Malcolm McDowell Shares His Stanley Kubrick Stories

Event host Malcolm McDowell discusses working with director Stanley Kubrick on "A Clockwork Orange" on November 7, 2012 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

[@tiffsaver]

"A Clockwork Orange" was intensely disturbing to me as a teenager, and even at the tender age of 68, it still is. It was perhaps McDowell's single greatest performance (in my opinion), and a tribute to Kubrick's lasting influence on modern cinema. It's was a freaking masterpiece, both timeless and ahead of its time.

[@richdiana3663]

Try reading Burgess' book, part genius, part psychopath.

[@ST-xg3gy]

Incredible tour de force.

[@masonhorsley1505]

What about Caligula?

[@ktongmm]

I'm 13 and it's my favorite movie of all time and it will never change

[@panterxbeats]

@@ktongmm lol trust me a lot is going to change

[@gatotsu2501]

McDowell not getting an Oscar for his performance in A Clockwork Orange is one of the worst acting snubs in the ceremony's history.

[@farerolobos9382]

O'Toole didn't get it for Lawrence either, so... nothing new under the sun.

[@brucemoyers1006]

Newman as Cool Hand Luke. These examples helped me form and maintain my opinion of the Academy. And it's damned poor.

[@mostafizmisu4339]

It's worse .... I think he wasn’t even nominated for Oscar. It tells you how stupid they are

[@andrewattenboroughtwothumb4697]

I agree

[@anubhavmishra8988]

@@mostafizmisu4339 it was all a Marlon Brando show

[@Psifonian2]

Met him a few years ago. A very down-to-earth, amiable fellow... but he can be quite menacing when he wants to be. Had a copy of the "Clockwork" poster I wanted signed, but I'd left it in my car. When I told him this, he gave me that Alex DeLarge glare and bellowed, "WELL GO GET IT!" He was joking, but it scared the shit out of me.

[@spacecat942]

OH MY GOD thats such a cool story omg:D

[@J85TELEVIZZLE]

What a world it would be if Stanley Kubrick was still with us! With out a doubt one of the greatest film makers to ever walk the earth!

[@ErizotDread]

True, but it's an opinion shared by a great many people, in and out of the film industry.

[@Johnconno]

You mean frightened arse-lickers who'd never tarnish the Kubrick industry. He was a cunt.

[@punisherfan644]

he was kind of an asshole. He basically took Stephen King's story, reimagined the whole thing and put his own name on the cover like he made the story himself.

[@hamza89868]

@@punisherfan644 Shinging was unknown book without a film.

[@52830645]

@@punisherfan644 Look, who's talking ! A bigger asshole

[@BrendanJSmith]

If Jack Nicholson, R. Lee Ermey, and Malcolm were all here together, then it would be the greatest thing in history.

[@FreakieFan]

why not throw Kirk Douglas in there

[@BrendanJSmith]

Lt. Col. Frank Slade Even better!

[@Johnconno]

They're all ball-washing bastards.

[@sloop3720]

Brendan Geier oh my God that would be amazing

[@chrisjames4297]

Dont forget Peter Sellers, or HAL

[@SomnathBhattacharjeewwe]

Kubrick was a messiah to cinema. He refurbished cinema unlike anyone. No one can dare to make a movie as good as Sir Stanley Kubrick

[@punisherfan644]

he was a great movie maker. but he was a horrible human being in alot of cases. He basically screwed over Stephen King's story and put HIS name on the Cover. Mr. King hated the movie for it and so did the guy who made a clock work orange novel. THe actress Shelley Duvall historically hated him for his cruel treatment of her.

[@punisherfan644]

now keep in mind he was a good movie maker but he was a fairly dickish dude.

[@ivana7431]

@@punisherfan644 dude just see this and change ur opinion about shelley duvall rudeness kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ25ZYiDh7F6n7s kubrick is a mad fucker that's why the shinning will be best horror movie ever made

[@khonshu456]

@@punisherfan644 hes a strict film maker so what thats why his movie is great

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@punisherfan644 None of that is true; and a filmmaker is NOT required to adhere to novel.

