'We are so medieval': Malcolm McDowell says A Clockwork Orange is becoming reality, 45 years after its release 

  • McDowell played the lead role of Alex DeLarge in the 1971 film adaptation 
  • He says America's vast prison population is 'medieval
  • He also said film predicted our obsession with TV and the 'drug explosion' with Western youth
  • Novel was inspired by Anthony Burgess's encounter in a Moscow cafe 
  • America had more than six and a half million prisoners at the end of 2014  

When dystopian novel A Clockwork Orange came out in 1962, few thought it was a plausible imagining of the future.

But, according to Malcolm McDowell, who stared in the novel's 1971 adaptation, it was in fact a chillingly accurate forecast.

Speaking to the New York Daily News, McDowell explains how the Stanley Kubrick film shows a 'world in which all older people stay indoors with televisions on'.

Scroll down for video 

Malcom McDowell  who played central character Alex DeLarge in the 1969 film adaptation of A Clockwork Orange, says that the novel was a grim prediction of the present
McDowell explains how the Stanley Kubrick film shows a 'world in which all older people stay indoors with televisions on'

Malcolm McDowell (right) who played central character Alex DeLarge (left) in the 1969 film adaptation of A Clockwork Orange, says that the novel was a grim prediction of the present 

The novel's central theme follows a group of violent 'droogs' - or gang members - who seek to illicit 'ultra-violence', mayhem and sexual depravity

The novel's central theme follows a group of violent 'droogs' - or gang members - who seek to illicit 'ultra-violence', mayhem and sexual depravity

And, he says, that is 'basically what has happened'. 

McDowell also says that the film shone a light on the failings of the prison system and that this is being reflected in modern America.

Many scenes in the now iconic film - which got slammed by critics at the time - are set in prison, where McDowell's character and his cohorts are subjected to painful aversion therapy.

He told the New York Daily News: 'It’s amazing how there’s so many people incarcerated in America.

'We are so backward in our thinking, we are so medieval.'  

Anthony Burgess's inspiration for the twisted tale came about while sitting in a Moscow coffee shop.
A menacing group of 'thugs' leered at Burgess through Moscow window, this triggered the idea for the book and also the 'navsat' slang language - which the characters speak in the book

Anthony Burgess's (left) inspiration for the twisted tale came about while sitting in a Moscow coffee shop. Pictured right: The novel's cover

The novel's central theme follows a group of violent 'droogs' - or gang members - who seek to illicit 'ultra-violence', mayhem and sexual depravity.

The four young men pursue their pleasures after downing drug-laced glasses of milk. 

McDowell believes this was a prediction of the 'drug explosion' among the Western youth.

McDowell said: 'It’s amazing how there’s so many people incarcerated in America. We are so backward in our thinking, we are so medieval.' Pictured: Inmates at Mule Creek State Prison

McDowell said: 'It’s amazing how there’s so many people incarcerated in America. We are so backward in our thinking, we are so medieval.' Pictured: Inmates at Mule Creek State Prison

Many scenes in the now iconic film - which got slammed by critics at the time - are set in prison, where McDowell's character and his cohorts are subjected to painful aversion therapy

Many scenes in the now iconic film - which got slammed by critics at the time - are set in prison, where McDowell's character and his cohorts are subjected to painful aversion therapy

McDowell also revealed that author Anthony Burgess's inspiration for the twisted tale came about while sitting in a Moscow coffee shop.

A menacing group of 'thugs' leered at him through the window, this triggered the idea for the book and also the 'nadsat' slang language - which the characters speak in the book.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, America had more than six and a half million prisoners at the end of 2014.

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now