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108-524: The Australian Classification Board (ACB, formerly known as the OFLC), a government institution, issues ratings for all movies and television shows exhibited, televised, sold, or hired in Australia. Material showing explicit, non-simulated sex that is pornographic in nature is rated X18+ . People under 18 may not buy, rent, exhibit, or view these films in cinemas. The exhibition or sale of these films to people under

216-411: A minor or an adult who would take offence if sold as an unrestricted publication. Publication classifications are most commonly applied to magazines with visual depictions of nudity or sexual activity, such as many men's magazines . It is uncommon for these ratings to appear on books, even those dealing with adult themes, except in the most controversial cases. [REDACTED] Unrestricted with

324-931: A Motorcycle , Last Summer , Last of the Mobile Hot Shots , Beyond the Valley of the Dolls , The Street Fighter , A Clockwork Orange , Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song , Fritz the Cat , Flesh Gordon , Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Comedy , Last Tango in Paris and The Evil Dead . Films that achieved critical and commercial success were later re-rated R after minor cuts, including Midnight Cowboy and A Clockwork Orange. The threat of an X rating also encouraged filmmakers to re-edit their films to achieve an R rating; one notable example of this

432-554: A festival or screening. The Commonwealth Film Censorship Board was created in 1917 to view, classify, and censor films imported from overseas. In the early years of the system there were 3 ratings: All ratings were advisory in nature and while distributors were required to display them on advertising, there were no restrictions on children's attendance. As such, films with adult ratings were still routinely censored. Customs Minister Don Chipp announced significant classification reform in 1970, including published decision registrars and

540-568: A film director he'd have been a General Chief of Staff of the US Forces. No matter what it is—even if it's a question of buying a shampoo it goes through him. He just likes total control." Technically, to achieve and convey the fantastic, dream-like quality of the story, he filmed with extreme wide-angle lenses such as the Kinoptik Tegea 9.8 mm for 35 mm Arriflex cameras. Filming took place between September 1970 and April 1971. During

648-411: A film is at odds with the scientifically accepted view that, even after deep hypnosis in a posthypnotic state, people cannot be made to do things which are at odds with their natures. The Scala Cinema Club went into receivership in 1993 after losing a legal battle following an unauthorised screening of the film. In the same year, Channel 4 broadcast Forbidden Fruit , a 27-minute documentary about

756-514: A job in return for his co-operation with his election campaign and public relations counter-offensive. As a sign of goodwill, the Minister brings in a stereo system playing Beethoven's Ninth. Alex then contemplates violence and has vivid thoughts of having sex with a woman in front of an approving crowd, thinking to himself, "I was cured, all right!" The film provided early roles for Steven Berkoff , David Prowse , and Carol Drinkwater , who appeared as

864-468: A parody of aversion therapy , which is a form of operant conditioning. Author Paul Duncan said: "Alex is the narrator so we see everything from his point of view, including his mental images. The implication is that all of the images, both real and imagined, are part of Alex's fantasies." Psychiatrist Aaron Stern, the former head of the MPAA rating board, believed that Alex represents man in his natural state,

972-499: A person under 15 without guidance because it is not a legally restricted category, when the impact of its material is higher than that of PG material. There is a confusion for people that comes from knowing the suited audience for PG , M and MA 15+ films and games due to their definitions that revolve around 15 years of age. The notes in the guidelines that come with the PG , M and MA ratings should be read like this: In February 2020,

1080-487: A police officer, Mr Alexander's attendant Julian, and a nurse, respectively. The film's central moral question is the definition of "goodness" and whether it makes sense to use aversion therapy to stop immoral behaviour. Stanley Kubrick, writing in Saturday Review , described the film: "A social satire dealing with the question of whether behavioural psychology and psychological conditioning are dangerous new weapons for

1188-574: A public forum, opposition leader Tony Abbott was asked a question about his views on the absence of an R 18+ rating for video games and whether he had any policies relating to the subject, saying, "if what happens with video games is not roughly analogous to what happens in other areas, that seems silly ... Instinctively I'm with you, and it's something I'd be happy to look at, if we are in Government." In December 2010, Attorney General Robert McClelland appeared to be moving on this issue following

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1296-535: A rating which recommended against Roman Catholics seeing the film. In 1982, the office abolished the "condemned" rating. Subsequently, films deemed to have unacceptable levels of sex and violence by the Conference of Bishops are rated O , "morally offensive". Although it was passed uncut for UK cinemas in December 1971, British authorities considered the sexual violence in the film to be extreme. In March 1972, during

1404-551: A small gang of thugs, Pete ( Michael Tarn ), Georgie ( James Marcus ), and Dim ( Warren Clarke ), whom he calls his droogs (from the Russian word друг, which is "friend", "buddy"). The film chronicles the horrific crime spree of his gang, his capture, and attempted rehabilitation via an experimental psychological conditioning technique (the "Ludovico Technique") promoted by the Minister of the Interior ( Anthony Sharp ). Alex narrates most of

