ESSENTIAL CINEMA: IF...(1969) Dir. by Lindsay Anderson

If...directed by Lindsay Anderson (1969)

Starring
The Crusaders:
Michael 'Mick' Travis.....Malcolm McDowell
Johnny Knightly.....David Wood
Wallace.....Richard Warwick
The Girl.....Christine Noonan
Bobby Philips.....Rupert Webster

The Whips
Rowntree.....Robert Swann
Richard Denson.....Hugh Thomas
Fortinbras.....Michael Cadman
Barnes.....Peter Sproule

Synopsis:
This incredible film takes a look at a British boarding school and three unruly seniors who fail to conform. If.... is an amazing blend of fact and fantasy with features a young Malcolm McDowell in his first film. The students at College House are kept in line by tradition, strict discipline, and prefects. Director Lindsay Anderson is careful to document the repressive conditions and the painfulness of rebellion as he builds to his surreal and violent ending when the students have their day. It is a marvelously funny movie, but it's also profoundly disturbing and deep.

Review:
This film is a masterpiece, it is nearly impossible to find any flaws with the film. If anything, I would have liked more scenes with Malcolm, but this would've totally changed the style of the film.

The film is more a collection of short stories instead of a film where you just follow a main character, or characters, with a straight narrative. It seems the film takes place over the course of a semester, but there is no indication of time between scenes. It is like Lindsay just put cameras around a real school and taped what happened during the year and edited together the good parts. It is a unique film in this sense.

It starts out by showing what it is like for Jute, a new scum, arriving in school. It would be easy to think he was the main character, after all he is in most every scene in the beginning. In fact, when Mick enters, we don't even know he does, or who he is at all! Since he is practically covered from head to toe and says nothing we don't think much of him, it is a very clever changing of the guard. The first time we see his face he has a mustache and before we can get used to that, he shaves it right off. Once again changing our perception completely.

I really like how the characters are introduced and then usually fade into the background. Stephans is shown a few times in the first part as a big ass kisser, then almost never again. Brunning who is Jute's mentor has no lines after showing Jute the ropes. It really gives a good picture of life all across the school for those of us who never attended a school like that. I always wondered how Jute did on his test of the school words though. One of those completely meaningless indoctrinations you have to go through that stays with you for the rest of your life.
Through the few scenes of Mick, Johnny and Wallace in the beginning we get glimpses of how much they hate the system, but do their best to get by. They are pushed and punished too harshly for them to stand by and take it. This leads to one of the best and most famous scenes in the film. When Johnny, Wallace and Mick are getting caned in the gym, each takes their turn and it is one shot - from one angle. This is stunning in it's simplicity. I've always hated the modern Mtv style where the camera cuts to a new angle every second. The violence in the gym isn't shown, but by hearing it, the tension mounts and makes it more powerful. The angle only changes when Mick throws open the double doors for his turn with the birth of Malcolm's classic wicked grin. That single shot speaks volumes and is one of the best in the film. He is telling them to "Bring it on!". They want him to be scared, but he won't give them that pleasure. They can beat him, but will never break him because he knows his spirit is more alive than theirs.

The Headmaster had it all wrong when he told them it was too easy to rebel. It is too easy to blend into the background and attract no attention. When you are yourself and that is much different then the standard they want to set for you - then you are an outcast. It is much harder when you stand out and don't fit in - the fact that you are just trying to be yourself and not even actively rebelling is even worse. You'll always be looked down on and make enemies. Never speak out and give them what they want and you'll do well - even if you feel empty inside because of it. Since it is a military prep school, they are preparing for war. But I think the pictures of war in Mick's room were an inspiration and a way to pump himself up for his own war.

The Girl is the enigma here - who is she? Hell, she doesn't even have a name! When Mick spots her in the telescope she is in a nearby house - a school? And how did they sneak her into their project under the stage? And why is she so angry? She doesn't have to put up with the crap going on at College House, after all - she is the one who kills the headmaster. I think the girl is less of a character then more of the embodiment of women's liberation of the time. She is openly sexual and can hold her own with the boys when it comes to violence. When Mick hands her the human fetus in the jar he says nothing. I interpreted this as him saying "Let's get married and have a child of our own." By her putting it back on the shelf, she is telling him - no, that is the old way.

The only true critique of the film I have is how the violence at the end is toned way down. The Crusaders on the roof have the students and the parents pinned in the courtyard. There is only one way out and they have it blocked. With all the gunfire and shells they pour into the yard, the blood should've been flowing in gallons. There would be no survivors since it was a choice of being burned up or escaping into the yard. I love how the last shot doesn't wimp out though. It shows a close-up of Mick still determined, even though he is now facing opposition. He doesn't die, doesn't waver, doesn't fall, doesn't give-up and never surrenders. The title comes up "if...." saying be careful how you treat people because this could happen to you.

The acting here is all top notch. Everyone plays their roles like they were born to play them. This is especially noteworthy since so many of them were so young. Malcolm had an advantage of being 24 years old at the time, though he certainly doesn't look it. Eventually this would hurt his career because soon after he was a 30 year old man playing the parts of teens! When he finally grew into his body he wasn't the young rebel anymore that the studious wanted. Of course he was brilliant here and has the rare honor of being able to become a star in his first role which could be the greatest debut in the history of cinema. Even Harrison Ford's first roll was completely forgettable with only three lines. Robert Swann was a perfect bastard and started him on a career of authority type roles. Hugh Thomas who also appears in O Lucky Man! was a great self righteous prick. Christine Noonan was perfectly sexy as the Girl and it was a loss that she didn't pursue acting after OLM!

FOUR STARS

Clip from IF....(café/tiger scene)

The Tiger Scene in the Cafe
If tigers don't mate, they'll die. It is necessary for young adults to stake out an area of their own before they can start to breed. The ritual consists of a series of challenges; after each challenge one tiger has the opportunity to back away. Copulation may take place before sexual maturity, though pregnancy is extremely unlikely. She will signal her readiness for breeding in various ways, including roaring & moaning. Approaching males sometimes reply. The female will continue her efforts until a male is attracted.