If.... Masters of Cinema 1968

I saw this movie when it first came out, and was amazed. So I was pleased to get this Criterion Collection DVD, to savor the movie again, and find out what some of the things I missed when I saw it, being young, and to see if some of the questions I had were answered.Probably, too many will have no idea of the British school system to understand just how oppressive the system was for public school. And this showed the middle class of Britain, not the upper class. Students would go on to be military officers, etc. And there, public school is a different concept than in America.The movie is an indictment of the class system in Britain, and in Disc 1, with the commentary, most of it is how Lindsey Anderson set about showing that indictment. Disc 2 is a bit light on material, but gives some more background from those involved. The film is mainly in color, but there are segments of black and white. Probably the initial reason was the lighting the entire chapel for color filming was beyond their budget. But that also led to other portions being shot in B&W, as it simply filmed better and portrayed things better. But those were more arbitrary. Due to commercial considerations, too much B&W would have been a negative.This movie has a lot of homosexual overtones, but not sexuality. It is an all boys school, where discipline is ruthless, and the 'overlords/whips' have power they can exercise like no other. When Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell) is beaten, it is for insolence, not for what he actually did. And after the severe beating, he shakes hands with the sadist who beat him, thanking him for what he did. But that beating triggers the action that results in the climax of the movie.The movie on one level is timeless. But on another level, if one was ignorant of how the class system worked in Britain, one my not have great regard for the movie.The movie was also released about the same time as Barbarella, and probably more will remember the opening of that movie than the end of this movie.This movie is not simply about a small number of school kids that rebel against the system. It is much deeper than that. When a student first gets to that school, they are considered scum and as they are there longer, they work their way into more power, and the ability to treat others beneath them poorly. In an early scene, one of the whips tells the newer student to go and warm the toilet seat for him.

While I echo the thoughts expressed by other reviewers regarding the British class system of it's era, what I found most intriguing about "If...." was how much it seemed like a forerunner for so many later films and, unfortunately, events. The most obvious comparison is McDowell's breakthrough role in "A Clockwork Orange". It's backdrop of youth going off the rails engaging in wanton violence can be almost linearly traced back to the last third of "If....". It's as if Mick Travis graduated from boarding school and began terrorizing the London of "Orange's" not-too-distant future. In both films, hapless authorities fail to understand how the system is complicit in creating such monsters and miss entirely how quickly society has changed around them. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Kubrick's casting decision was influenced by McDowell's earlier performance.As I watched, I kept thinking (and this is really gold plating the analogy, but bare with me) that this was the "Citizen Kane" of youth violence movies in how it laid the conceptual groundwork for later films . As in "A Clockwork Orange", shades of "If...." show up in "Natural Born Killers" and certainly "Heathers", with it's darkly comedic take on American High Schools of a later era.Compared with 1968 movie-goers, more modern audiences may view the whole school shooting plotline as a bit too real - snatched from the headlines as opposed to a fantasy take on fed-up students rebelling against the absurdities of a rigid class system, crypto fascist hall monitor types, and the struggles of adolescence. However, I think "If...." stands the test of time in it's portrayal of Mick Travis as the "everyman" and his buddies pushed to the edge. Joined by Mick's girlfriend, who in the climax of the film appears as a proto-Patty Hearst standing on the roof clutching an automatic rifle, the foursome lay waste indiscriminately to oppressors and bystanders alike while viewers are left to ponder the ending after an abrupt cut. The next 50 years of movies and events still has us wondering.

