Malcolm McDowell On “A Clockwork Orange” And “Caligula” | Late Night with Conan O’Brien

(Original Airdate: 1/17/94) Malcolm McDowell discusses his roles in two of cinema’s most notorious films.
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Running from 1993-2009, Late Night with Conan O’Brien is one of the most beloved late night shows in television history. Known for its absurdist humor, hilarious celebrity interviews and featuring the best stand-up comedians and musical acts of the ‘90s and early 2000s. Hosted by Conan O’Brien alongside sidekick Andy Richter and house band Max Weinberg and the Max Weinberg 7, Late Night with Conan O’Brien featured unforgettable segments like “If They Mated”, “In the Year 2000”, “Desk Drive”, and made a breakout star of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

[@patricktilton5377]

If Malcolm hasn't already done a word-for-word audio book narration of the novel A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, he really ought to do so before he passes on. It's a 1st Person narrator speaking about events from his past, so an older Alex speaking to an audience is just the thing.

[@calessel3139]

Definitely!!!

[@pilgrimomega]

In that vein, I've found myself wishing there was a way to shoot the final chapter of the book, or an interpolation of it, with old Alex.

[@neilsun2521]

I'd listen to that! Alex's narration was hilarious in the film. One of the best bits about it.

[@80sGenKid]

Listen to the audio narration by Anthony Burgess it was done after the movie so I'm sure Malcolm may have influenced his take but he really does a fantastic job of narrating and he does mention his opinion of the movie including Stanley Kubrick it is a good listen for history movie buffs...*actually I just found on youtube again it wasn't Anthony Burgess but it is a Brit that is definitely channeling Malcolm's take...he does read some of Anthony's opinion in what I assume is an updated edition of the book...

[@calessel3139]

@@80sGenKid From what I remember, Burgess was upset that Kubrick left out the last Chapter of A Clockwork Orange where Alex becomes a reformed citizen. But Kubrick always likes to leave the endings of his films more or less ambiguous, so that was never going to happen.

[@orestispitsillides]

He deserved an Oscar in A Clockwork Orange for best actor. No one but Malcom could improvise such a disturbing scene while singing such a sweet song and dancing with such joy

[@bobthebear1246]

He definitely should have been nominated.

[@PsychicWars]

Malcolm's acting was the one thing Anthony Burgess praised about the movie adaptation of his book.

[@amiblueful]

He didn't even get nominated! The movie was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director but won neither. What a travesty.

[@orestispitsillides]

@bobthebear1246 yeah it's so crazy

[@orestispitsillides]

@PsychicWars yeah Anthony Burgers praised the movie as well. It's really interesting that Stephen King didn't like Kubrick's The Shining.

[@alanmatthew5713]

He's a very underrated actor. He deserves an Oscar.

[@regretto]

Oscar these days doesn't deserve Malcolm Mcdowell

[@Mr.Monta77]

Thanks for not calling him a genius. Way too many geniuses on KZbin. But he certainly is an excellent actor.

[@alanmatthew5713]

Malcolm is an excellent actor. Lon Chaney and Marlon Brando are who I would call geniuses.

[@Mr.Monta77]

@@alanmatthew5713 What would you call Bach, Mozart, Shakespeare?

[@alanmatthew5713]

From a far more advanced civilization.

[@waynej2608]

Holy crap! McDowells' John Geilgud impression was spot on. Great clip. 👍

[@nnnnnn3647]

Why doesn't this fool not let the guy talk, but keeps interrupting him? Imbecile.

[@chaospoet]

I've met actors, wrestlers and musicians but to this day Malcolm McDowell is the only person I ever met where I experienced being completely star struck. One of the most polite and nicest people I've ever met too.

[@tinaholman956]

I love Malcolm in movies,he is my celebrity CRUSH, but I was hoping he is nice in real life.