1512-548: A telephone conversation, he says: "Recruiting brutal young roughs into the police; proposing debilitating and will-sapping techniques of conditioning. Oh, we've seen it all before in other countries; the thin end of the wedge! Before we know where we are, we shall have the full apparatus of totalitarianism ." On the other side, the Minister of the Interior (the Government) jails Mr Alexander (the Dissident Intellectual) on

1620-470: A test subject for the Minister of the Interior's new Ludovico technique , an experimental aversion therapy for rehabilitating criminals within two weeks. Alex is strapped to a chair, his eyes are clamped open, and he is injected with drugs. He is then forced to watch films of sex and violence, some of which are accompanied by the music of his favourite composer, Ludwig van Beethoven . Alex becomes nauseated by

1728-438: A totalitarian government to use to impose vast controls on its citizens and turn them into little more than robots." Similarly, on the production's call sheet, Kubrick wrote: "It is a story of the dubious redemption of a teenage delinquent by condition-reflex therapy. It is, at the same time, a running lecture on free-will." After aversion therapy, Alex behaves like a good member of society, though not through choice. His goodness

1836-656: A vagrant in the street, and a fight with a rival gang. They drive to the country home of writer Frank Alexander and trick his wife into letting them inside. They beat Alexander to the point of crippling him, and Alex violently rapes Alexander's wife while singing " Singin' in the Rain ". The next day, while absent from school, Alex is approached by his probation officer, P. R. Deltoid, who is aware of Alex's activities and cautions him. Alex's droogs express discontent with petty crime and want more equality and high-yield thefts, but Alex asserts his authority by attacking them. Later, Alex invades

1944-421: A warning that the film contained content for adults only. In response, the MPAA eventually agreed in 1990 to a new NC-17 rating that would be trademarked, and could only be applied by the MPAA itself. By trademarking the rating, the MPAA committed to defending an NC-17 film charged with violating obscenity laws . Australian Classification Board The Australian Classification Board ( ACB or CB )

2052-530: A warning, as unrestricted mature . In February 2020, the board proposed to remove the reference to 15 years for PG and M classifications and simply just refer to the severity of the material. This is due to a confusion that is caused by each of the categories citing to a 15-year-old, in addition to both the PG and M content not being recommended for persons under 15 years. The age reference created confusion for parents and guardians, creating some questions, such as why an M level film can still be accessed by

2160-551: Is a 1971 dystopian crime film adapted, produced, and directed by Stanley Kubrick , based on Anthony Burgess 's 1962 novel . It employs disturbing and violent themes to comment on psychiatry , juvenile delinquency , youth gangs, and other social, political, and economic subjects in a dystopian near-future Britain. Alex ( Malcolm McDowell ), the central character, is a charismatic, anti-social delinquent whose interests include classical music (especially that of Beethoven ), committing rape, theft, and "ultra-violence". He leads

2268-459: Is a cold, dystopian nightmare with a very dark sense of humor". Metacritic gives the film a score of 77 out of 100, based on reviews by 21 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The film was a box-office success, grossing $ 41 million in the United States and about $ 73 million overseas for a worldwide total of $ 114 million on a budget of $ 1.3 million. The film

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2376-507: Is able to effectively censor media by refusing classification and making the media illegal for hire, exhibition and importation to Australia. The classification system has several levels of "restricted" categories, prohibiting sale, exhibition or use of some materials to those who are under a prescribed age. Some films (those made for educational or training purposes, for instance) are exempt from classification under certain conditions. Film festivals and institutions such as Australian Centre for

2484-565: Is an Australian government statutory body responsible for the classification and censorship of films, television programmes, video games and publications for exhibition, sale or hire in Australia. The ACB was established in 1917 as the Commonwealth Film Censorship Board. In 1988 it was incorporated for administrative purposes into the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC), until its dissolution in 2006. Following

2592-419: Is in its context), sex (intercourse and references to sex), language (the level of coarse language), drug use (the use of, and references to, drugs) and nudity (the explicitness of nudity). Consumer advice appears with the classification symbol on products, packaging and in advertisements. Consumer advice is not given if the element in question would be acceptable at a lower classification. By August 2020,

2700-453: Is involuntary; he has become the titular clockwork orange—organic on the outside, mechanical on the inside. After Alex has undergone the Ludovico technique, the chaplain criticises his new attitude as false, arguing that true goodness must come from within. This leads to the theme of abusing liberties—personal, governmental, civil—by Alex, with two conflicting political forces, the Government and

2808-412: Is justified by the story-line or themes. The ACB decides what consumer advice accompanies each classification. They indicate the elements in films and computer games which caused the classification and help consumers make choices about what they read, view or play. There are six classifiable elements for films: themes (rape, suicide, racism, etc.), violence (the level of violence and how threatening it

