The classic improvised moment in Stanley Kubrick’s ‘A Clockwork Orange’
It was rare for Stanley Kubrick to let his actors improvise, and the near-tyrannical control he had over the production of his movies gave him quite a controversial reputation. However, Kubrick wasn’t exactly a close-minded figure, judging by the content of his films. Thus, on rare occasions, ideas put forward by his actors actually made it into his films.
One of the best examples is his 1971 film A Clockwork Orange, based on Anthony Burgess’ novel of the same name. It was hugely controversial upon its release due to the sheer amount of violence and sexual scenes, all of which are presented in an incredibly bizarre fashion. From death by a giant penis sculpture to a sped-up threesome set to classical music, A Clockwork Orange is a truly surreal experience that is equally loved as it is hated.
The movie follows Alex DeLarge, played by Malcolm McDowell, a young man with an incessant need for violence, whether that be in the form of torture, rape, murder or intimidation. He adores Beethoven and dresses in a white uniform that includes a codpiece and a black tophat.
Alex is a highly recognisable character who exerts an uneasy sense of charisma as he carries out his violent acts, only focusing on the joy they bring him. One of the most horrifying scenes, epitomising his character’s personality, is the ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ break-in, which sees Alex and his droogs attack a couple in their home before McDowell’s character rapes the wife. As he tortures his victim, he sings the iconic Gene Kelly track while dancing around. It is a highly unsettling choice, one which Kubrick and McDowell came up with together.
While filming the scene, which did not include any mention of a musical performance, the cast and crew were struggling to get the break-in scene right. In an interview with the New York Post, McDowell called the original idea “so lame,” adding, “On the fifth day, I was getting bored. Stanley said, ‘Can you dance?’”
He added, “I improvised ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ because it was the only song I sort of knew half the lyrics to — and because it’s the most euphoric song in film history. Stanley said, ‘Great.’ We got in his car and bought the rights to use the song for $10,000. It took things into a surreal place.”
The result is one of the most strange and uncomfortable moments in Kubrick’s oeuvre, with McDowell full of enthusiasm as he jumps around the house singing the tune while taping up the victim’s mouth to stop her screaming.
However, in the same interview, he revealed that Kelly was not happy with the fact his song had ended up soundtracking a brutal rape scene – which is very understandable. “A few years later, on my first trip to Hollywood, I was introduced to Gene Kelly. He turned his back to me. I don’t think he was pleased about this movie at all,” he said.
The scene is undoubtedly hard to watch, and it has been both praised and criticised over the years. Kubrick and McDowell’s improvised moment allowed the extent of Alex’s enjoyment when engaging in extreme violence to be communicated to the audience. He is truly out of touch with reality, so much so that he manages to turn a delightful song into a sinister anthem.
