Clockwork Orange

Philip Castle’s original theatrical artwork for Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange remains one of the most recognizable designs in film poster history. The composition frames Malcolm McDowell as Alex within a sharp triangular form, knife extended toward the viewer, with the sculptural female figure below. Castle’s highly polished airbrush technique gives the imagery a precise, almost surreal quality that perfectly complements the film’s stylized and unsettling world. Particularly notable on this example is the original, uncensored tagline printed across the top of the poster: “Being the adventures of a young man whose principal interests are r*pe, ultra-violence and Beethoven.” The provocative wording became closely associated with the film’s controversial release and was altered or censored in some instances. On this particular poster, part of the tagline had previously been censored, with the covering since removed to reveal the original printed text beneath. This surviving alteration adds an interesting layer to the poster’s history while allowing the original advertising design to once again be seen as intended. With Castle’s iconic artwork, period Warner Bros. credits, and original tagline visible, this is a compelling example of the A Clockwork Orange theatrical campaign and a classic piece of 1970s film graphic design. Size: 41.0" x 27.0" Artist: Philip Castle Condition: Very Good, Age-appropriate wear, fading and toning. Original fold lines present. Please note last word in second line of text was censored at one point, and paper has since been removed, stray adhesive to left of text. General border wear. Soft background creases. Blemishing in top center. Wear along folds. Please use the photo zoom feature to get a better understanding of overall condition. *Additional photos available upon request.