to make tweaks to the source material to alter the story. To put Alex on a high window sill would remove the encounter with the bum.
The ludo sickness simply wouldn't work either as against actual violence or the thought of it. And Kubrick knew it, as is thoroughly explained in the video.
I don't understand the point of the camera shots and such discussed starting at 6:58.
@playadominical The tides could be passed off easily as careless errors, but in the context of all the other stuff it fits in just a little too well. The Psychology of Learning book is certainly no accident.
If the house sequence is a dream, how do you explain the extent of Alex's injuries? The policemen didn't injury him badly enough to warrant all those casts and if they did, who found Alex's body and put him in the hospital?
when alex leaves home, he also raises his own hand and slaps down his own knee the way deltoid slapped down on alex's leg. He then gets up and claims he's leaving now and it is on their conscience that he is leaving, which having seen your vid on the parental abuse he could;ve endured, may be an allusion to this (he's leaving home to get away from their abuse).
I thought he was leaving because his parents threw him out of the house. After all they rented out his room to Joe the lodger. And they said that he was staying because he already paid next month's rent.
Best movie analysis = Rob Ager movie analysis
The Thames river doesn't run through any shopping centers. The location was probably picked because it is near both the river and a tunnel, being that he beat up the tramp in a tunnel. So it works thematically regarding his past violence. As I've mentioned to LEGOBOY below Kubrick's method is to make tweaks to the source material to alter the story. To send Alex off to some other location and omit the encounter with the bum would betray the double narrative technique entirely.
I really like your ability to analyze film, but this idea that he is faking the cure to the treatment is very far fetched. If Alex was faking passing out in his spaghetti, what does that imply about who knows what's going on during that scene? I mean, did the writer poison him or not? Just doesn't make sense to think he is faking it all. And the scene with the homeless men... to suggest that he knew that the police would come to help, and that he wasn't afraid of them because of their age is completely reaching.
Kubrick is playing with something here about the truthfulness of the narrator. You're right about that, but I think it has to do with his actual nature, which is basically supposed to be a character of incarnate devil. For example, when he describes how he can picture himself in that scene with Jesus carrying the cross he is looking up all serene-like, and his lie is attempting to make the audience sympathize to his nature. That this is simply who he is and that he can't actually help himself. The narration tone, likewise, at other times is tempting the audience to have sympathy for the devil, in essence, and asking us to see Alex as a sort of pariah hero. The fact that Alex is always shown to be in control of situations, able to pick up ladies effortlessly, etc all plays into that temptation of the audience. Kubrick made sure that the scenes showing crimes were completely absent of any conscience of those committing them. There is not simply no hesitation, but an actual joy and pleasure in very despicable acts. This is all part of the role of pure evil in the film that tempts the audience to lay their guilt or shame down and root for the bad guy. When Alex shrieks during the treatment after hearing Beethoven, saying "it's against society"(etc), there is when he shows the lie he's been concealing. He, the devil, knows that what he does is evil, and is not innocent by some defense of the nature he was given.
did you notice that towards the end of the movie, when they are panning through a series of newspapers, Burgess's name is mention in part of it, but the viewer can't make out entirely what the title of the newspaper says, have you noticed that/do you know what it says?
I'm reminded of my studies of psychopathy watching your reviews, which I undertook several years after seeing A Clockwork Orange.
Psycopaths are usually capable of lying pathologically and can generally spot other psychopaths very easily. This would match with Alex assessing and taking his opportunity in the ironically psychopathic psychologist who's only interest is career advancement or perhaps fulfilling clandestine plans as part of political conspiracy (making room for political prisoners).
Hey Rob, Did you notice that when Georgie and Dim come to beat him, Dim appears first then Georgie 2nd. Just like in the opening scene in the bar. And the same opening music plays and instead of the camera zooming out on Alex it zooms in.
You said that it was improbable that Kubrick would leave so many continuity errors regarding the tide, which means that he wanted to hint to the passage of time. If this is true, what is the explanation behind the inconsistency of the color of the wine?
I love your analysis. Kubrick's use of mirrors in his films is now very obvious to me upon rewatching them. Thank you for sharing your info!!
@thumminxy I haven't seen a copy of the Wartime Lies book yet. As for Alex being conditioned against Nazism - yes, he (and the audience) are being conditioned against totalitarianism in all its forms. See full article for more.
