If.... (Masters of Cinema) [1968]

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.

A must watch BRIT flick, with an anarchic revolution kicking off in a boarding school.A sardonic and dark view of what life in a boarding school was like in the late 60’s, with bullying house monitors and servile first and second year ‘youngsters’. The political understory is compelling and the film ends in intentionally preposterous final conflict.Malcolm McDowell is suitably dangerous and borderline psychotic throughout, constantly challenging the mock authority and hierarchy that surrounds him in the kingdom of boarding school.

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.

This is a farce - only when i had purchased this did a message a message appear "SUBTITLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN YOUR LANGUAGE" which strangely enough was English.So being really quite deaf I was unable to watch this film.Come on Amazon this is NOT good enough - why don't you state that subtitles are not available BEFORE the purchase????Very disappointed and £2.50 wasted.

Great quality picture and sound on Prime Video. The film is somewhat unusual in its approach, split into chapters and uses black and white segments throughout. Its over the top and just about every character is quirky or a little crazy in their own way. I've always enjoyed the film and it certainly gets you thinking.

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.