James Fox

This is probably my favorite Kubrick film (either "Barry" or "Clockwork Orange").

I always assumed part of the reason Kubrick picked O'Neil was he could cry convincingly ("Love Story") and there's that great emotional deathbed scene in "Barry."

billy bentley

Clearly Kubrick's masterpiece, I think the casting of O'Neal could never be bettered. Everything I've ever heard as criticism of a Ryan's performance only adds weight to the performance, to the character and to the film. Fine "acting" is not always what is required in a great movie, consider John Wayne in "The Searchers".

nandywell

An absolutely beautiful film and very accessible, as are most Kubrick films. The ONLY problem I have with this film is the decision to cast Leonard Rossiter. Don't get me wrong I love watching Leonard Rossiter clown around in comedies but I think he took more away from the film than what he gave to it. The photography in BL is breath taking. Well done Stan, where ever you are.

billy bentley

Sorry nandywell , but I must disagree again. The casting of Rossiter, (to me at least) is superb and his dance sequence priceless. I'm not sure how well known he was when cast in Lyndon, but assume it was pre his "Rising Damp" fame, am I wrong ?

Steve Crook

Barry Lyndon was made in 1975 (released in December)

Rising Damp started in 1974 but was a slow starter. It didn't become a big hit until its second series.

But Rossiter was already quite well known on TV having been though Z Cars [as Det. Insp. Bamber in 8 episodes], guest appearances in things like Steptoe and Son and appearances in lots of TV plays (very popular in the 1970s). He was also a well known stage actor having been in the original stage play that Rising Damp was based on and many other hit shows. He had also done quite a few feature films including Oliver! (1968) [playing Sowerberry]

Steve

Nick Dando

Kubrick liked him, I imagine, as he also appeared in 2001.

Nick

cally

I think it's underrated imo, but then again the narration does drains away any drama the film might have because we are told what is coming in advance, which might account for this in the minds of many.

I'm a great fan of the narration btw - and Michael Horden is impeccable.

AdrianTurner

It was the amusing and delectable custom of novelists of the period to apply to each chapter a little preview, an announcement of what will happen next. I do not have Thackeray's Barry Lyndon to hand, but in Tom Jones (which, dear reader, I do have), Chapter 4, Book Nine, for instance, and which is where the book happened to fall open on this most auspicious occasion, being as it is for the benefit of Britmovie readers, Henry Fielding writes - "In Which the Arrival of a Man of War puts a Final end to Hostilities, and causes the Conclusion of a firm and lasting Peace between all parties."

There are several layers of perspective in Barry Lyndon - an 18th century story, written in the 19th, filmed in the 20th - and Kubrick's stylistic overlay, including this narrative device, enhances the period authenticity as well as reinforcing the idea of Barry Lyndon as a heavily symbolic moral argument in which the people involved are less characters than archetypes. Thus it does not matter dramatically that we know what might happen next, because higher things are involved.

Geddit?

cally

Hey Adrian I knew that alreadies - I just remember the reviews at the time suggested that the voice-over drained the film of dramatic impact.

I know it was a literary device - unfortunately most of the critics failed to realise this.

Either way it's a masterpiece imo as I thought I'd made clear.

steve lyden brown

I entirely agree. Given that Kubrick was so fanatical about every detail of his movies being correct, one wonders as to his choice of O'Neal for the lead role ?

faginsgirl

Barry Lyndon is said to be based on the real life Andrew `stoney` Bowes who married Mary Elenor Bowes, an ancestor of the Queen mum. I know because I have researched into `stoney` for work. Mary Elenor ran away from him from the north east to London where he kidnapped her back. It is said he locked her in a cuboard and gave her nothing but bread and water.

There is a rumour that that is where the saying `stoney broke` comes from as he died in a debters prison, but this has never been proven.

If anyone needs any further info just let me know.

xx

We`re changin` lodggggggggings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David Challinor

I love this film too...I went to the NFT way back in 1987 just to see it on a big screen. It was worth it.
The soundtrack's good too.
I find 2001 grossly overrated, and Eyes Wide Shut a wash-out, but the rest of his films were brilliant - well the Shining is tedious one-viewing, the next fascinating.
Paths of Glory is probably his most powerful.

billy bentley

Still yet to see "Eyes' as I'm waiting to see it on big screen (missed the opening - never mind why) although the only person I've ever heard say they liked it was Jim Jarmusch.