Barry Lyndon (1975)

An Irish rogue wins the heart of a rich widow and assumes her dead husband's aristocratic position in 18th-century England.

Director:

Stanley Kubrick

Writers:

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

Stars:

Ryan O'Neal, Marisa Berenson, Patrick Magee

Top Rated Movies #221 | Won 4 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan O'Neal	...	Barry Lyndon
Marisa Berenson	...	Lady Honoria Lyndon
Patrick Magee	...	The Chevalier du Balibari
Hardy Krüger	...	Capt. Potzdorf (as Hardy Kruger)
Steven Berkoff	...	Lord Ludd
Gay Hamilton	...	Nora Brady
Marie Kean	...	Barry's Mother
Diana Körner	...	Lischen (as Diana Koerner)
Murray Melvin	...	Rev. Samuel Runt
Frank Middlemass	...	Sir Charles Lyndon
André Morell	...	Lord Gustavus Adolphus Wendover (as Andre Morell)
Arthur O'Sullivan	...	Capt. Feeny - the Highwayman
Godfrey Quigley	...	Capt. Grogan
Leonard Rossiter	...	Capt. John Quin
Philip Stone	...	Graham

Storyline

In the Eighteenth Century, in a small village in Ireland, Redmond Barry is a young farm boy in love with his cousin Nora Brady. When Nora gets engaged to the British Captain John Quin, Barry challenges him to a duel of pistols. He wins and escapes to Dublin but is robbed on the road. Without an alternative, Barry joins the British Army to fight in the Seven Years War. He deserts and is forced to join the Prussian Army where he saves the life of his captain and becomes his protégé and spy of the Irish gambler Chevalier de Balibari. He helps Chevalier and becomes his associate until he decides to marry the wealthy Lady Lyndon. They move to England and Barry, in his obsession of nobility, dissipates her fortune and makes a dangerous and revengeful enemy.

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Plot Keywords:

highwayman | rise and fall | wealth | england | duel | 

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Taglines:

At long last Redmond Barry became a gentleman -- and that was his tragedy.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

18 December 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

Барри Линдон

Filming Locations:

Royal Victoria Park, Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$20,000,000, 31 December 1975

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$31,500,000, 31 December 1975

Company Credits

Production Co:

Peregrine, Hawk Films, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

185 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor) Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hardy Krüger replaced Oskar Werner after a few weeks of shooting.

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Goofs

The drinking cup in the hand of Seamus Feeny, when Barry first meets Capt. Feeny and Seamus at the inn.

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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...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Stanley Kubrick's Boxes (2008)

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Soundtracks

PIPER'S MAGGOT JIG
Traditional

User Reviews

Brilliant and inspired cinema

Considered one of Thackeray's best novels "Barry Lyndon" comes to light in a brilliant fashion under the direction of Stanley Kubrik with Ryan O'Neal in the title role.

A young Irish profligate of the 18th Century finds himself involved in the Seven Year's War in Europe. A born opportunist he deserts as a soldier and by all foul means seeks to improve his status by marrying a countess. He is now one of the new aristocracy...Mr. Barry Lyndon!

The film version of Barry Lyndon's adventures as a cheat, as a spy, as a gentleman of the realm is absolutely flawless. I have only high praise for the uniform quality as we go from scene to scene. The lighting in particular is striking, much like a classical painting. The photography is excellent....sweeping vistas of the European countryside with red-coated soldiers drawn up in battle lines and dropping in disarray under enemy fire....indoor scenes of elegance with people feasting or playing at cards, all bathed in soft candlelight

Every scene is backed by well-chosen music gleaned from the classics. The choice is so good one might think it was written for the film. The art director too can be proud of the meticulous costumes, wigs and make-up; and the aging of the characters is well done and acceptable.

There is also a lovely array of characters both old and young with interesting faces like those you would see in an old Rembrandt. As a character I especially like the old count who suffers terribly from an argument with the new Mr. Lyndon. Another memorable scene is the outburst of the Countess's son who refuses to accept his step-father and endures a thorough thrashing. There are poignant scenes too when Barry's little son comes to grief....and these are the days too when differences are solved by pistol or sword.

All in all a well rounded film. I find it much more satisfying than "Russian Ark" which is praised so highly. This film is filled with beauty and adventure and proves once again that "what goes up must come down"....and so we have the rise and fall of Barry Lyndon!