Positive reviewers are impressed with the messages in this movie, but I find them adolescent and obvious. English public schools are nasty; unchecked personal power is corrupting; high school kids are angry and alienated.Garden-variety attacks on systems of oppression are easy and predictable. American filmmakers like to condemn racism, especially morally black and white manifestations such as slavery and legalized segregation. It makes White audiences feel good and sells tickets. British filmmakers like to condemn the class system. I suppose it makes middle class audiences feel good and sells tickets. "If...." may have been a groundbreaking portrait of the evils of the class system, but the evils of the class system were discovered long before the 1960s. In that regard, it's well-worn territory. The same goes for alienated youth.The theme of power corrupts can be a compelling subject if we see how it happens. In "If...." the corruption has already happened, and the villains are mostly well-acted cardboard characters. The head of the school, however, is a refreshingly unusual take on the theme.What saves the movie from a rating of one or two stars is the fact that as social satire/condemnation, it's more creative than most. Like most positive reviewers, I'm impressed by Malcom McDowell's intense and compelling acting. I like a lot of the quirks, large and small. Many reviewers hate the shifts from color to black and white, but I think the way it challenges our expectations of a feature movie fits the theme of youthful rebellion. More fundamentally, I enjoy the sequences where fantasy and reality meld together.

When I first learnt of public schools at the age of about twelve in the mid 1980s, I just couldn’t believe a small number of boys of my age were going to have such an education. I was shocked and stunned and I hated and resented the whole idea of it. A rigid class system dividing the entire education system which you cannot change as you too enter it. I did not want to believe and I just could not believe such schools were going to continue for my generation too. Just as they had done so for countless generations of boys before us. I simply couldn’t understand why all the parents and all the adults wanted them to continue. It seemed so unfair and unjust. Couldn’t they see how unfair and unjust it was? Couldn’t they see how the schools were going to perpetuate inequality in education and society? Couldn’t they see that the class system was going to continue if you allow some boys to have such an advantage and privilege within education? It is difficult to explain, and as a teenager I never thought I would say this, but as you become older you slowly begin to see for yourself the important role public schools (like Eton, Harrow and Winchester) play within education. You begin to understand and also to acknowledge the invaluable and incalculable role these schools have in educating each generation. Especially during the progressive and troublesome decades like the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Above all else, just like with this film, you begin to see how special it would be if it continued. Not only for the next generation but also for the future generations of boys who will follow after them. Put simply the boys and increasingly the girls who attend our public schools are quite frankly very lucky and also very fortunate to do so. We should be supporting them. Not hating them and saying we despise them. For they are the very best of their generation. The cream. The elite. Future leaders. Excellent film by the way. Stirring strong emotions about the idea of a public school system and, of course, the successful perpetuation of the class system which it ensures. You either vehemently hate and detest these ideas or passionately want to protect and defend them and, as I've become older, I can honestly say it is certainly the latter.

This is, and will probably remain, my favourite film of all time.When this film first came out I had just left a boys only school and was into motorbikes. The film content struck a chord with me at the time, and on every occasion that I have seen the film since, so I had to have my own copy. I had been a member of the Combined Cadet Force at school and was well versed in firing the Lee Enfield .303 rifles and the Bren machine gun seen in the film, and could recognise the characters from my real life. The school rules, the escape on a motorcycle, the rebellion; all things that echoed in my mind. All the things I never did, but what If....

Having bought the Criterion DVD some time ago and been impressed by the quality and number of extras (including a booklet) I was sad when my ancient Oppo player gave up . It was the only one that played region A blu rays and Criterion often fail to produce UK friendly discs. I'm happy to report that this region B disc is an exact replica of the Criterion version, great transfer and useful extras. Another triumph for Eureka, who really understand films and quality.

All the other reviews seem good. I don't know anything about film making etc and I can only say that if you don't know this film, know it soon. There's someone ( a first-time viewer) said about "it seems normal but for some surreal-type scenes". I can say that this film will take several watches to take it in (if you are slow like me) but it all makes the most perfect sense. For me, a definite "Desert Island Disc" pick.A "Grade A, gold plated, five star treat that could have been put on the spacecraft that left the solar system carrying a Chuck Berry record", yes, it's a good film. Enjoy.

A cinematic classic.This is a film about teens fighting back against the establishment.The film harps back to days gone by and really illustrates how our society has changed.In places, the film is brutal, in others, funny but throughout it is thought provoking.I saw this when it first came out. It was controversial and fresh then and remains so today.One that fans of cinematic history should add to their collection.