Barry Lyndon (1975)

Director:

Stanley Kubrick

Writers:

Stanley Kubrick (written for the screen by)
William Makepeace Thackeray (novel)

Release Date:

18 December 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Plot:

An Irish rogue wins the heart of a rich widow and assumes her dead husband's position in 18th Century aristocracy.

Plot Keywords:

British Army | Duel | 18th Century | Seven Years War | Irish

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Ryan O'Neal	...	Barry Lyndon / Redmond Barry
Marisa Berenson	...	Lady Lyndon
Patrick Magee	...	The Chevalier
Hardy Krüger	...	Captain Potzdorf (as Hardy Kruger)
Steven Berkoff	...	Lord Ludd
Gay Hamilton	...	Nora Brady
Marie Kean	...	Barry's Mother
Diana Körner	...	German Girl (as Diana Koerner)
Murray Melvin	...	Reverend Runt
Frank Middlemass	...	Sir Charles Lyndon
André Morell	...	Lord Wendover (as Andre Morell)
Arthur O'Sullivan	...	Captain Feeny, the Highwayman
Godfrey Quigley	...	Captain Grogan
Leonard Rossiter	...	Captain Quin
Philip Stone	...	Graham

Runtime:

184 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German | French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Spain:18 | Finland:K-16 (1976) | Sweden:15 | France:Unrated | Brazil:12 | Canada:14A (video rating) | Argentina:Atp | New Zealand:PG | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:PG | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | West Germany:12 | USA:PG | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Company:

Peregrine

Trivia:

A myth grew up that the Academy Award-winning costumes used in the film were genuine antique clothes, but this is only partly correct. Some of the costumes were genuine antiques bought at auction by costume designer Milena Canonero, while others were custom made specifically for the film and were based on clothing of the period and costumes seen in period paintings.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Barry and Bullingdon fight, there is a map of the world in the background, with a decorative picture of a steam train on it. The film was set in the 18th century, but the steam train was not invented until the beginning of the 19th century.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[two figures visible on the horizon prepare to duel. Three witnesses stand between them]
Second: Gentlemen, cock your pistols! Gentlemen...
Narrator: Barry's father...
Second: ...aim your pistols!
Narrator: ...had been bred, like many other young sons of a genteel family, to the profession of the law.
Second: One!
Narrator: And there is no doubt he would've...
Second: Two!
Narrator: ...made an eminent figure in his profession...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Rejected (2000)

Soundtrack:

Women of Ireland

Different kind of a Stanley Kubrick movie

In some way almost all of Stanley Kubrick's movies are very gloomy, dreary and wicked. The idea of "Lolita" is definitely perverted, "The Shining" is maybe the most terrifying film ever made, "Full Metal Jacket" is still one of the most pressuring war movies, from time to time "Eyes Wide Shut" looks almost like a horror film and even "2001: A Space odyssey" has some pretty frightening visions.

"Barry Lyndon" was Kubrick's next film after his darkest masterpiece "A Clockwork Orange" and certainly a totally different kind of a work. Even though "Barry Lyndon's" second half is slightly darker and the movie certainly isn't a comedy of any kind it's still quite a nice, warm and genial picaresque story. It's hard to say is it a bit overlong because it's easier to watch in two parts but nevertheless it's a brilliant film from the very start. "Barry Lyndon" is full of unforgettable sequences. My favorite is probably the duel between Barry Lyndon and his stepson Lord Bullington.

One of the things I love most about this movie is the splendid epilogue. Closing words of "Barry Lyndon" brings hilariously together every event seen in the film. Ryan O'Neal makes a fabulous performance as Barry. He isn't all that well-known actor in the movie business but he does a great job in the difficult leading role. I'll give 9 out of 10 to "Barry Lyndon" and point out that although it's not Kubrick's finest flick it's still a very excellent movie and an extremely important part of his works and it should not be underestimate. If you have seen lots of Kubrick classics but not this one, take this chance to jump into 18th century and watch the entertaining adventures of Redmond Barry.