[@chaospoet]

@@tinaholman956 You know how they say "Don't meet your heroes." Or I suppose in this instance we could alter that to "Don't meet your crush." Yeah, if you ever get the opportunity, meet him! You won't be disappointed.

[@Nupetiet]

I attended the Shore Leave Trek convention once, and he had a Q&A session there. I waited in line to ask him about how he got involved with the Wing Commander franchise (the first thing I knew him from), and he quickly deflected the question, saying he needed the money, and moved on to the next questioner. Somebody else might have been disappointed, but all I remember is that Malcolm McDowell acknowledged and spoke to me, he replied to words that came out of my mouth

[@KaninTuzi]

Malcolm was very quick and funny. Today's Conan would have had a better back and forth with him

[@michaelparks6120]

Writers are often not great at small talk especially when being observed.

[@lomarsweed6604]

@@michaelparks6120 Conan is great at small talk, he just hadn't yet completely settled into his role as TV host. He never would've gotten the job in the first place if he didn't have the gift of gab.

[@jays1850]

It’s not Conan. It’s him. Malcom is a straight up RUDE GOOF!! SERIOUSLY!!

[@dimebagdave77]

@@jays1850 😁

[@greggh]

Nah.Today's Conan would be too busy twisting his nipples. Probably have his shirt off by now.

[@andrewcowin3815]

McDowell deserves a lifetime Oscar, or something for playing Alex in A Clockwork Orange. Has there ever been a more challenging role executed so brilliantly?

[@YolandaAnneBrown95726]

I had the pleasure of meeting Malcolm twice. And I'll always treasure those moments.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

What exactly did you do with him during those two... meetings?

[@NOWtheband]

good

[@YolandaAnneBrown95726]

@@Bigbadwhitecracker Scifi meet-and-greets. He's absolutely adorable.

[@bobthebear1246]

I bet he was very cool. He seems like a very cool guy.

[@mavis3916]

Did you have to pay to meet him?

[@_ms.mannequin_]

I will always have a crush on Malcolm at every age, even if he turns 105 years old! He's amazing!

[@MorrisDugan]

He doesn't look that different from how he looked in the 1970's.

[@bobspence5322]

@@MorrisDugan this interview is about 30 years old.

[@MorrisDugan]

@@bobspence5322 Even if it was 50 years ago, he still looks so young! Conan even more so!

[@warlockofwordschannel7901]

He'll be glad to hear that.

[@ajn465]

What a fine job Conan did getting into the artistic viewpoint of two of the most disturbing movies ever made. And Malcolm was wonderful and his willingness, not simply to share, but perform. His love for what he does shines through very brightly.

[@JokerzRoundTable]

Conan’s gotten so much better at doing interviews

[@vb8428]

Yeah, but there are still some people he keeps interrupting this way to this day

[@dpunch9323]

Well he couldn’t have gotten much worse

[@jimmyjakes1823]

His interviews have always sucked. He's good at oddball comedy like talking to the Triumph puppet and being a guest on Space Ghost, but he's a horrible interviewer who interrupts, cracks stupid jokes every 10 seconds and goes off on endless non sequiturs about himself. McDowell is so funny that not even Conan can ruin this segment. Same with the Norm appearances.

[@JokerzRoundTable]

@@jimmyjakes1823 I bet you’re fun at parties

[@jimmyjakes1823]

@@JokerzRoundTable I bet you say dumb, inane things at parties too.

[@fakeblaze3807]

I love seeing early Conan clips whether it be remotes, skits, interviews because you can see the growth and how he becomes more comfortable through the years.

[@thomHD]

My interpretation is that he's preferable here and became increasingly obnoxious as time went on

[@suffern63]

@@thomHD My interpretation is that he should have been cancelled before..during..and after

[@vb8428]

@@thomHD Actually I think he was always that way but with some guests it fits right in but with some it's just off.

[@Charles-216]

Very charismast,briliant actor,GREAT Malcolm mcdowell!!!

