Malcolm McDowell Reveals Which 1972 Film He Regrets Turning Down

Malcolm McDowell was immortalized for his performance in "A Clockwork Orange", but a decision made shortly after this success would continue to accompany him for decades. The actor revealed that the film he most regrets turning down was "Deliverance" ("Bitter Nightmare"), released in 1972. At the time, the project was still in development and McDowell was offered the opportunity to participate in production. However, for different professional reasons, he chose to follow other paths. The problem is that "Deliverance" ended up becoming a huge critical and public success, becoming one of the most influential films of the 1970s. Directed by John Boorman and starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox, the film drew attention for its intense narrative and the discussions it provoked about masculinity, survival and violence. Looking back, McDowell admitted that he underestimated the work's potential. According to him, the project seemed unpromising at the time, but the end result demonstrated exactly the opposite. The story has become yet another classic example of the missed opportunities that are part of the careers of virtually every major Hollywood actor.