Science fiction is a genre that rarely receives attention from the Oscars. It wasn’t until 1971’s *A Clockwork Orange* that a sci-fi film received a Best Picture nomination. While it ultimately lost to *The French Connection*, it remains a momentous feature from a decade filled with exceptional movies.
Based on Anthony Burgess’ 1962 novel, *A Clockwork Orange* is director Stanley Kubrick’s most controversial and possibly misunderstood work. It’s surprising that it was even nominated for not one, but four Academy Awards—the other three being for Best Director, Writing, and Film Editing.
Watching the film more than 50 years later, you’d be hard-pressed to fit it neatly within the science fiction genre. Still, it is set in an unspecified time in the future, taking then-contemporary socio-political issues and imagining how they might play out in Britain’s near future. This is partly why there are cultural cues and language influenced by the Soviet Union within Great Britain.
Despite the movie’s age, several *A Clockwork Orange* actors are still alive, and some remain active in the entertainment industry. The film developed a considerable cult following, and despite its many offensive scenes, it remains one of the most culturally significant films of the 1970s.
Often ranked among the greatest movies ever made, *A Clockwork Orange* is recognized for its provocative tone and avant-garde approach to showing its protagonist’s twisted point of view. What ultimately makes it such a fascinating watch is its main character.
You could call Alex (Malcolm McDowell) a protagonist, but audiences have a hard time cheering for him. He is the leader of a small gang that revels in “the ultra-violence,” carrying out cruel physical and sexual acts of torture on random victims. Alex only begins to see the consequences of his actions after undergoing brutal therapy in prison—a scene infamous for the painful mishaps endured by actor Malcolm McDowell during filming.
Stanley Kubrick is easily one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, and *A Clockwork Orange* stands as one of his most important works. Still, there’s no denying it is also his most controversial. The so-called hero of the story wantonly assaults women and beats up his friends—all while being enamored with the music of Ludwig van Beethoven.
The film unfolds in conflicting and compromising dualities—beautiful music scores horrific acts of violence, and Alex unleashes horrors to the tune of *Singin’ in the Rain*. Despite these disturbing juxtapositions, they are somehow easy to overlook, demonstrating the genius of Kubrick’s direction.
Nobody but Kubrick could take audiences on a ride through moral depravity while serenading them with beautiful music—and earn a Best Picture nomination for doing so.
https://www.looper.com/2017589/a-clockwork-orange-70s-movie-first-sci-fi-best-picture-nomination-oscars/