[@caryheuchert]

Malcolm McDowell is my favourite actor and “O Lucky Man!” my favourite film.

[@dailyflash]

Clockwork Orange is one of those movies you discover and love as a teenager, but don't want your own children to find out about.

[@m1lst3r89]

I was in my early 20s when I saw it for the 1st time, but I agree

[@KLeigh-ts2ih]

I first saw it 28 years after it came out when I was 16, but didn’t actually appreciate the true brilliance of it until I saw it again more recently.

[@billj4525]

@@KLeigh-ts2ih Yeah, I saw it when I was 20 or 21 and didn't pay attention and appreciate it as much as I should have at first. Only after seeing it again later did I really appreciate the brilliance of it. I just watched it last night, awesome movie. I love Kubrick in general.

[@jsb354]

Great actor, Malcom. I liked him a lot in "Time After Time" with David Warner and Mary Steenburgen. All his films are great. Good man!!

[@kristianspeke1]

That's a brilliant film

[@m1lst3r89]

I think Mary is his wife now.

[@jsb354]

@@m1lst3r89, she was Malcolm's wife, but they divorced long ago. Now she's married to Ted Danson.

[@TheSoleProprietor]

I liked him in "A Clockwork Orange". But it was fun seeing him as a "good guy" in this movie, too... playing H.G. Wells. The scene at McDonald's was my most favorite... makes me laugh every time to hear him in that American accent!

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

A Clockwork Orange is my favorite movie!!!

[@johndough7160]

Man, Malcom and Sting sure do resemble each other. 😂

[@tabathasheffroth7981]

Mr. McDowell was in a short-lived TV series called "Pearl" in the '90s with Rhea Perlman. I don't recall the situation, but in one episode his character says something to the effect of "People are saying things about me, like l am Sting's illegitimate son." That may be the most memorable thing about the show🙂.

[@neilsun2521]

Alex was just a humble narrator.

[@MrSmokincodz]

To his brothers and only friends.

[@inspectortanzi]

Wellll, it's the end of the line for him! The end of the line, yesssss!

[@Woozlewuzzleable]

Off to google I go to see if he died, no Alex is still up to his shenanigans with his droogs.

[@phillipphinney206]

No conversation is complete without giving homage to Malcolm's performance in the film "IF" and directed by the great Lindsay Anderson in 1969. Malcom largely got the role of Alex in Clockwork after Kubrick saw him in that film.

[@markcraine4213]

You’ve just reminded me of an amazing film 😀

[@jasonmccrank4981]

Malcolm is such a treasure.

[@alanberent4428]

Wearing Levi's and a tie. Classic!

[@joeharris3878]

I like McDowell in "Time After Time"

[@toddboughn5168]

My favorite time travel movie. And David Warner was brilliant as Jack the Ripper.

[@effdonahue6595]

And he sang a duet of Time after Time with Cyndi Lauper 🤓

[@mgtowvalues]

Completely after all these years to thank Malcolm McDowell for his absolute awakening me into another world, another way of being. For him to reach such indomitable heights so young must have been also a lesson in otherworldliness. At 59 years old, I was too young to watch that movie, and too old when I finished watching. So few moments can resonate so long and so powerfully in so many.

[@ChrisJKing-se4dp]

Caligula , Clockwork Orange , IF , Raging moon ,he was truly a new kind of original actor of my generation

[@francisthompson6470]

Don't forget gangster number 1

[@billhobbs7077]

thx for the lf reference doesn't get enough respect

[@MRJAZZCAT-wr2su]

Nice that you mentioned raging moon excellent sad and moving🎷

[@davehoward22]

Aces high

[@C64SX]

Wing Commander!

[@Talsedoom]

I just love that man! He was a total psycho back in the days, and was born for Caligula and Clockwork Orange.

[@resofactor]

Loved those movies. Malcolm really cracks me up in this interview.

[@Losrandir]

Seems like a reasonable guy. Very good actor.

