Barry Lyndon (1975)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

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:

Director Trademark: [Stanley Kubrick] [zoom]When the Grenadiers march in formation toward the Barryville citizens and fire their weapons into the air.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In one part of the film, Barry is rowing a boat peacefully on a lake with a dog sitting obediently in the boat. The dog is a Yellow Labrador which was first bred in 1899.

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:

Featured in Lost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

PIPER'S MAGGOT JIG

Masterpiece

Barry Lyndon is one of my favourite films of all time. Kubrick's craftsmanship is impeccable. The film is slow and dreamy in its pace which, along with the scenic shots, establishes a romanticised watercolour view of the period (somewhat like a Carpenter landscape). In fact, Kubrick has set up almost every shot (indoor and out) like a painting. This romanticism provides an interesting counterpoint against Lyndon's less than admirable actions throughout the film.

I would have to say that the best acting in Barry Lyndon comes from some of the minor actors. Leonard Rossiter delivers a fantastic portrait of the arrogant Captain Quinn, with exaggerated facial expressions and movements (eg. like in the dance scene, or when his engagement to Nora is announced) that are perfect for the self-aggrandising bluster of this character. Leon Vitali as Lord Bullingdon also gives an insightful performance as Barry's stepson.