There's actually another continuity error near the river. In the marina scene, Alex gets a scuff on his leg, but then we cut to a pov shot. And the scuff is gone. Odd alot of simple "errors" like that happen near the water.
Great video! One of the things I love about Kubrick is how much can be found in his movies. They are so rich and multi-layered, so full of tiny details and hidden clues, he himself said he'd rather people take away their own interpretation of the story no matter how straightforward it appears to be. Very intriguing things you've pointed out. Regardless of whether they are intentional or not, it makes the movie all the more an interesting watch!
I never noticed the water lowering or rising, it had to be to show the passing of time
8:15. Alex passed out, and they change his cloth when he wole up. Did that big guy f him, and change his cloth?
Another massive difference between the book in the movie is the now infamous twenty-first chapter in which Alex swears off violence but due to the natual process of maturing than any medical intervation. This chapter was excluded from the first several American editions and it was one of these upon which Kubric based his film.
3:35
The time from one tide to the next is a bit more than 12 hours, so it would be impossible to have the same birghtness..
Alex stood there for days?
Sony executives placing copyright infringement claims with YT, which are bullshit as it's clearly an educational film study. I've spoken to one of them by email and they assure me they've since retracted the claim. But YT still won't renew it and every time I submit a counter-notification the infringement claim gets renewed within a few hours. Looks like someone at either YT or Sony wants to censor the message. You can download the video from my site though.
See full article on my site. Too much to go into here.
Let's assume that Alex's "dream" at the end is a straightforward indication of the doctors breaking down the Ludovico conditioning in Alex's brain. It has puzzled me for a long time how they can just do that so... perhaps "simply" is the wrong word, but at least in a completely different manner than how it was instated in the first place.
The 'weepy violins' are from the first part of Rossini's William Tell overture. The more famous part of the same overture is used during the speeded-up threesome scene.
Who is the female NURSE actress at the end with purple hair please? I think she was in some of the 'Carry On' films maybe? Thanks.
Subtitles or additional commentary?
There is a an interview with Malcolm McDowell from recent times which is here on youtube in which he goes through various bits of Kubrick's old stuff from this film. One bit he holds the front page of a copy of the script with "A Clockwork Orange" crossed out and "The Ludovico Treatment" written by the side, as if he was thinking of changing the title, which Malcolm said he knew nothing about until now.
There's a one hour video about Full Metal Jacket on my Kubrick Decoded volume 2 DVD :)
its a very compelling theory, one i want to believe except it doesnt fit into why he comits suicide or what he says at 8:23, It indicates that the doctors fiddled with his head and he recovered from his brain washing
any thoughts on the use of the colors in the film? the printer in the writer's room was red in the beginning of the film, and blue (or purple…I'm colorblind) at the end. Likewise, the title cards in the opening credits are red and blue, and there are plenty of red and blue props trickled throughout the film. I can think of blood and water as connotations, but that's a little boring and not nearly interesting enough to be Kubrick-ean
@robag88 Rob. When you say the Psychology of Learning book was no accident, do you think SK ever intended to have that "clue" discovered? Even if the viewer was familiar with the content of The Psychology of Learning, there is little chance that that book would ever be spotted by simply watching the film (opposed to dissecting the film for clues).
I just noticed this through your editing at 8:18. When Alex falls into the spaghetti he is wearing the writers robe and ascot but when he wakes up he is wearing his suit again. Why would kidnappers bother redressing an unconscious man they intend to torture, in a suit no less? Also did you look up the work of John B. Watson for Part 1 of this review? His work with baibies and his famous Little Albert experiment seem very relivant to the Ludovico. Little Albert / Little Alex? Great work Rob!
That's exactly what I'm saying. On what basis is he definitely not faking it?
very interesting analysis. i honestly cannot believe that alex was faking the sickness response post treatment. you make some very interesting observations that are thought provoking but the sickness scenes of CO are so vivid and seem so physically felt on the part of alex that they seem to outweigh the subtle almost subliminal evidence to the contrary.
