why is the film 'Clockwork orange' called so?

Question

i'm just about to watch this, also whats ur opinion of the film?

feck feck feck

Answer 1

Named after the book. Both very strange but worth seeing/reading.

Answer 2

'A Clockwork Orange' is based on the book of the same name by Anthony Burgess. The title of the book comes from a supposed old Cockney expression, but no one can really verify that. Also, according to Wikipedia; "Due to his time serving in the British Colonial Office in Malaya, Burgess thought that the phrase could be used punningly to refer to a mechanically responsive (clockwork) human (orang, Malay for 'person')." I've been interested in this book for awhile and I'm reaidng it. The movie is extremely graphic in a few parts, but you probably already know thta. Hope you enjoy it!

Answer 3

Burgess's book was titled a "Clockwork Orange" after a Cockney expression, "as clear a clockwork orange." Orang is the Malay word for person. The title to refers to making a mechanically responsive human being.

Answer 4

The title refers to the plight of the main character, he is a criminal and probably a psychopath and is given a special treatment to quel his criminal urges. The film kind of argues that to take away the spirit of a human being, even one with evil tendancies renders them as useful as a clockwork orange; and does anyone have the right to decide that should happen to another human being however "bad" they may be? It's based in a world of corruption and decent and is disturbing but interesting.
The main character has no point to his life in the end and as bad as he has been you cannot help but to feel sympathy for him. It raises a lot of interesting issues that are very relevant today (treatment of suspected terrorists for one). You will probably spot that a lot of bands got their names from this film/book too; Heaven 17 and Moloko to name just two. You will enjoy it and it will certainly get your grey cells going. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

The line in the book is 'As queer as a clockwork orange'. Meaning something unnatural. It's to express Alex's state of mind after going through the treatment

Answer 6

It's "A Clockwork Orange" meaning an orange that has mechanical components, like a watch or a clock. Anythink that's clockwork (mechanical) can be like a robot that works on gears and springs (like the elves and dinosaurs on some older amusement park rides) instead of on hydraulics and solenoid switches.

Answer 7

I'd go with darren C on this. And by 'queer' we are talking odd, strange, whacky which is what describes Alex's reaction to the 'corrective' treatment.
I remember being lobbied by some feminists before going into the cinema to see this film when it first came out. They were complaining about the rape scenes, but I still went in because I wanted to form my own opinions about it. Apparently, Stanley Kubrick insisted on it being banned from television during his lifetime. See the link below.

Answer 8

The answer is simple. An orange is always going to be an orange no matter what you do to it. Hence, they tried to tame a violent alex, but in the end he reverted back to his old self and the way he was. Just like clockwork for himself and like an orange. They won't change.

Answer 9

Anthony Burgess wrote the book & no one really knows what the devil he meant. Brilliant, though disturbing book (& tough to read at times, without a glossary). Kubrick's film is just as brilliant, & equally disturbing. Couple of scenes are tough to watch, but Malcolm McDowell is riveting. Probably his best work onscreen to date.

Answer 10

clockwork= something that you can control, mechanical.
orange=biological

A Clockwork Orange= something biological which you can control. eg the boy in the film