In the early 1970s, actor Malcolm McDowell started receiving a flood of movie offers. This newfound popularity stemmed from his iconic portrayal of Alex DeLarge in Stanley Kubrick’s cult film ‘A Clockwork Orange‘ (1971). Among the many directors who wanted to work with him was Alfred Hitchcock, who was working on his new thriller.
Despite the filmmaker’s rich legacy, McDowell did not believe in his project’s potential and regarded it as “absolute rubbish.” The movie in question was ‘Frenzy,’ which was both a commercial and critical success and later became one of the defining works of Hitchcock’s legendary career. What initially seemed like a sound decision turned out to be the biggest what-if moment of McDowell’s career decades later.
Malcolm McDowell Rejected The Film After Reading The Script
The period from the late 1960s to the 1970s was the golden period of Malcolm McDowell’s acting career. After his breakthrough, he became one of the most sought-after young actors in the British film industry. McDowell’s rise to stardom prompted an offer from Alfred Hitchcock.
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By then, Hitchcock had already cemented his status as one of the greatest directors in cinema history. Though McDowell felt the script left much to be desired, Hitchcock’s reputation made the project a major opportunity. Still, the actor refused to take on the role after reviewing the script, claiming it was simply not good enough.
While this decision seemed quite reasonable at first, McDowell eventually came to regret it. Years later, he admitted that turning down the film was a misstep and that he should have accepted the opportunity regardless of his opinion of the script.
McDowell Regretted Turning Alfred Hitchcock Down
Several decades later, McDowell viewed his actions in a completely different light. While his opinion of the screenplay remained the same, passing up the chance to work with the legendary filmmaker left him deeply regretful.
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Upon reflecting on that period of his career, the actor didn’t mince words. “I should have just done the damn movie. I mean, just to work with him…There are a few things I really should have done, you know,” McDowell said in an interview.
“But you know, at the time, I think the decisions I made about my career were because I knew what I could do and I knew what my limits were, and I knew that I wouldn’t be good in certain parts,” he added.
The regret became even more pronounced after ‘Frenzy’ established itself as one of Hitchcock’s strongest late-career films. In fact, it remains notable as the final major feature film he completed before his death.
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