[@guitarofdestiny]

Malcolm is a legend. I could listen to him talk for hours. Actually I have, that's why I watch aco.

[@65g4]

I would have loved to have met Kubrick he was such an intelligent guy and amazing director

[@stewartbloomfield8035]

I worked for Stanley and he was amazing.stew fmj crew.

[@mt_gox]

@@stewartbloomfield8035 that's what you hang your hat on? that you worked "for" kubrick decades ago? NOBODY CARES

[@sivanthisiets]

i am a crazy fan of kubrcik!!! i have his every movies, interviews ,photographies and people talking about him videos .. the fact is i just want to see those things for the rest of my life.... :-) i live with kubrick memories eventually which he gave me when i first watched paths of glory!!!

[@winsomeslog8833]

Sivanthi Rajaa Do you have any KZbin links related to the movie "eyes wide shut" ??

[@Johnconno]

@Sivanthi. Have you soiled your undies yet?

[@User-xw6kd]

"Who cares about the critics anyway?" xD Exactly What matters is what the viewers and fellow directors think.

[@willbournerv2259]

*walks up to mic* Hi hi hi there, my little droogies

[@novaqne]

lmao

[@MidnightRain1997]

I literally read this with Alex's voice in my head.

[@detrogamus2619]

Welly welly welly welly welly welly welly well!

[@nicosmind3]

"Hey would you look what it says here. Stanley Kubrick. Director. Well how about some direction then?" Lol love that. Especially cause I think of Alex from the movie saying it and not Malcolm himself. No wonder he was picked. Young, brash. Etc. He's probably more Alex than he likes to admit

[@sumskater999]

It's a goddamn travesty that Malcolm MacDowell wasn't even NOMINATED for an Academy Award for that performance in "A Clockwork Orange".

[@ashikana21]

sumskater999 It did get a nomination for Best Picture however. 🍼

[@AudieHolland]

Considering the movie was banned in several countries for some time, it's logical. The Academy is a conservative institution so they wouldn't think of boosting the ticket sales for a much disputed movie. And really, the only time a Kubrick film actually won an Oscar was for the special effects in "2001: A Space Odyssey."

[@dave32566]

sumskater999 amen!

[@quentinbeguier2407]

TheRealCritique ok so you didn't see it.

[@quesondriac]

I think that if Kubrick was still alive, he would look at the explosion of 3D films and say "I am going to get it right". A perfect blend of story and technique and technology.

[@J85TELEVIZZLE]

So true!

[@sampathgunasena3781]

yes he will!!!!!!!

[@ABCSTD-tf4ku]

Sampath Prasad *Would

[@AudieHolland]

3D is not exactly a new film technology... In 1954, Alfred Hitchcock's "Dial M for Murder" was released in 3D even though at that time, the craze was fading. 3D was a gimmick. It has always been a gimmick. It will always be. Just like special effects, CGI etc., the only time 3D will be accepted is when filmmakers don't have to hype their movie saying "it's in 3D..." and it will only be accepted if the audience will say of a movie, fantastic movie! It was in 3D? Uh, sure, but I didn't really notice it.

[@vittoriostoraro]

Sorry, no. Thankfully 3D has proven to be, once again a fad. Kubrick would NOT had embraced 3D.

[@chopin65]

This is what you get when you have survived everything (including yourself) and done everything: Malcolm MacDowell!

[@cha5]

"Welly welly welly welly."

[@1bardh1]

There is no doubt that Kubrick is one of the (if not THE) best directors of all time. He is simply amazing. Every single one of his movies is legendary and unique. I would have loved to meet him. He is my biggest idol, and my favorite historical (yes, historical) person.

[@EzzieStone]

The funny thing is, during filming, Kubrick got closer with Malcolm than he had any other actor, but the only spoke twice afterwards.