[@SamLazier]

We need more full episodes. Please! 🙏 Also, greetings from Finland 🇫🇮

[@CoolCoyote]

he was very good in his movie. being too young, id never known it was him, i saw 'A Clockwork Orange' for the first time last year. like most people i didnt know quite what to make of it. so thats why you watch it again and again.

[@crazyman8472]

“You can get anything in America if you pay for it.” 🤑

[@franticproductions]

Wow, first time I've heard from Malcolm about these experiences, each movie was a 'masterpiece'. Extreme Shock comes to mind for both movies. Malcolm is an 'Epic', actor in everything he does, even in HBO's Entourage!

[@bababuyiekaban7942]

Malcolm is as crazy in real life as he’s playing a character in clock works orange 😂

[@effdonahue6595]

Eggy weggs! First I’m gonna smash em!

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

I remember many years ago standing in line to see Caligula at an art cinema in Fort Lauderdale with a friend of mine. We were probably 19 or 20 years old. It was the 9:30 pm showing. The 7pm showing was just letting out and if you know anything about South Florida, it's mostly old Jewish people. This little old Jewish lady came out and said to us, "You've never seen so much c--t in your life." And she was dead on.

[@m1lst3r89]

She obviously talks from experience.

[@diggerthegroundhog8799]

Clockwork Orange is my all-time fave movie of all time for hundreds of reasons.

[@PotentiallyAndy]

I had goosebumps when he read the dialog

[@llongone2]

Sometimes, a movie, an actor, a role comes out that is just so ahead of the curve, the Academy can't yet appreciate it...otherwise this man should have won for A Clockwork Orange.

[@gloriamontgomery6900]

I was an extra in a movie he made in my town here in the Pacific Northwest. I played a TV reporter ( I had no lines, I just stood there with a microphone )and had a brief conversation with him-he was very nice

[@salus1231]

Funny to note when he says about A Clockwork orange that 'it was so long ago' being 23 years from when this first aired and now we are almost 30 years on from this clip ! Time huh

[@Foldy435]

I was in Tower records in 88 when I was a 14 year old. I was flicking through CD's and I felt someone looking at me, turned around and it was Malcolm. He gave me a nod and a smile and walked off. Surreal.

[@Isi-1975]

This story makes no sense. Why was he looking at you? Were you looking at the Clockwork Orange OST? Are you sure it wasn't you looking at him? Or are you famous too?

[@BazookaToe]

"Well, well, well, well. If it isn't fat, stinking billygoat Billy-Boy in poison. How art thou, thou globby bottle of cheap, stinking chip-oil? Come and get one in the yarbles, if you have any yarbles, you eunuch jelly thou."

[@BeatlesCentricUniverse]

Let's get 'em, boys!

[@planetwisconsin9901]

Malcolm just kicks ass in his responses!

[@aisforapple2494]

Two of my all-time favorite films!

[@wonkothesane8691]

Malcolm McDowell is an absolute legend! He can do any role, from archangel to antichrist, just owns anything he does! I'd love to have a drink with him at a pub sometime!

[@georgecasden555]

Not to mention his excellent voiceover work on Warner Bros. Superman cartoons (Metallo).

[@wonkothesane8691]

@@georgecasden555: Now, you did it! You mentioned it! Lol 😂!

[@ChromeDestiny]

He's playing a grandpa on a Canadian sitcom now and still killing it.

[@johannahoneyman697]

I love Malcolm McDowell ❤

[@catgiles3268]

I’ve always loved Malcolm and his movies.

[@poppycock6572]

I saw Time After Time in the theater as a kid... loved that movie!!! David Warner was outstanding as Jack The Ripper.

[@richardscanlan3167]

I have a copy of that film - very good. And Warner kills it as The Ripper.

[@ROCKINGMAN]

A lovely guy, and a superb actor.

