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Barry Lyndon (1975)
Starring Ryan O’Neal, Marisa Berenson, Patrick Magee, and Leonard Rossiter. Cinematography by John Alcott. Edited by Tony Lawson. Produced, Written, and Directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Redmond Barry is determined to become a wealthy nobleman regardless of the costs. The first part of his story, which is referred to as “By What Means Redmond Barry Acquired the Style and Title of Barry Lyndon”, details his adventures as he leaves home as a young man, joins the army, becomes a spy, finds success as a gambler, and woos the widowed Lady Lyndon into marriage. He takes on her respectable name and is now called Barry Lyndon. The second part of the film, which is subtitled “Containing an Account of the Misfortunes and Disasters Which Befell Barry Lyndon”, chronicles Barry’s downfall from society as he squanders away his adopted family’s fortune and makes an enemy of Lady Lyndon’s son, Lord Bullington, who eventually challenges him to a deadly duel. Despite having achieved his life’s goals, Barry remains a shallow and egocentric man whose sadness ultimately isolates him from the rest of the world.
Stanley Kubrick’s interest in the eighteenth century remained even after being shut down on his epic Napoleon project. Hoping to not waste the time he spent researching the era, Kubrick began studying the works of satirical novelist William Makepeace Thackeray in a search of inspiration. He initially considered adapting Vanity Fair, undoubtedly Thackeray’s most famous work, but soon realized that the story demanded more time than a feature length film could allow. He finally landed upon The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq.; a fictionalized account of one man’s ambition for wealth and social position that delicately balances comic and tragic irony. But before Barry Lyndon could make his debut screen appearance, he would first need to go through a total body makeover. Kubrick cut nearly half of Thackeray’s novel, added important plot points, and switched the narration from a first person account to that of an omnipresent observer. He then spent the better part of the next two years shooting his visual masterpiece.
Barry Lyndon is a remarkable achievement in filmmaking for a number of reasons. The first, and perhaps most well known detail, is that Kubrick used a bare minimum of artificial lighting in the picture. He was able to accomplish much of this by adapting a Carl Zeiss 50mm lens that was originally invented by NASA for satellite photography. The lens operated at such a speed that it could effectively capture light in the darkest of sets. Kubrick was even able to light some of his indoor scenes solely by candlelight. Barry Lyndon will also be remembered for its spectacular costume design. Thackeray’s characters were recreated perfectly by the costume department, down to the finest details of the era. Some of the props used in the film were even authentic antiques from the period. All of this attention to detail has prompted many film enthusiasts to cite Barry Lyndon as the quintessential period piece. But at just over three hours in length, it’s certainly not designed for the casual viewer. Barry Lyndon is not the most celebrated project in the Kubrick library, but it’s definitely found a home among fans of the filmmaker.
Budget: $11,000,000
Total US Gross: $20,000,000
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 184 Minutes
US Release Date: 12/18/75
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 (intended ratio)
Awards: Academy Awards: Won for best art direction/set decoration, best cinematography, best costume design, and best original score. Nominated for best screenplay based on previous material, best director, and best picture. Golden Globes: Nominated for best director and best dramatic picture. Directors Guild of America: Nominated for the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures. Writers Guild ofAmerica: Nominated for Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium.
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Quote: “You are a liar. You're an impostor. You're a deserter. I suspected you this morning and your lies and folly have confirmed this to me.”
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