[@michellesanctuary9089]

Malcolm McDowell, we would go to the *Nexus* with you in a heart beat.

[@llamalulu4255]

that movie is really something else. after watching the godfathers, pulp fiction, goodfellas, taxi driver, scarface, inception, and schindler’s list A clockwork orange had me in awe and in a state of unexplainable feeling of having witnessed something extremely profound beyond the likes of which I had ever experienced before

[@magorzatazapert9955]

Nice to hear Malcolm McDowell's opinion.

[@timmccaffrey1326]

It's a wonder old Malcolm McDowell can remember anything...he recently said he has been drunk for his whole career and can't remember many of his movies.....he's not alone there, neither can anyone else!

[@ManMan-bj8it]

It seems like they had a really nice friendship. To bad Kubrick just never talked to him after they finished.

[@antagonistlover]

How do you know that?

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

@@antagonistlover McDowell has talked about it in numerous interviews

[@sebastianalegria3401]

i think Malcolm McDowell after clockwork orange, he couldn't do another movie better than this

[@jerseyforhawks]

Keaton, Welles and Kubrick. The American great Directors.

[@emiliobello2538]

Many of us fans of Stanley Kubrick were shocked that Room 237 was not nominated for Best Documentary Feature. But what I am shocked is that A Clockwork Orange was nominated for Best Picture

[@BrendanJSmith]

I'm surprised that he didn't mention Kubrick's physical cruelty to him in the Ludovico Treatment scene with the metal clamps on his eyelids.

[@erenanidem3479]

and the almost-drown with the police beat up scene. I guess that physical injuries weren't somethin to care too much about at those times

[@Nile8765]

@@erenanidem3479 when i first saw that scene i was mind blown how long he was being drowned. Typically in horror movies, people will be submerged for like 10 seconds then "die" but he was under there for at least 1 minute (correct me if im wrong).

[@YashPal-gv2ul]

@@Nile8765 He Was Drwon Exactly 56 Seconds.

[@sangeovr]

Kubrick in elite group of directors? He's the greatest

[@jimmynorton1001]

Great speech Mr MacDowell

[@SymonSaysTV]

Focus is on the mic.

[@oedipamaas2067]

oh god kubrick would be so mad

[@iberdeber8248]

K

[@titanmoirangthem234]

Who kept the central dot at the fucking micccc!!! Need 108 more takes.

[@flamesofmordor]

I freaking miss him:(

[@delona6485]

He can't be mentioned the same as Ford, Coppala, Krasosawa, and other greats, he can be mentioned as the single greatest movie director above all!

[@uNANOtube]

He meant that as a joke, like when you call your best friend a douche, or when your father abandons you at a Walmart.........I need a hug

[@jkb81]

I'm surprised mm isn't fed up of talking about aco/Kubrick

[@ramzahnY]

If Malcom speaks, i'm all ears.

[@user-kj1pq6zh3x]

It's a crime that he wasn't even nominated

[@legomaniac101scarandfilthy9]

Malcolm McDowell will voice Steele in my animated movie

[@modsleix6]

No problem, glad I could help. I remember this film as well in the 80's. Every now and then they would air it on television as well. I think it's Daniel Stern (the other thief beside Joe Pesci in "Home Alone") who stars alongside Roy Scheider.

[@1bardh1]

About time there's a post abut Kubrick...

[@bertonorr8393]

Has McDowell ever shared a film with Hopkins, Anthony? I feel like this might be a mind blowing experience

[@feuersteinfilms6382]

Great story!

[@Miracle67]

Please, more!

[@joliecide]

Malcolm MacDowell is a boss.

[@barrycuda3769]

Why cant he share some Joseph Losey stories? And tell us what is was like working with Robert Shaw.

[@quiahjohnson5871]

This guy should lead the remnants of the United States Government.