2916-569: Is little difference between the two. Kubrick stated: "The Minister, played by Anthony Sharp, is clearly a figure of the Right. The writer, Patrick Magee, is a lunatic of the Left... They differ only in their dogma. Their means and ends are hardly distinguishable." Kubrick's film is relatively faithful to the Burgess novel, omitting only the final, positive chapter, in which Alex matures and outgrows sociopathy. While

3024-526: Is not suggesting that the new PG-13 rating would be applied retrospectively, but rather prospectively, as was the case when the MA 15+ category was initiated and when the R 18+ was adopted for video games. The ACB is also not planning to use the PG-13 title for the new classification category, but a title that does not reference any age, such as YP for "young person" (or, likely, T for "teenager"). The ACB considers

3132-578: Is present" and from 1970 to 1982 it was redefined as meaning "Suitable for those aged 18 and over". The X certificate was replaced in November 1982 by the 18 certificate . Sometimes the rating of a film has changed significantly over time. For example, the French film Jules and Jim received an X rating in 1962 that was reduced to a PG (Parental Guidance) rating in 1991. In some cases, films with extreme political content received an X rating. Battleship Potemkin

3240-415: Is pretentious and nasty rubbish for sick minds who do not mind jazzed-up images and incoherent sound." John Simon noted that the novel's most ambitious effects were based on language and the alienating effect of the narrator's Nadsat slang, making it a poor choice for a film. Concurring with some of Kael's criticisms about the depiction of Alex's victims, Simon noted that the character of Mr Alexander, who

3348-615: Is regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Film classification also normally applies to Internet streaming services. In January 2019, for the first time, Netflix was given the go-ahead to self-regulate film and television classification on its streaming platform, allowing the company to rank content between G and R 18+ . The classifications below are unrestricted and may suggest parental advisory , but do not otherwise impose any legal restrictions on access to or distribution of material. By contrast,

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3456-425: Is shocked to find they are his former droogs Dim and Georgie. They drive him to the countryside, beat him, and nearly drown him before abandoning him. Alex barely makes it to the doorstep of a nearby home before collapsing. Alex wakes up to find himself in the home of Mr Alexander, who is now using a wheelchair. Alexander does not recognise Alex from the previous attack, but knows of him and the Ludovico technique from

3564-607: The Australian Classification Review Board . The ACB now operates under the Commonwealth Classification Act 1995 . The ACB is made up of a director, a deputy director, and three other board members, appointed by the government for three- or four-year terms, and temporary board members. The ACB is located in Sydney. The ACB does not directly censor material by ordering cuts or changes. However, it

3672-519: The R 18+ classification for video games; however, NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith abstained from the vote. The Home Affairs Minister, Brendan O'Connor , said the federal government would over-ride NSW and implement the R 18+ rating regardless of its decision and would be officially available before the end of 2011. On 10 August the NSW Attorney General agreed on the R 18+ ; thus, the rating would be accepted and available to all states before

3780-508: The 1960s, before Kubrick got involved on the project. According to 225 Magazine , Screenplay writer Terry Southern had written a first script for the film with specifically The Beatles in mind for the main cast, before the film's executive producer Si Litvinoff sent a letter to its prospective director John Schlesinger in February 1968, attaching a petition signed by Jagger as well as all four Beatles requesting Alex to be played by Jagger and

3888-601: The ACB added another category for video games related to microtransactions , with any game including them listing in-game purchases alongside these other themes. The ACB also classifies material submitted by the police, the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Australian Communications and Media Authority . The board does not classify live performances, audio CDs and television shows. Television

3996-457: The Dissidents, both manipulating Alex purely for their own political ends. The story portrays the "conservative" and "leftist" parties as equally worthy of criticism. The writer Frank Alexander, a victim of Alex and his gang, wants revenge against Alex and sees him as a means of definitively turning the populace against the incumbent government and its new regime. He fears the new government and, in

4104-411: The Minister asserts that the Ludovico technique will cut crime and alleviate crowding in prisons. Alex is released from prison, only to find that the police have sold his possessions to provide compensation to his victims and his parents have let out his room. Alex encounters an elderly vagrant whom he attacked years earlier, and the vagrant and his friends attack him. Alex is saved by two policemen but

4212-494: The Moving Image (ACMI) may apply to the ACB for an exemption from classification for the purpose of screening at a particular film festival or event. If the ACB believes an unclassified work, in their estimation, would receive an X 18+ classification if it were to be classified they would not grant an exemption for public screening, as an X 18+ cannot be exhibited. The ACB may require film festivals to have age-restricted entrance to

4320-455: The Rain ' on the trumpet. He is kicked off the stage." In the United States, A Clockwork Orange was given an X rating in its original release in 1972. Later, Kubrick replaced approximately 30 seconds of sexually explicit footage from two scenes with less explicit action to obtain an R rating re-release later in 1972. Because of the explicit sex and violence, The National Catholic Office for Motion Pictures rated it C ("condemned"),

