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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.

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Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

David Parkinson

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.

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7.4/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameMick TraversMalcolm McDowellJohnnyDavid WoodWallaceRichard WarwickThe GirlChristine NoonanBobby PhilipsRupert WebsterRowntreeRobert SwannDensonHugh ThomasHeadmasterPeter JeffreyMatronMona WashbourneMr Kemp, housemasterArthur LoweHistory masterGraham CrowdenChaplainGeoffrey ChaterMarklandCharles Sturridge

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Crew

rolenameDirectorLindsay AndersonAssistant directorStephen Frears

Details

Theatrical distributor

Paramount Film Service Ltd

Released on

2002-03-01

Languages

English | Latin

Guidance

Violence, swearing and nudity.

Available on

video, DVD and Blu-ray

Formats

Black and white

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