[@zilchnilton]

I always remember him from Blue Thunder...follow my leader

[@danabogue1804]

I wish he had asked him about the scene in a Clockwork Orange Where they held his eyes open with those metal instruments! That must have been excruciating to do for a movie!

[@melvert33]

I've seen an interview before about it and he said it was a horrible experience. He said the guy putting his eye drops in was an actual doctor and if he wasn't constantly putting on eye drops then his eyes would dry out and cause permanent damage. McDowell said the doctor kept asking him if his acting was OK and McDowell said forget that just keep putting the drops in so he doesn't go blind. He also said he got really angry about how long he had to do the scene and the equipment ended up scratching his cornea which caused him days of intense pain.

[@cgh7337]

I would love to hear more of Malcolm McDowell's behind the scenes stories of both CO & Caligula.

[@mgmarrow]

Love this guy!!! Awesome actor!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@allys744]

Malcolm’s John Gielgud impression is delightful 🤣✋ John sounds very proper and well spoken especially from his performance in “Arthur” so it’s funny to hear him swear

[@bluefish4999]

1971 had another of my favorite movies - Ken Russell's "The Devils." What a year for movies.

[@deinowolfhybridhero5101]

Few days ago Mr McDowell comes to my city (Turin - Italy) as special guest of TFF (Turin Film Festival). He spent a lot of lovely words for the baroque architecture, the museums and of course for the food. He's a very gentle and cultured man 👍

[@jundialhaqiqa9907]

This interview is hilarious

[@MrDogfish83]

I unwittingly chose A Clockwork Orange from the movie rental store for a first date. It turned out to be a last date as well!

[@ChatGPT1111]

That's a kick in the gulliver. So no 'in-out in-out' or malenky lullilub from the devotchka before spatchka eh then? Did you at least remain horrorshow droogies?

[@michaelsims1160]

It’s a great movie but not the rom com of the year.

[@dennisgannon]

Malcolm has did a lot of movies and must have a lot of great stories.

[@bobbykins]

Malcolm is currently staring in a CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), sitcom filmed in Newfoundland, called, "Son of a Critch", Tuesday evenings, 20:30h, EST.

[@danchaneyufosuapsaliencontact]

Love him!!

[@neilphelan145]

In my opinion Malcom is one of the greatest actors there ever was.

[@ShrimplyPibblesJr]

Nice to catch up on my high school years of Conan. Rarely got to stay up.

[@RawOlympia]

Our fave! And his classic Oh Lucky Man we see as well whenever the chance! ~ Cheers, molo & all that. ~

[@williammoses6460]

My brother and I went to a fine public school in Oxford in 1960. In ‘61 he went off to boarding school in the US and I joined him in ‘63. When “If” came out we watched it twice together and several times solo. “If” was a movie, a movie we wished we’d lived. Malcolm was brilliant. Some weird glitch makes it hard to get a copy of that movie.

[@lynnenolte1538]

Amazon prime

[@williammoses6460]

@@lynnenolte1538 Blessings on your house for three generations 🙏

[@lynnenolte1538]

My husband went to Stowe about then. I had him watch If and he said it was pretty realistic

[@thefreshlysquashedfly]

Love Malcolm 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

[@TheGreatAtario]

What a legend.

[@DrGaryGreen]

I saw Caligula at the Penthouse Theater in New York when it opens. What an experience.

[@piratepop7115]

Amazing interview to be honest

[@te9591]

Malcolm McDowell is a genius. Both great dark films.

[@rationalsatanist1811]

"CENTURIAN I HEARD YOU HAVE A THING FOR LITTLE BOYS" "NO SIRE BIG BOYS" LMFAO PMFSFL

[@timotbus]

Not often is Conan outclassed

[@UncompressedWAVmusic]

I remember seeing both these 2 movies when they first came out. Both movies were very sensational got a lot of media attention, shocking. Caligula was actually banned in British Columbia for awhile until they calmed down the government lady sensor who was completely opposed to Caligula.