4428-601: The X rating was given to a film by the Motion Picture Association of America (now the Motion Picture Association ) if submitted to it, or due to its non-trademarked status, it could be self-applied to a film by a distributor that knew beforehand that its film contained content unsuitable for minors. From the late 1960s to about the mid-1980s , many mainstream films were released with an X rating, such as Midnight Cowboy , Medium Cool , The Girl on

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4536-471: The adult content. Some even started using multiple X's (i.e. XX, XXX, etc.) to give the impression that their film contained more graphic sexual content than the simple X rating. In some cases, the X ratings were applied by reviewers or film scholars, e.g. William Rotsler , who wrote "The XXX-rating is for hardcore , the XX-rating is for softcore , and an X-rating is for comparatively cool films." Nothing beyond

4644-635: The age of 18 years is a criminal offence carrying a maximum fine of $ 5,500. Films classified as X18+ are forbidden from being sold or rented anywhere in the six states of Australia . They are legally available to be sold or hired in the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory . Importing X18+ material from these territories to any of the Australian states is legal, as the constitution forbids any restrictions on trade between

4752-436: The artistic qualities of a movie to not count it as "pornographic". Movies with an X rating may only be shown in specific theaters; they bear special taxes and tax rates, including a 33% tax on revenue. In 2000, some conservative associations sued the government for granting the movie Baise-moi ( Fuck me ), which contained graphic, realistic scenes of sex and violence, a non-X classification. The Council of State ruled that

4860-479: The basis that the R 18+ rating did not apply to video games at the time. This was the subject of complaint in the gaming community, who argued that there is no reason why adults should be prevented from seeing content in games that they could see in a film. One of the main opponents to the introduction of an R 18+ rating for video games was the former South Australian Attorney-General, Michael Atkinson , who vetoed every attempt to include one. On 11 August 2010, at

4968-551: The board had suggested the adoption of a PG-13 -type classification category, which is a rating aimed at young teens (between PG and M ), that addresses the mild+ impact level material. Its adoption was suggested because many films in recent years surpass what conforms to the PG rating and are, consequentially, pushed up into an M ("moderate impact") rating category due to their dark themes and peril, despite being films aimed at younger teens. The mild+ category, if introduced, could excel

5076-409: The book. Burgess reports in his autobiography You've Had Your Time  (1990) that he and Kubrick at first enjoyed a good relationship, each holding similar philosophical and political views and each very interested in literature, cinema, music, and Napoleon Bonaparte. Burgess's novel Napoleon Symphony (1974) was dedicated to Kubrick. Their relationship soured when Kubrick left Burgess to defend

5184-529: The classifications below are legally restricted , as explicitly indicated by the black banner at the bottom of the classification label. It is illegal to sell or exhibit material with these classifications to anyone younger than the stated minimum age. Publications such as books and magazines (though they would also include other printed media such as calendars, cards and catalogues) are required to be classified if they contain depictions or descriptions of sexuality, drugs, nudity or violence that are unsuitable for

5292-656: The consumer advice M (Mature) The restricted publications are for adults and they are not to be sold to people under 18 (and in Queensland under state law). They have content, such as nudity or explicit sexual content, that could offend some sections of the adult community. The restricted categories are subject to various restrictions in different states; for example, one or both categories may only be sold in adults-only premises in certain states. For this reason, some adult magazines are published in two editions in Australia, or just one edited edition which can be sold anywhere with

5400-570: The content should be restricted only to persons over the age of 18. A separate classification system was introduced in 1994 for computer and video games. Despite its use of similar ratings names, these were backed by a distinct and stricter set of guidelines. The OFLC Annual Report for 1993-94 cited ministerial concern that "games, because of the “interactive” nature, may have greater impact, and therefore greater potential for harm or detriment, on young minds than film or videotape". The 4 ratings were: In 2005, video and computer games became subject to

5508-494: The costs of video game developers as they seek to obtain ratings for their products that are distributed digitally online. The board operates on a procedure that primarily involves decision-making . The members must communicate their views clearly and appreciate the views of others. Board members would be exposed to a wide range of material, including content that is confronting and offensive. Every film and computer game has to be classified before it can be legally made available to

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5616-471: The defence, told the court that "the link between this crime and sensational literature, particularly A Clockwork Orange , is established beyond reasonable doubt". The press also blamed the film for a rape in which the attackers sang " Singin' in the Rain " as "Singin' in the Rape". Christiane Kubrick , the director's wife, has said that the family received threats and had protesters outside their home. The film

5724-458: The end of 2011. As of 1 January 2013, the R 18+ rating has been officially implemented for video games although it is apparently not being used to full effect as many games are still being refused classification . The first game to be released with an R 18+ rating was Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus . The game Saints Row IV became the first game to be refused classification under the new standard on 25 June 2013. State of Decay became

5832-661: The excuse of his endangering Alex (the People), rather than the government's totalitarian regime (described by Mr Alexander). It is unclear whether he has been harmed; however, the Minister tells Alex that the writer has been denied the ability to write and produce "subversive" material that is critical of the incumbent government and meant to provoke political unrest. The film critiques the behaviourism or "behavioural psychology" propounded by psychologists John B. Watson and B. F. Skinner . Burgess disapproved of behaviourism, calling Skinner's book Beyond Freedom and Dignity (1971) "one of

