if....

Criterion brings us another classic here with Lindsey Anderson’s “if ….”. Starring Malcolm McDowell as Mick Travis (in his first major role) the film is set in the God Awful world of the British boy’s school. Here is, I must say, first hand why I would not wish to have grown up in England. Appearantly Anderson’s depiction of this world is so complete and realistic, that the public and even the actors and crew found some of it almost primordially terrifying. This world of “authority” and “class structure” is so thoroughly despicable and demonstrably bad, even the horrific ending seems somehow justifiable.

Mick Travis arrives at school after his summer break and, with his friends, set about being the school trouble makers. The film is broken into episodic sequences with titles (very similar to what Monty Python would later do in “The Meaning of Life”) and then further broken down into realms of hyper reality and surreal unreality. The film switches between color and black and white (because they ran out of money … though some on the dvd that it was because it was too difficult to light the school in time) to great affect. It is, as with so many things of the late 60s, informed coincidence. Once Anderson knew he would have to film in black and white, it is incorporated into the narrative to give us distance during the more dream-like sequences, while the color comes back to provide us with reality.

The film is best remembered for two sequences. The first is the beatings that Mick and his cohorts received (as object lessons because of their attitudes.) Mick is the only one who is actually shown being beaten and, as the leader, he is given more than his friends. This is a pivotal moment when the viewer knows … something will have to happen. And, it does. During another punishment cleaning out the storage areas, Mick and his friends discover all the live amunition that the school uses for military training … and they decide to go up to the roof and shoot everyone, including the head master. It is a startling ending even now, but at the time it rang everyone’s bell – positively or negatively. Before the film even reached the theaters, the Paris riots exploded in 1968 making the masacre far more realistic than it was initially thought to be.

As usual, Criterion are really putting in some good work and you can bet any dvd that lists a bonus feature called “Graham Crowden Interview” is going to be very high on my list. The main bonus feature is an interview show (with Kirsty-Dead Ringers Loves you baby-Wark) with many of the principle crew and some location interview footage with Malcolm McDowell (who says it made his career.) The film itself looks good, considering how it was made. The sound is a bit chaotic and uneven. I found myself turning the volume up and down a few times during the piece.

Frankly, this is a very 60s film in a lot of respects, but unlike things like “Blow Up” or “Alfie,” it doesn’t necessarily seem so rooted in its time. In fact, the school system depicted is so backward that you could be forgiven for thinking it takes place just after World War I. And for that timeless quality, “if….” Remains very powerful.