Watch that section of the video again and this time actually take in all of the information offered.
great videos! thank you
have you noticed the checkered pattern in the wrist of the mayor while grabbing Alex shoulder? (1:03)
@robag88 I don't think the tides necessarily have to be "errors". They may be intended to be spotted by a careful viewer, simply suggesting that Alex indeed does stand still gazing into the water for a long time. The thing that's far-fetched however, is the assumption that his motivation is to await some innocent witness passing by. Why choose such an isolated spot if that was his plan? The idea closer to my mind is that he has turned into a hollow machine, with no direction or motivation left
@jcairns111 That was quite a big sentence. I think one of the functions of his multi-layered films is to show people that they shouldn't take everything at face value, that if you surpass immediate assumptions and study the details things often turn out to be very different. I'd say he probably enjoyed making films in this way too.
@slayerareawesome I usually start with the broad spectrum, keeping judgments as minimal as I can. After all the detailed info is in (usually consisting of hundreds of pages of notes and info) I start cross referencing to see what patterns emerge naturally.
@biglapo13 I think the najority of these clues in SK's films were designed only to be spotted if the viewer is aware that there's a hidden narrative to be decoded. Eyes Wide Shut was released after SK's death and that film, with it's blatant conspiracy theory themes, triggered a lot of people into re-examing Kubrick's entire body of work. That's when I started finding some of the easier to spot stuff in The Shining and ACO. Then I got onto the monolith as cinema screen and I knew there was more.
See full analysis article on my site.
Not sure if someone has already noticed this, but another thing that adds to this is Alex fakes sick earlier in the movie to get what he wants. He tells his mom and P.R. Deltoid that he has a headache - clearly foreshadowing what you're saying.
hi -- the reason the water level changes in the river shot with alex is because they began the shot on one side of alex and his interaction with the homeless person, then turned around to get his other side, and then ended by pushing in on the bridge pillars. the tide lowers as the shots, and day of shooting, progress. you have overinterpreted a very simple fact of film production.
I have seen this movie 20 times. One thing that most people are not aware of is the milk plus part. Think about the meaning of this. It is really important from a symbolic point of view. Milk is this pure wholesome thing that babies start life with. It is a good sustaining substance of life for many life forms. Yet, in this horrid future where everything is perverted and evil even the pureness of milk is tainted with drugs. This is part of the symbolism of the milk laced with the drugs as milk plus in the movie. It shows just how screwed up this fantasy future is.
??
Milk Plus is a symbolism of the dark future that the story takes place in.
Milk Wholesome nourishing from the bosom good, white, pure.
plus drugs, tainted, evil, artificial added to the purity of the Milk. Even in this future evil and all is tainted. It is symbolic and that is what milk plus is in this movie. The whole movie is symbolism and allegory! It is also about the right to choose whether it is for good or bad.
also the droogs look like they are wearing deipers
Shoulda been vodka redbulls.
JK. Some of the additives to the milk may be future or synthetic versions of eg. adrenochrome (drenchrome) and mescaline (synthemesc) (my spelling might be incorrect). Love how the movie also predicted ladies even elderly having loudly dyed hair. I don't have a specific point to rebut, just that Kubrick and Burgess were goddamed geniuses, thank Bog this stuff exists!
Great work, Rob.
Your videos opens up my eyes all the time. Keep up the good work.
I also seem to remember the same cheesy violins playing during the overview shots of the prison, do you think Alex might have chosen to get caught by the police on purpose?
Do you think he put extra care into making the plot twists harder to find because that made film making more enjoyable for him or because he cared for the industry and wanted to keep a high level of quality in films so maybe other directors would take notice and ultimately make the human race smarter although who are we competing against?
That was fascinating. I had never thought to look at the film that way. This is a whole new way of seeing it. I'm going to drag out my old vhs of this movie and look at it again.
(hate that youtube limit.) I don't know if I'm rambling at this point, but I just meant that PTSD is potentially a pretty big example of why the Ludivico Treatment would not work. Very common reaction to a PTSD trigger is anger. This is what I think the writer went through. I don't know how much information was available when this movie was made for this to be intentional or not and I'm just using anecdotes.
That 665 - 667 thing really blew my mind!
you level of perception, analytical understanding, and comprehension is incredible. When you watch a movie what do you do when you are looking for these deep underlying themes? Also are you a fan of Paul Thomas Anderson?
If Alex was standing at the water by the bridge for hours and hours then why is the sky the same in each shot? If it was hours later then the sky would be darker or brighter but it's the same. Does it mean he stood by the water for days and the beggar showed up at the same time as when he first got there but on a different day?
That argument is already addressed in the video. I'm not repeating it for you.