5940-419: The film ends with Alex being offered an open-ended government job, implying he remains a sociopath at heart, the novel ends with Alex's positive change in character. This plot discrepancy occurred because Kubrick based his screenplay on the novel's American edition, in which the final chapter had been deleted on the insistence of its American publisher. He claimed not to have read the complete, original version of

6048-472: The film from accusations of glorifying violence. A lapsed Catholic , Burgess tried many times to explain the Christian moral points of the story to outraged Christian organisations and to defend it against newspaper accusations that it supported fascist dogma. He also went to receive awards given to Kubrick on his behalf. He was in no way involved in the production of the film. The only profit he made directly from

6156-603: The film in Nadsat , a fractured adolescent slang composed of Slavic languages (especially Russian), English, and Cockney rhyming slang . The film premiered in New York City on 19 December 1971 and was released in the United Kingdom on 13 January 1972. The film was met with polarised reviews from critics and was controversial due to its depictions of graphic violence. After it was cited as having inspired copycat acts of violence,

6264-415: The film was perceived by some as Communist (as Michel Ciment pointed out in an interview with Kubrick) due to its slight ties to Russian culture. The teenage slang has a heavily Russian influence, as in the novel; Burgess explains the slang as being, in part, intended to draw a reader into the world of the book's characters and to prevent the book from becoming outdated. There is some evidence to suggest that

6372-605: The film was projected to star the rock band The Rolling Stones , with the band's lead singer Mick Jagger expressing interest in playing the lead role of Alex, and British filmmaker Ken Russell attached to direct. According to film historian William K. Everson while hosting a 1972 Camera Three interview with Burgess and McDowell and the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, both The Rolling Stones and The Beatles were alternatively considered to play Alex and his droogs at various times throughout

6480-468: The film was the initial $ 500 that had been given to him for the rights to the adaptation. Burgess's own stage adaptation of the novel, A Clockwork Orange: A Play with Music (1984), contains a direct reference to Kubrick. In the final moment of the play Alex joins in a song with the other characters. In the script's stage directions it states that while this happens: "A man bearded like Stanley Kubrick comes on playing, in exquisite counterpoint, ' Singin' in

6588-472: The film was withdrawn from British cinemas at Kubrick's behest, and it was also banned in several other countries. In the years following, the film underwent a critical re-evaluation and gained a cult following . It received several awards and nominations, with four nominations at the 44th Academy Awards , including Best Picture . In the British Film Institute 's 2012 Sight & Sound polls of

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6696-641: The film won the New York Film Critics Award , he called it "a brilliant and dangerous work, but it is dangerous in a way that brilliant things sometimes are". The film also had notable detractors. Film critic Stanley Kauffmann commented, "Inexplicably, the script leaves out Burgess' reference to the title". Roger Ebert gave A Clockwork Orange two stars out of four, calling it an "ideological mess". In her New Yorker review titled "Stanley Strangelove", Pauline Kael called it pornographic because of how it dehumanised Alex's victims while highlighting

6804-540: The film years after first viewing it, declaring on his program At the Movies in 1987 that while he still thought the film had "all head and no heart", he felt Kubrick's detachments from the violence more so than he did in the first viewing. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , the film holds an approval rating of 86% based on 83 reviews, with an average rating of 8.8/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Disturbing and thought-provoking, A Clockwork Orange

6912-439: The film's controversial reputation likely stemmed from the fact that it was released during a time when fear of teenage delinquency was high. Adam Nayman of The Ringer wrote that the film's themes of delinquency, corrupt power structures and dehumanisation are relevant in today's society. Simon Braund of Empire praised the "dazzling visual style" and McDowell's "simply astonishing" portrayal of Alex. Roger Ebert softened on

7020-488: The film's soundtrack to be penned by The Beatles. However, this never came to fruition due to problems with the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), and the rights ultimately fell to Kubrick. McDowell was chosen for the role of Alex after Kubrick saw him in the film if.... (1968). When asking why he was picked for the role, Kubrick told him: "You can exude intelligence on the screen." He also helped Kubrick on

7128-410: The filming of the Ludovico technique scene, McDowell scratched a cornea and was temporarily blinded. The doctor standing next to him in the scene, dropping saline solution into Alex's forced-open eyes, was a real physician present to prevent the actor's eyes from drying. McDowell also cracked some ribs filming the humiliation stage show. A unique special effect technique was used when Alex jumps out of

7236-401: The films and, fearing the technique will make him sick upon hearing Beethoven, begs for an end to the treatment. Two weeks later, the Minister demonstrates Alex's rehabilitation to a gathering of officials. Alex is unable to fight back against an actor who taunts and attacks him and becomes ill upon seeing a topless woman. The prison chaplain complains that Alex has been robbed of his free will;