[@SKRUBL0RD]

that Gielgud impression is insane!

[@Jazzman-bj9fq]

Damn, I wasn't ready for that Sir John Gielgud impression.

[@fieracarmen4713]

Ce actor mare!A jucat fenomenal în toate fimele,mai ales rolul Caligula și în rolul ofițerului SS din Trecătoarea!

[@trevorthetherapist4200]

I love that line where he says "A little of the old ultra-violence". I still use that one today.

[@thermonuclearcollider4418]

He says "old in-out in-out": that means "sexual intercourse" (or "rape", since it is used in two rape scenes) in the slang from "A Clockwork Orange".

[@vince1638]

Righty Right Right. Saw this Movie in 1971, N.Y.C. premier. Went with my cousin to see it, sat on the steps of St. Pats Cathedra afterward and drained a quart of vodka w O.J. Great memory. Kid from Oregon visiting Greenwich Village, unreal times.

[@mark-shane]

just remember McDowell was a credited writer of Caligula so cant complain that much

[@howlinhobbit]

the year after this interview aired Malcolm was the villain in “Tank Girl,” another cult classic and I really enjoy it, especially the silly bits.

[@frankfarago2825]

This was taped and aired 29 years ago? Why do we need to watch it now? Krazy.

[@joliecide]

McDowell is a boss. Awesome actor.

[@Charlie_Crown]

Caligula, that sure had a lot of the old 'in out in out' 🤣🤣🤣

[@Highice007]

I desperately want him to do an interview on his experiances on the set of Blue Thunder.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Catch ya later!

[@MagicCarpetRideShareProject]

Such a classic flick! I'm due for another viewing : )

[@624radicalham]

He also starred in Milk Money with Melanie Griffith the same year of this interview 1994. He deserved so much more than that.

[@djizzah]

clockwork orange big impact here in melbourne australia, started a movement of skinheads and so called sharpies, very influential and thought provoking

[@williamgatesenson]

"it was like ancient rome" 4:50 this was one of the funniest lines of the entire interview, and everyone from conan to the crowd got wooshed.

[@tyleranyways]

4:08 😭😭

[@420greatestqueen]

I love him these days in Son of a Critch

[@MithradatesVIEupator]

an hour into Caligula I was like wtf am I watching..

[@LouLope]

He did a good job in Blue Thunder also.

[@beatrixxxkiddo]

This man played as two of the most violent and insane people in cinema and hes incredibly charming irl

[@micahsean8664]

That's wild. I actually recognized him as Alex when he said howdy howdy howdy.

[@starcrib]

Hes fantastic - then and now !! ⬜️🦖⬜️!!

[@tomlewis4748]

If this is MM's personality (and he seems to have a good, interesting one), another great movie, Time After Time, just proves how good an actor he is, as his character there (H.G. Wells) could not be more different.

[@josephgriffin2388]

That was Mary Steinbergen's first film I believe.

[@tomlewis4748]

@@josephgriffin2388 Second. She was also terrific in Goin' South.

[@davidolden971]

@@josephgriffin2388 2nd. Her first feature was Goin’ South (1978)

[@xio3857]

@@josephgriffin2388 great cast with Alan Rickman.

[@davedalton1273]

I love Time After Time. It's my favorite time travel movie, although I suspect most people would prefer Back to the Future.

[@elainefell7943]

Also wonderful in the film If - they showed it to us in school & made us want to follow suit. :-)

[@Mark-lj1dj]

I would love for malcolm to do a commentary for A Clockwork Orange.

[@johnjacobs_______]

He did

[@tibetloga]

Caligula's horse that was made a Senator could always be counted on to vote "neigh" on every issue.

[@Alex-DeLarge]

2:55 I've still got it after all these years

[@bobspence5322]

you wouldnt believe this but back years ago malcolm mcdowell of all people would come to car shows in my native state of west virginia and he is one of the realest people you would ever meet.