- Film Review
- Reviewed By David Parkinson
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4 out of 5
Clearly indebted to Jean Vigo's Zéro de Conduite, this striking story of schoolboy revolt was originally offered to Nicholas Ray in the hope that he would produce a British equivalent to his classic Rebel without a Cause. With its surrealistic elements, it was something of a departure for This Sporting Life director Lindsay Anderson, but he succeeds in both capturing the atmosphere and absurdities of public school life and investing this satire of class-ridden British society with plenty of venom. Malcolm McDowell gives a blistering performance in what is undoubtedly a key film in British cinema history.
Plot Summary
Satirical drama from British director Lindsay Anderson, starring Malcolm McDowell as Mick Travers, a rebellious sixth former at an authoritarian English public school. A student of revolution, he and his friends are seen as a subversive element by the teachers and "whips". Then, a particularly brutal caning triggers a violent showdown.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Mick Travers
- Malcolm McDowell
- Johnny
- David Wood
- Wallace
- Richard Warwick
- The Girl
- Christine Noonan
- Bobby Philips
- Rupert Webster
- Rowntree
- Robert Swann
- Denson
- Hugh Thomas
- Headmaster
- Peter Jeffrey
- Matron
- Mona Washbourne
- Mr Kemp, housemaster
- Arthur Lowe
- History master
- Graham Crowden
- Chaplain
- Geoffrey Chater
- Markland
- Charles Sturridge
Crew
- Director
- Lindsay Anderson
- Assistant Director
- Stephen Frears
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