7344-431: The home of a wealthy " cat-lady " and bludgeons her with a phallic sculpture while his droogs remain outside. On hearing sirens, Alex tries to flee, but Dim smashes a bottle in his face, stunning Alex and leaving him to be arrested. Deltoid brings word that the woman has died of her injuries, and Alex is convicted of murder and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Two years into the sentence, Alex eagerly takes up an offer to be

7452-581: The legislative changes enacted in the Commonwealth Classification Act 1995 , it became known as the Classification Board . The Department of Communications and the Arts provided administrative support to the ACB from 2006 until 2020, when it was merged into the 'mega department' of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications . Decisions made by the ACB may be reviewed by

7560-441: The mild impact level ( PG ), but not so as to require a mature perspective ( M classification) and it could be relevant for films with a more significant amount of action or fantasy violence. If the rating is implemented, the non-restricted classifications would read like this: This would mean the age restrictive numbers (15 and 18) would only be present for the legally-restricted categories of MA 15+ , R 18+ and X 18+ . The ACB

7668-412: The most dangerous books ever written". Although behaviourism's limitations were conceded by its principal founder, Watson, Skinner argued that behaviour modification —specifically, operant conditioning (learned behaviours via systematic reward-and-punishment techniques) rather than the "classical" Watsonian conditioning —is the key to an ideal society. The film's Ludovico technique is widely perceived as

7776-550: The movie should have been rated X. The decision was highly controversial, and some suggested changing the law under which it was rated 18. The original X certificate , replacing the H certificate , was issued between 1951 and 1982 by the British Board of Film Censors in the United Kingdom . It was introduced as a result of the Wheare Report on film censorship. From 1951 to 1970, it meant "For exhibition when no child under 16

7884-426: The name "Municipal Flat Block 18A, Linear North" alludes to socialist-style housing. When the new right-wing government takes power, the atmosphere is certainly more authoritarian than the anarchist air of the beginning. Kubrick's response to Ciment's question remained ambiguous as to what kind of society it is. Kubrick asserted that the film held comparisons between both ends of the political spectrum and that there

7992-420: The newspapers. He sees Alex as a political weapon and prepares to present him to his colleagues. While bathing, Alex breaks into "Singin' in the Rain", causing Alexander to realise that Alex was the person who assaulted his wife and him. With help from his colleagues, Alexander drugs Alex and locks him in an upstairs bedroom. He then plays Beethoven's Ninth Symphony loudly from the floor below. Unable to withstand

8100-417: The novel after having read it. Kubrick said: "I was excited by everything about it: the plot, the ideas, the characters, and, of course, the language. The story functions, of course, on several levels: political, sociological, philosophical, and, what's most important, on a dreamlike psychological-symbolic level." Kubrick wrote a screenplay faithful to the novel, saying: "I think whatever Burgess had to say about

8208-414: The novel prior to 1986 omit the final chapter. Kubrick called the missing chapter "an extra chapter" and claimed that he had not read the original version until he had virtually finished the screenplay, and that he had never seriously considered using it. In Kubrick's opinion – as in the opinion of other readers, including the original American editor – the final chapter was unconvincing and inconsistent with

8316-412: The novel until he had almost finished writing the screenplay, and that he never considered using it. The introduction to the 1996 edition of A Clockwork Orange says that Kubrick found the end of the original edition too blandly optimistic and unrealistic. Anthony Burgess sold the film rights of his novel for US$ 500 (equivalent to $ 5,000 in 2023), shortly after its publication in 1962. Originally,

8424-512: The present classification categories for publications to be redundant, complex, and inappropriate for the digital world. Therefore, the board has proposed the creation of the equivalent film and games classifications of M , R 18+ and X 18+ for publications, like: Video gaming censorship in Australia is considered to be one of the strictest in the Western world. Such controversial and noteworthy cases include: Many games were banned before 2011 on

8532-624: The public. Some publications also need to be classified. Failure to give classification (especially for unclassified material that is likely to be classified RC) is an implicit ban (except for exempt films, games, and publications). It is an offence "to display, demonstrate, sell, hire, publicly exhibit or advertise a film or computer game" without having it classified. Some films and documentaries (such as current affairs and those created for business, scientific and education purposes) are exempt from classification unless, if classified, they would be M or above. There are legal age restrictions for

8640-443: The ratings of MA 15+ and R 18+ . X 18+ is a special restriction rating for adult content. X 18+ is limited only to films, and the highest rating for video games remains R 18+ . Should a game contain content not suitable for or exceeding the boundaries of an R 18+ rating (often explicit sexual content or nudity), that game is usually either modified (censored) or, rarely, refused classification (banned) (an exception to this

8748-474: The release of telephone poll results conducted by the Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor, showing roughly 80% in support of an R 18+ classification. On 22 July 2011, at a meeting of state and territories' attorneys general, an agreement was reached for the introduction of an R 18+ classification. It was planned to introduce the rating towards the end of 2011. On 22 July 2011, a meeting of attorneys-general produced an in-principle agreement to introduce

