Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: A no-holds barred visual feast from Stanley Kubrick in this classic film adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ novel. Alex (Malcolm McDowell) is a young man in a not-so-futuristic England who loves ultra-violence, milk-plus and Beethoven. The violent exploits of his gang are shown in stark realism during the first part of the film. The second half of the film focuses on the law and society’s attempts to “rehabilitate” Alex via brilliant cynicism. Note: this film was originally rated “X” and is not meant for younger or sensitive viewers. Contains both graphic sexual imagery and violence.
Cat Cattle Call: In a pivotal moment in the film, Alex, at the urging of his fellow droogies, breaks into a health farm where an older woman (Miriam Karlin, listed only as Cat Lady) is staying alone. She is first seen in a large room doing stretching exercises on the floor surrounded by numerous cats.
She hears an insistent opening and closing of the letter slot at her front door and passes by several cats in the hallway to see what is going on.
Being smart enough not to open the door to Alex, who is pleading for help for a supposedly injured friend, she walks back to the exercise room and immediately phones the police.
Much to her surprise, Alex is standing in the room when she turns around. She faces up to him angrily, especially when he sets in motion her rocking penis sculpture.
Grabbing a small bust of Beethoven, the woman furiously lunges at Alex who uses the penis to keep her away from him. During this struggle the cats seems to have mysteriously disappeared from the room! But Alex eventually smashes the poor woman’s head in with the statue and stands, shocked, at what he has done. A tortoiseshell cat on the floor seems unaffected.
Alex races to the front door through more startled cats where he is met with yet another surprise.
Final Mewsings: Ultraviolence doesn’t interest cats. They’d rather go to the Milk Bar.
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