It was in October 1979 that the world at large first became aware of Kubrick's self-imposed homeland ban on A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. The NFT (London) requested a print for their Kubrick season in November 1979 & were told that the film was "absolutely withdrawn from distribution". The ban remained in place for another 21 years until the films long overdue re-release in 1999. I'll always remember the day I found the DVD for sale in Tescos alongside those other bete noires of the video age THE EVIL DEAD & STRAW DOGS. It seems that as with buildings & ladies of the night a certain level of respectability is acquired with old age.
