If.... (1968)

Director:

Lindsay Anderson

Writers:

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

Release Date:

27 August 1969 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

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:

Friend | Revolution | Bullet | Cease Fire | Pipe Smoking

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)
Ben Aris	...	John Thomas
Graham Crowden	...	History Master
Charles Lloyd Pack	...	Classics Master
Guy Ross	...	Stephans
Robin Askwith	...	Keating
Richard Everett	...	Pussy Graves
Philip Bagenal	...	Peanuts
Nicholas Page	...	Cox
Robert Yetzes	...	Fisher
David Griffin	...	Willens
Graham Sharman	...	Van Eyssen
Richard Tombleson	...	Baird
Robin Davies	...	Machin
Brian Pettifer	...	Biles
Michael Newport	...	Brunning
Charles Sturridge	...	Martland
Sean Bury	...	Jute
Martin Beaumont	...	Hunter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ellis Dale	...	Motorcycle Salesman (uncredited)
John Garrie	...	Music Master (uncredited)
Tommy Godfrey	...	School Porter (uncredited)
Peter Jaques	...	Schoolmaster (uncredited)
Simon Ward	...	Schoolboy (uncredited)

Directed by
Lindsay Anderson

Writing credits
David Sherwin		(script "Crusaders") and
John Howlett		(script "Crusaders")
David Sherwin		(screenplay)

Produced by
Lindsay Anderson	....	producer
Roy Baird	....	executive producer
Michael Medwin	....	producer
Albert Finney	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Marc Wilkinson

Cinematography by
Miroslav Ondrícek

Film Editing by
David Gladwell

Casting by
Miriam Brickman

Production Design by
Jocelyn Herbert

Art Direction by
Brian Eatwell

Costume Design by
Shura Cohen

Makeup Department
Betty Blattner	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Zelda Barron	....	production supervisor
Gavrik Losey	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen Frears	....	assistant director
John Stoneman	....	assistant director
Tim Van Rellim	....	assistant director

Art Department
Jack Carter	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Alan Bell	....	dubbing editor
Tony Jackson	....	boom operator
Alan Jones	....	assistant sound editor
Doug E. Turner	....	dubbing mixer
Christian Wangler	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian Harris	....	camera operator
Roy Larner	....	gaffer
Chris Menges	....	camera operator
Michael Seresin	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Michael Ellis	....	assistant editor
Ian Rakoff	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Marc Wilkinson	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Jim Hughes	....	transportation

Other crew
Stuart Baird	....	assistant to director
Valerie Booth	....	continuity
Brian Brockwell	....	production accountant
Peter Jaques	....	director of publicity
Neville Thompson	....	assistant to producers

Production Companies

• Memorial Enterprises

Distributors

• Paramount British Pictures (1968) (UK) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Bontonfilm (2006) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (video)

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Black and White | Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 (re-rating) | Hong Kong:IIB | Czech Republic:15 | Hungary:14 | France:-12 | Brazil:14 | Ireland:15 | 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:

Paramount hated the film when they saw it and tried to dump it from cinemas. However, one of their tentpole films, Barbarella (1968), turned out to be a spectacular flop so they needed to replace it in cinemas with something else. Reluctantly, they wheeled out "If..." and were astonished to see it turn into a big critical and commercial success.

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:

The Girl: Go on. Look at me. Look at my eyes. I'll kill you. Sometimes I stand in front of the mirror and my eyes get bigger and bigger. And I'm like a tiger. I like tigers. Rrrrah!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Monty Python's Flying Circus: It's a Living (#2.6)" (1970)

Soundtrack:

Sanctus

As if the Speed of the Nail would matter...

Lindsay Anderson's 1968 film If... is a beautiful film with a simple message, yet the director's touch and the performances take it to entirely different level.

If... takes place in all boys boarding school and stars Malcolm McDowell as

"Mick" (McDowell in his first screen role). Mick and his two friends feel

somewhat distant from their peers, school, and society. Their general attitude towards such things as sex, war, and authority could be call revolutionary. With surrealistic touches such as unexplained occurrences and changing between

color and black and white. Lindsay Anderson paints a vivid picture of "teenage alienation" before there was a term for such a thing. McDowell would later reprise his role of "Mick" in two other Anderson pictures O' Lucky Man and Britannia Hospital. A must see for fans of McDowell. Just a great film with a message that sparks positive, pro-active thinking. An important film that makes you remember to question authority instead complying to it rules. Sadly If... is not available on DVD at this time.