Syada

As most of us know, Malcolm mcdowell is a great actor. But, do you think he has been stereotyped into playing villains and psycopaths. Even if this be the case, is this why he is today regarded as an important icon in British Film?

Please give me your opinions, I have chosen to Mcdowell for my film studies research project and I will need some primary resources for my coursework. Thanks very much!

Steve Crook

You didn't give an option for "I don't think he is an auteur" or "I don't think he is regarded as an auteur" and you don't say why you make such a statement.

Steve

penfold

I agree...being typecast as a villain (yes, I think he now is) does not make him an auteur (which I don't think he is). Kubrick and Lindsay Anderson were auteurs, (there aren't that many true auteurs in cinema) and he worked with the both of them...but that's all.
A question you could ask; why is he typecast .....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

rskershaw

O Lucky Man
I'm looking forward to buying the two disc DVD released today, I haven't seen the film since the mid 80's.

What's the matter, won't she go?

billy bentley

It cannot have been easy to have worked with such rare talents as Anderson and Kubrick and then have to fend for oneself. I recall MM saying that he found it difficult once his working relationship with Kubrick had ended, as Stanley had very little time for him once work was over. Obviously the relationship with Anderson lasted much longer. For many film-goers of a certain age MM would always be linked to his violent characters in "If"and "Clockwork Orange" through no fault of his own other than that fabulously mischevios smile. Met him once at a screening of If, he couldn't have been nicer.

dogstar

By complete coincidence I happened to catch McDowell in low-budget US horror movie the other night playing -you guessed it - the villain. Objectively you could make the case that he's actually been quite lucky in that he's a genuinely iconic figure through his work with KUbrick and Anderson and has in effect, become iconic in less specific way through his 'villainous' image in addition to being constantly employed and making - presumably - a very good living in the process. He's also had some other decent roles along the way - my other half acquired the boxed set of Our Friends In The North where he was excellent as a likeable porn baron/crooked businessman. I've not see his filmed lecture about his work with Lindsay Anderson but I'm sure it would be fascinating.

Only a fool looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart....

batman

I watched him recently in the Halloween remake playing the old Donald Pleasance part. While not in the class of the original, the film does have it's genuine scary moments and MM is very entertaining as Dr Loomis. MM presents Loomis not as the kindlyold chap played by DP, but as a man who doesn't suffer fools gladly, while at the same time, out to make a quick buck from the notoriety of Myers. I like McDowell, unlike some 'iconic' actors he has kept his career going for 40 years. More power to him!

"Aha Mr Aubergine ... that's where you're wrong!"

jacobean

I think it is his unusual looks which has made him play psycopaths and other nutters. In his early films he always reminded me of a kid at school who was a bit 'wierd' - threw knives at people and other objects, and enjoyed torturing the younger pupils. He is not really 'hero-looking' enough!

wadsy

I couldn't see him playing normal characters (same with Terence Stamp).

He looks too perverse & odd to play anything other than the parts he has

played, IMHO!

m35541

I don't think his lunatic overacting in such films as The Passage (1978) helped his career much.

Briant

I met him a couple of years ago at a football match with his son. Malcolm seemed very friendly and approachable to me! He is a big Liverpool FC fan. Good feature on him in the 'Metro' newspaper today.

christoph404

I've never heard the term "auteur" used in relation to an actor, unless the actor is also the director. I always understood the term "auteur" to be one applied to a director of a film who is considered the main creative force behind the project in terms of conception and so on. Orson Welles is an actor who could be considered an auteur as he has directed himself in some very artistically accomplished films and he is often considered the main creative force behind them The "auteur" theory of film making as I know it is a term coined by French film critics when discussing directors. Im mystified as to why the actor Malcolm McDowell would be considered in those terms. He's a brilliant actor but I don't think the other terminology is applicable here though I am prepared to be enlightened if someone has an explanation.