8856-487: The requirement of cinemas to legally restrict attendees. This ushered in a new era of film classification rather than censorship, and was enacted in 1971. The new ratings introduced were: In 1984, the NRC rating was renamed PG, due to confusion from parents about whether its content was stronger than M. In 1993, The MA 15+ rating was introduced to flag content that was too strong for the M classification, but not so much so that

8964-502: The same classification ratings and restrictions as films (with the exception of the R 18+ and X 18+ ratings), in response to confusion by parents. Despite a line in the National Classification Code stating that "adults should be able to read, hear and see what they want", the adult R 18+ classification was not applied to video games in Australia until 1 January 2013. The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC)

9072-417: The second game to be refused classification less than 24 hours after the first ( Saints Row IV ) was banned. Both were refused classification on the grounds of "illicit or proscribed drug use related to incentives and rewards". Video games classified from 22 September 2024 containing "simulated gambling" will now be classified, at minimum, as R 18+. A Clockwork Orange (film) A Clockwork Orange

9180-425: The sickening pain, Alex attempts suicide by jumping out of the window. Alex survives the attempt and wakes up in hospital with multiple injuries. While being given a series of psychological tests, he finds that he no longer has aversions to violence and sex. The Minister arrives and apologises to Alex. He informs Alex that the government has had Mr Alexander institutionalised. He offers to take care of Alex and get him

9288-431: The simple X rating has ever been officially recognized by the MPAA. Because of the heavy use of the X rating by pornographers, it became associated largely with pornographic films, so that non-pornographic films given an X rating would have fewer theaters willing to book them and fewer venues for advertising. Many newspapers refused to advertise X-rated films. This led to a number of films being released unrated sometimes with

9396-448: The society is a socialist one, or perhaps a society evolving from a failed socialism into an authoritarian society. In the novel, streets have paintings of working men in the style of Russian socialist art, and the film shows a mural of socialist artwork with obscenities drawn on it. As Malcolm McDowell points out on the DVD commentary, Alex's residence was shot on failed municipal architecture and

9504-662: The soundtrack has two of Edward Elgar 's Pomp and Circumstance Marches . Kubrick wanted to use the Pink Floyd song " Atom Heart Mother " in the film, but they refused. Alex is fanatical about Ludwig van Beethoven in general and his Ninth Symphony in particular, and the soundtrack includes an electronic version specially arranged by Wendy Carlos of the Scherzo and other parts of the Symphony. The soundtrack contains more music by Rossini than by Beethoven. The fast-motion sex scene with

9612-529: The states and territories. Films may be shown in theaters in France only after classification by an administrative commission of the Ministry of Culture . In 1975, the X classification (officially: "pornographic or violence-inciting movies") was created for pornographic movies, or movies with successions of scenes of graphic violence. The commission has some leeway in classification; it may for instance take into account

9720-419: The story was said in the book, but I did invent a few useful narrative ideas and reshape some of the scenes." Kubrick based the script on the shortened US edition of the book, which omitted the final chapter. Kubrick was a perfectionist who researched meticulously, with thousands of photographs taken of potential locations, and many scene takes. He was so meticulous that McDowell stated: "If Kubrick hadn't been

9828-475: The sufferings of the protagonist. Kael noted the Billyboy's gang extended stripping of the woman they intended to rape, claiming it was offered for titillation. In a retrospective review in his reference book Halliwell's Film and Video Guide , Leslie Halliwell described it as "a repulsive film in which intellectuals have found acres of social and political meaning; the average judgement is likely to remain that it

9936-492: The trial of a 14-year-old boy accused of the manslaughter of a classmate, the prosecutor referred to A Clockwork Orange , suggesting that the film had a macabre relevance to the case. The film was linked to the murder of an elderly vagrant by a 16-year-old boy in Bletchley , Buckinghamshire, who pleaded guilty after telling police that friends had told him of the film "and the beating up of an old boy like this one". Roger Gray, for

10044-493: The two girls, the slow-motion fight between Alex and his Droogs, the fight with Billy Boy's gang, the drive to the writer's home ("playing 'hogs of the road'"), the invasion of the Cat Lady's home, and the scene in which Alex looks into the river and contemplates suicide before being approached by the beggar are all accompanied by Rossini's William Tell Overture or The Thieving Magpie Overture. On release, A Clockwork Orange

10152-606: The unconscious mind. Alex becomes "civilised" after receiving his Ludovico "cure" and the sickness in the aftermath Stern considered to be the "neurosis imposed by society". Kubrick told film critics Philip Strick and Penelope Houston : "Alex makes no attempt to deceive himself or the audience as to his total corruption or wickedness. He is the very personification of evil. On the other hand, he has winning qualities: his total candour, his wit, his intelligence, and his energy; these are attractive qualities and ones, I might add, which he shares with Richard III ." The society depicted in

