Clockwork Orange was an interesting film and definitely one I would not have watched had it not been for this class. The beginning of the film with the red splash and the panning out of Alex’s face created a suspenseful and eerie mood for the film. Continuing onto the rape scene with Billey Boy and a rather circus-like fighting scene to follow. The music for the fighting scene was not suspenseful or tense, but comedic and seemed like something Charlie Chaplin would dance to.
Alex rapes the author’s wife while singing “Dancing in the Rain.” However, after the rape, the same song as the opening is playing. Why at this moment does it play the same song? Alex listens to “Glorious Night” a classical musical piece by Beethoven, not something expected of such a character. The love for elegant music and his violent actions create the character Alex in the audiences’ minds as almost a split personality, which becomes relevant later in the film.
After Alex is “reformed” into being repulsed by violence, he wounds up being taken care of by the author whose home he had raided earlier. Nothing reminds the author of who Alex truly is until the musical cue of Alex humming “Dancing in the Rain.” Music both inside the film and accompaniments greatly influenced the outcome of the film.
I agree with you that music had great influence on the film. both Beethoven’s “glorious night” and the song “singing in the rain” were cheerful song that fulled with joy. unfortunately, Alex appreciated the music in the violent way.