[@jonathanalvarado8766]

I feel like McDowell doesn’t necessarily like Kubrick because of the stuff he went through during filming snd i feel like he’s forced to just go with it and say the filming was nonetheless a good one because in almost every interview wjth him, he adds a minor comment on kubrick about how he can be rude and such. HIDING FEELINGS.

[@unmixedunmastered2810]

He’s telling both sides, the good and the bad stuff regarding Kubrick, and obviously the bad stuff didn’t outweight the good.

[@LowenKM]

Might be just that 'edge' in his personality (and probably why Stanley chose him), but on other occasions McDowell has also been surprisingly critical of Kubrick. And even here, some of his compliments seem to come across a bit like 'throwing shade'. Like, "Stanley was considered by critics to be one of the greatest film directors" ... preceded by, "and who cares about critics anyway"!" ;-p

[@brandonhendrix7223]

I think the "critics" jab is dues to the fact that...well, what "critics" think is mostly crap anyway. Who cares what they think? But about Kubrick (and I say this being a huge fan of his), well, he was basically a prick. There's a reason you hear very few stories about how humble he was. That's why stories about him can be both about how funny and intelligent he was but also what a pompous jerk he could be too (basically like most artists, good or bad). Ha! So that's why stories about him can come off both complimentary and critical at the same time. Regardless, his movies are incredible.

[@Sebastianmelmothuk]

The Greatest Director of all time has to be British, something that Americans can never understand or be, a true Genius and a remarkable man.....Hollywood owns to Britain everything and Cinema owns everything to Actors such as Malcom Mcdowell

[@firstnamelastname-ye4rf]

Wasn't he born in brooklyn?

[@alexzappa1726]

He was, he moved to the UK in the 50s/60s

[@nelliesexual]

I heard from somewhere that Kubrick lead McDowell on and that after filming, Kubrick never spoke to him again. Is this not true?

[@nicholasjanke3476]

Clockwork Orange was perhaps the only social science fiction story you might say. It might also be termed as a bit of apocolyptic science fiction, being that it deals with the falling apart of law and order in civilization, and total corruption finally taking over.

[@MaskedMarvyl]

It's very ironic that Malcolm McDowell should be delivering this speech, considering that he called Kubrick "that son of a bitch!" , when asked by Kirk Douglas what he thought of Kubrick's torturing of him in Clockwork Orange.

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

Gene Kelly's favorite story 🤣

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Everyone gangsta until they hear "gee, Malc ..."

[@Stukov16]

When/where can we see the whole show?!?!?! Oscars, please!!!!!

[@kushalrijal9453]

Ultra Violence got old.

[@modsleix6]

I believe you're referring to the film "Blue Thunder"...

[@afonsolucas2219]

1000th like. I know you don't care. Great video.

[@IwatchesTehBBC]

when mcdowell ran off that list of directors i was like "nah, kubrick is better than them"

[@dioalfonso]

John Mulligan because you are and imbecil

[@kevshearer3245]

IwatchesTehBBC - he never even mentioned ridley scott or Francis coppola

[@oedipamaas2067]

whilst kubrick certainly made some wonderful and visionary film, he is not in the same league as bergman, felini or kurosawa who all contributed to the craft of film in a wave seminal directors, after the second world war

[@user-fo3yt1jq6n]

John Mulligan Kubrick managed to blend artistic aesthetics in an entertaining movie, he would never bore you, unlike Bergman or Tarkovsky

[@chemahefferan9653]

@Ben Hill Kubrick is the /mu/core of cinema while others like Tarkovzky are the post experimental free avant musique bands.

[@Robbie_S]

Nobody could ever become Kubrick as a Film maker because Kubrick made things from scratch and pain. One cannot act real emotions, it has to be real and raw without computer graphics.

[@flippert0]

Malcolm strikes me as the slightly more unhinged version of Anthony Hopkins.