10260-445: The uniform of Alex's gang, when he showed Kubrick the cricket whites he had. Kubrick asked him to put the box (jockstrap) not under but on top of the costume. The cinematic adaptation of A Clockwork Orange (1962) was not initially planned. Terry Southern gave Kubrick a copy of the novel, but, as he was developing a Napoleon Bonaparte -related project, Kubrick put it aside. Kubrick's wife, in an interview, said she had given Kubrick

10368-532: The window in a suicide attempt, showing the camera approaching the ground from Alex's point of view. This effect was achieved by dropping a Newman-Sinclair clockwork camera in a box, lens-first, from the third storey of the Corus Hotel . To Kubrick's surprise, the camera survived six takes. The main theme is an electronic arrangement of a short excerpt from Henry Purcell 's Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary , and

10476-453: The withdrawal of the film in Britain. It contains footage from A Clockwork Orange . It was difficult to see A Clockwork Orange in the United Kingdom for 27 years. It was only after Kubrick died in 1999 that the film was re-released theatrically, on VHS, and on DVD. On 4 July 2001, the uncut version premiered on Sky TV 's Sky Box Office , where it ran until mid-September. In Ireland, the film

10584-648: The world's greatest films, A Clockwork Orange was ranked 75th in the directors' poll and 235th in the critics' poll. In 2020, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". In a futuristic Britain, Alex DeLarge is the leader of a gang of "droogs": Georgie, Dim, and Pete. One night, after getting intoxicated, they engage in an evening of "ultra-violence", which includes beating

10692-505: Was also successful in the United Kingdom, playing for over a year at the Warner West End in London. After two years of release, the film had earned Warner Bros. rentals of $ 2.5 million in the United Kingdom and was the number three film for 1973 behind Live and Let Die and The Godfather . The film was the most popular film of 1972 in France with 7,611,745 admissions. The film

10800-414: Was banned on 10 April 1973. Warner Bros. decided against appealing the decision. Eventually, the film was passed uncut for cinema on 13 December 1999 and released on 17 March 2000. The re-release poster, a replica of the original British version, was rejected due to the words "ultra-violence" and "rape" in the tagline. Head censor Sheamus Smith explained his rejection to The Irish Times : "I believe that

10908-400: Was made for The Last of Us Part II , where the game was not censored despite containing nudity). The other classification categories ( G , PG and M ) are merely recommendations and they are not submitted to legal age restrictions. RC (banned) material cannot be sold, hired or distributed to any persons. A film or video game's context is crucial in determining whether a classifiable element

11016-498: Was met with mixed reviews. Vincent Canby of The New York Times praised the film: "McDowell is splendid as tomorrow's child, but it is always Mr. Kubrick's picture, which is even technically more interesting than 2001 . Among other devices, Mr. Kubrick constantly uses what I assume to be a wide-angle lens to distort space relationships within scenes, so that the disconnection between lives, and between people and environment, becomes an actual, literal fact." The following year, after

11124-512: Was re-released in North America in 1973 and earned $ 1.5 million in rentals. Burgess had mixed reception about the film adaptation of his novel, publicly saying he loved Malcolm McDowell and Michael Bates , and the use of music. He praised it as so "brilliant" that it might be dangerous. He was concerned that it lacked the novel's redemptive final chapter , an absence he blamed upon his American publisher and not Kubrick. All US editions of

11232-508: Was refused a certificate for "inflammatory subtitles and Bolshevik propaganda" in 1926, passed X in 1954, and finally rated PG in 1987. In the United States , the X rating was applied to a film that contained content judged unsuitable for children , such as extreme violence, strongly implied sex, and graphic language. When the MPAA film rating system began in North America on November 1, 1968,

11340-611: Was reorganised in 1994, and oversaw the ACB. In 2005 the OFLC was dissolved and supervision of the ACB transferred to the attorney-general's department . The current colour-coded classification markings for films and computer games were introduced in May 2005. In August 2014, the ACB introduced amendments to allow for the automated classification process employed by the International Age Rating Coalition . This new process reduces

11448-403: Was the 1987 action film RoboCop , which had to be edited eleven times before it could attain an R rating. Because the X rating was not trademarked, anybody could apply it to their films, including pornographers, as many began to do in the 1970s. As pornography began to become more popular and more legally and commercially tolerated, pornographers placed an X rating on their films to emphasize

11556-433: Was withdrawn from British release in 1973 by Warner Bros at the request of Kubrick. In response to allegations that the film was responsible for copycat violence Kubrick stated: To try and fasten any responsibility on art as the cause of life seems to me to put the case the wrong way around. Art consists of reshaping life, but it does not create life, nor cause life. Furthermore, to attribute powerful suggestive qualities to

11664-457: Was young and likeable in the novel, was played by Patrick Magee , "a very quirky and middle-aged actor who specialises in being repellent". Simon comments further that "Kubrick over-directs the basically excessive Magee until his eyes erupt like missiles from their silos and his face turns every shade of a Technicolor sunset". Over the years, A Clockwork Orange gained a status as a cult classic . For The Guardian , Philip French stated that

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