If.... (1968)

Director:

Lindsay Anderson

Writers:

David Sherwin (script "Crusaders") and
John Howlett (script "Crusaders") ...

Release Date:

27 August 1969 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Which side will you be on?

Plot:

In this allegorical story, a revolution lead by pupil Mick Travis takes place at an old established private school in England.

Plot Keywords:

Black And White Segues Into Color | Dead Children | School Shooting | Black Comedy | Boarding School

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Malcolm McDowell	...	Mick Travis
David Wood	...	Johnny
Richard Warwick	...	Wallace
Christine Noonan	...	The Girl
Rupert Webster	...	Bobby phillips
Robert Swann	...	Rowntree
Hugh Thomas	...	Denson
Michael Cadman	...	Fortinbras
Peter Sproule	...	Barnes
Peter Jeffrey	...	Headmaster
Anthony Nicholls	...	General Denson
Arthur Lowe	...	Mr. Kemp
Mona Washbourne	...	Matron
Mary MacLeod	...	Mrs. Kemp
Geoffrey Chater	...	Chaplain (Reverend Woods)

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Latin

Colour:

Black and White | Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 (re-rating) | Hong Kong:IIB | Czech Republic:15 | Hungary:14 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R (cut version) (1969) | USA:X (1968) | West Germany:16 (bw) | UK:AA

Filming Locations:

Aldenham School, Elstree, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Memorial Enterprises

Trivia:

Based on Jean Vigo's short film, _Zero De Conduite (1933)_

Goofs:

Continuity: The boys order coffee at the Packhorse Café. The waitress pours the coffee into two cups and slides the cups towards the boys across the counter without spilling the coffee. Travis adds sugar to his coffee from a sugar tin. He spills some sugar and several small drops of coffee onto the counter. The spoon is left in the sugar can pointing towards the café entrance door. The boys then take their coffees away from the counter and walk towards the tables. The next shot shows the waitress standing behind the counter watching the boys. There is now a long streak of coffee on the counter which wasn't there before and the spoon in the sugar can is now pointing in a different direction. There is also no sugar spilt on the counter and no small drops of coffee either.

Quotes:

Mick Travis: The whole world will end very soon - black, brittle bodies peeling into ash...

Movie Connections:

Featured in X-rated (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Sanctus

Brilliant mixture of social criticism and fantasy rebellion. One of the most powerful movies of the 1960s.

'If...' is a fascinating and powerful film set in an oppressive and archaic public (that's private to us non-Brits) school. It is one of the most original and innovative of all British movies of the 60s, a decade which began in some ways with 'Peeping Tom' and ended with 'Performance', two much maligned movies which in hindsight are astonishing achievements. 'If..' is equally as striking (and disturbing) as those two criminally underrated movies, but in contrast actually achieved quite a level of popularity on its original release. Even so I don't believe the movie gets the attention it deserves. Hopefully it will be rediscovered by a new generation of movie lovers as it is still very relevant and powerful even now, thirty five years later. Malcolm McDowell (his film debut) stars as the ring-leader of a small group of dissatisfied students who don't fit in with their ultra-conformist contemporaries. His performance is first rate, and in several scenes you can almost see Alex, his droog to be ('A Clockwork Orange'). The movie mixes documentary like realism with fantasy sequences involving "The Girl" (Christine Noonan), and eventually violent rebellion. A movie very much of its time it still is very watchable today and has lost little of its power and ability to surprise. Lindsay Anderson, arguably Britain's most underrated director, continued to expand upon McDowell's Mick Travis character in two subsequent movies, but 'If..' has a very different feel from those "sequels", if they can truly be termed that, and can be watched as a stand alone movie. I was impressed with this movie when I first saw it on black and white TV as a young lad, and I was still impressed when I watched it again the other week. And I will guarantee it will not be my last viewing of this brilliant film! A must see for anyone with any interest whatsoever in 1960s pop culture or film.