[@ashb1212]

Omg Malcom would make the perfect Bond villain like just give him a white cat to stroke and that’s a look

[@stevdawizard392]

Of course it would be Malcolm McDowell telling stories

[@stevdawizard392]

@Simone Cuthbert not really didn't really care for clockwork actually

[@Carboxylated]

why cant hollywood grasp movie passion like kubrick....movies these days are an embarrassment to the human race. Independent and limited release movies are the ones with just a bit of magic to them...movies died with kubrick.

[@user-ws7ru9fx5v]

you can't say that. There are some genuine great directors today like Scorcese, Spielberg, Nolan, Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, David Fincher, Denis Villeneuve, Edgar wright, Wes Anderson, David Lynch, Ridley Scott, Mel Gibson, Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, Jordan Peele and Bong Jon Hoo. Even if you hate most of them, you can't argue that they're not a passionate director. Watch their interviews, talks, teaching, and bts - all of them have a great passion for movies. Take Nolan - whose willing to go shot an action scene of people jumping off an airplane into another plane using practical effects, that he quite literally did exactly what I just told you, up in the sky. Look at Jordan Peele and Bong Jon Hoo who've been catching people's audience nowadays by their spectacular films that ignite a lot of political conversations in an intellectual way. Take Villeneuve's film Enemy, who breaks the rule and use metaphors and a confusing plot to create an artistic, controversial film. Take Tarantino and Wes Anderson who each has their own style of movies that worked. Those can't be pulled off if you don't have a genuine passion for film making. But I would agree Kubrick is probably the best director of all-time. His passion could even drive him to take extreme measures such a forcing Malcolm to take a real eye surgery while watching a video, to even forcing the big round table used in Dr. Strangelove to be green, even if it's a black-and-white film. All for the sake of his artistic film. That's some next level dedication!

[@kshitijnikam]

omg moooooorreeee Please please !

[@skipgap]

Two modes of thought.

[@jsb08001]

Im singing in the rain! Just singing in the rain! kick.. kick

[@ghostwolf1435]

Viddy well little Alex Viddy Well

[@alfching2499]

He has become a typical American,From a man who was typically British,that’s what Living in a Nut Country does for you

[@triceratops7084]

John Ford is the one that can't be mentioned In the same sentence as Kubrick haha

[@flippert0]

"who cares about critics anyway?"

[@marksevel7696]

Bedways is rightways

[@guileniam]

Does McDowell like just talking about the same two movies all the time?

[@reinforcedpenisstem]

Not sure, but the demand never decreases for him to do so.

[@DingusKhan3434]

If his most well known performance is a clockwork orange, obviously he is going to talk about it a lot

[@6xtbirk]

2001: A Space Odyssey.....dat is all

[@Shhhsplain]

lol awkward no one laughed at his Heathrow line

[@MaskedMarvyl]

I know, with me it was K-Mart. (hug).

[@courier8365]

President John Henry Eden

[@Trainy2]

All the stories about Stanley Kubrick suggest he possibly had aspergers.

[@mgmbacklot]

good grief... thank god I like MGM musicals, so easy.. and lovely...

[@atharvk523]

Who cares about critics anyway..nice

[@erichaynes7502]

Alex was his greatest role, and nothing really of substance since. Weird.

[@acdcmoneytalks]

dude there is something called JOKE

[@99Filmo]

1ST VIEW!

[@davescheneker8057]

Z

[@911TVR]

Lost much of the English accent I see!

[@jaywolf7428]

Stanley Kubrick was not that 'great'. He was average.

[@jordanholstein8023]

Anytime there's a true visionary, someone always thinks it's cool to say they're not that great just to be different. An average director would be M. Night Shyamalan and that's a compliment to him.

[@cosmiclino2080]

+Jay Wolf why? looking forward to your breakdown

[@anwarnaieem4608]

hey mind your language

[@flassk7]

+Jordan Holstein Shyamalan is literally the worst director ever.

[@flassk7]

+Jay Wolf average after 1980 yes.