Barry Lyndon (1975)
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An 18th-century Irish rogue attempts to climb the social ladder by marrying a wealthy widow.
The story
The film follows the life of Redmond Barry, an 18th-century Irish rogue and gold digger. After a series of personal losses and a stint in the military during the Seven Years' War, Barry finds himself in the Prussian Ministry of Police. He eventually becomes a companion to a mysterious diplomat, and the two travel across Europe engaging in gambling scams. After seducing a wealthy woman, Barry marries her and moves to England, where he attempts to establish himself in high society and secure his future as a member of the aristocracy.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1750, Redmond Barry's life begins with a duel and a subsequent period of hardship, leading him to enlist in the Army. During the Seven Years' War, he is captured and eventually joins the Prussian Ministry of Police. He becomes a companion to the Chevalier de Balibari, and together they travel Europe, winning money through gambling. Barry seduces and marries the wealthy Lady Lyndon in 1773. He spends years of her wealth and faces conflict with her son, Lord Bullingdon. After a series of misfortunes, including the death of his son and a physical altercation with Bullingdon that results in the amputation of his leg, Barry is forced to leave the estate. He returns to his former life as a gambler, eventually living out his days in relative obscurity.
- First release year
- 1975
- Runtime (minutes)
- 185
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Stanley Kubrick
- Writers
- Stanley Kubrick · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Ryan O'Neal · Barry Lyndon; Marisa Berenson · Lady Lyndon; Patrick Magee · the Chevalier de Balibari; Leonard Rossiter · Lord Bullingdon; Hardy Krüger · Frau Lieschen
- Genres
- historical drama; war drama
- Themes
- fate and destiny; father and son
- Tone and mood
- stately; painterly; detached
- Premise and plot tags
- period piece; historical drama; war; gambling
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray
- Reception
- Initially met with mixed reviews for its slow pace and detached style, it has gained a prestigious reputation over time as a masterpiece of cinematography and period detail.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 78% · scale: percentage · review count: 156; Metacritic · score: 89 · scale: 100 · review count: 21
- Awards and nominations
- Oscar · Best Scoring: Original Song Score and Adaptation or Scoring: Adaptation · win; Oscar · Best Costume Design · win; Oscar · Best Art Direction · win; Oscar · Best Cinematography · win; Oscar · Best Picture · nomination; Oscar · Best Director · nomination; Oscar · Best Adapted Screenplay · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's title music is Handel's Sarabande.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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