PORT TOWNSEND — For the seventh consecutive year, Port Townsend is rampant with movie madness.
This time of year, ever since 2000, the city is transformed into a movie mecca where directors and actors roam the streets and a person is encouraged to spend all weekend sitting and staring at a big screen.
All of these details point to the seventh annual Port Townsend Film Festival, now in its third and final day.
The special guest star of the festival is Malcolm McDowell, who is best known for his portrayal of Alex DeLarge, a gang leader enamoured of Beethhoven’s music in Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film, “A Clockwork Orange.”
He discussed the character during an interview with Sedge Thomson, host of National Public Radio’s West Coast Live!, on Saturday morning.
“Even though Alex is an evil person, you can’t be all bad if you like Beethoven,” McDowell said.
Before McDowell landed his first film role in the 1971 anti-establishment film, “If . . .,” he said he auditioned for countless roles that never panned out.
“I was so lucky to get through that audition,” McDowell said.
“Before that, they always chose the other guy.”
He’s come along way since then, now with 147 film under his belt.
On Friday, he stopped by Port Townsend High School with Peter Simpson, executive director of the festival, to talk with video and film students.
“He became totally engaged with them,” said Simpson.
“I’ve never seen more still 16 and 17-year-old film students.”
McDowell also attended a viewing of “If . . . ” at the Broughton Theatre on Saturday and answered audience questions following the film.
