I first heard about this movie from a Monty Python sketch, and was possibly also parodied by Benny Hill in an interview skit with a director who switched from color to black and white in the middle of a movie because: he ran out of film.
If… is an adaptation of the novel Crusaders by David Sherwin, with the screenplay by Sherwin and John Howlett. It is perhaps most famous as the first major exposure for actor Malcolm McDowell. Stanley Kubrick was so taken with McDowell’s portrayal as rebellious boarding school student Michael Travis, he pegged him for the lead role in his upcoming movie A Clockwork Orange.
I very highly recommend this movie, so I won’t spoil the plot. In quick summary, three students (McDowell, David Wood, and Richard Warwick) get fed up with how they are mistreated, and plan out some retaliation.
To this day, If… is hailed as one of the greatest British films, and deservedly so. The cinematography, score, and dialogue still feel fresh and alive, and its themes are timeless.
