CWO canvas

The Guardian has apparently uncovered an old letter from the 70s, in which Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones was hoping to play Alex in a Clockwork Orange.

alex delarge

 The full article is available here:

Somewhere in heaven there’s a cinema playing movies that never were, films that existed solely in a producer’s, an actor’s, a screenwriter’s imagination.

And when one day we make it through the pearly gates, past the pearly ticket booth and the pearly popcorn machine, one of the first films we’ll watch is the other Clockwork Orange. The one that starred, and was soundtracked by, some of the 60s’ biggest stars.

In a letter uncovered this week, we learn of the Clockwork Orange conceived back before Stanley Kubrick came on board and made his film with Malcolm McDowell. It reveals that Mick Jagger wanted to play the psychotic thug Alex, while the Beatles were interested in providing the soundtrack.

In the letter, executive producer Si Litvinoff tells John Schlesinger (Midnight Cowboy, Marathon Man), who was considering directing the movie: “After you’ve read the script and novel I’m sure you will see the incredible potential we all see in this project.

“This film should break ground in its language, cinematic style and soundtrack. [And] the Beatles love the project.”

It’s hard to fathom the Fab Four’s sunny tunes adapted to the ultraviolence of Anthony Burgess’ novel (or Kubrick’s later film). And of course the movie was never made - Schlesinger turned it down, saying the film’s extreme delinquency wasn’t “the sort of subject I particularly want to tackle”.

But still it’s thrilling - and horrifying - to imagine Mick Jagger prancing about in droog regalia, committing acts of heinous violence while Here Comes The Sun comes thundering out.

mick droog jagger

Maybe we can convince Mick, Paul and Ringo to develop a remake.

So what can we as horror fans say to this article? Certainly it sounds like it might be an equally strange and wonderful masterpiece that we would all grow to love, no doubt. It is equally likely that it would go down as a masterpiece for the sheer talent it signed. I for one would watch it and doubtless put it in my collection. But then again, my collection features Jason X and Hellraiser 8. Perhaps I am too easily bought. One thing is for sure, The Guardian has revealed quite an interesting fact for all of us to revel in.

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