A slight link to the scene before the duel at the end of the film where Barry is the one sleeping in the chair, was it a comment by the director that the gentry led boring and largely pointless lives ?
@@jonc2648 Stanley Kubrick transformed William Thackeray's comedic book The Luck of Barry Lyndon into a film tragedy, particularly by adding the final duel between Lord Bullingdon and Redmond Barry. Over a decade earlier, Kubrick had transformed Peter George's ultra-serious book Red Alert about the potential for nuclear war into the satirical comedy film Dr. Strangelove. In both cases, Kubrick elevated cinema into storytelling far beyond what heretofore had been the usual standard film re-telling of a preexisting book narrative.
@@birderjohn3396 : He played Charles Poldark in the Original Poldark series and Pyotr Arkadievich Stolypin in Fall of Eagles. Solid character actor, believable in everything he does. Pity he didn't get the recognition he deserved. But that's what comes of working in such a crowded field. The UK produces legions of brilliant actors. I love British TV/movies.
Me too! I thought I was the only one who thought that. And the musical editing binding scenes together into one musical movement and every actor, including extras (see the card scene where Barry meets Mrs Lyndon and Rev. Runt) acting on cues with chords in the music. Out of this world.
An 8.1/10 on IMDB, and still find that to be a travesty. This is one of the very greatest films ever made, like top 10. And Stanley Kubrick's finest work.
It's OK for a masterpiece, the Seventh Seal, Andrei Rublev and Rashomon have these 8,1. At the same time, many great films are even lower on the IMDB list, while some overrated ones occupied the top because they are more well known, simple, profitable etc.
One little historical problem, the Kingdom of Belgium was created in 1830, sixty years after the time when this scene is taking place. Spa in that moment was within the Austrian Netherlands
I love the actor of Charles Lyndon's heart attack performence, as someone who knows people who have suffered severe heart attacks, his mannerisms are pretty realistic.
There seems to be a strong parallel between this great standalone scene with Frank Middlemass as Sir Charles and that of Aubrey Morris playing Mr Deltoid in A Clockwork Orange, both characters a flawed conscience, rightly and boldly skewering the lamb-like deception of the anti-hero, but falling short into grotesque black slapstick. Even the elocution is remarkably similar.
I saw this movie with my parents WAAAAAY back in 1975, and I was 15 at the time. I immediately fell in love with this movie primarily due to the incredible cinematography, and of course the music. And I have watched this timeless masterpiece innumerable times, and still this is my absolute favorite movie of all time.
Of the supporting cast, my two favorites scenes (among many great performances) are Steven Berkoff's facial mugging as Lord Ludd & the late Frank Middlemass's brilliant monologue here. Both the dialogue & delivery are magnificent; every time I view it, I feel like I'm watching an actual 18th-century aristocrat in the flesh.
I completely agree. Those are two of the best scenes and best actors in the film. It would have been really interesting if Steven Berkoff had played Redmond Barry. But then I guess they wanted a big "commercial" name like Ryan O'Neal.
3:13 imagine being him thinking of it all coming to an end, his whole life a big mistake, his wife fixing to re-marry, all of that going through his head while he scrambles for a pill on the table. ugh.
I was thinking the same thing, what a crappy way to go. Your whole life to that age serving your nation, to have your wife not care for you and being insulted in front your compatriots, then having a serious medical emergency. : /
I'm oddly impressed by the wealth it took to have enough candles to play cards after dark. I believe this movie is famous for shooting theses scenes only illuminated by candlelight, and it was an eye opener to see how dark it must have been.
Kubrick had to commandeer special lenses with Fstops fast enough to work in candlelight. There were only 10 in the world and Stanley bought 3 of them. I think the rest belonged to NASA.
The candles were special too, being incredibly bright for candles. Special wax, three wicks and fast buring. Don't want to even think how many candles he burned through to film a scene. We're used to bright. People as late as the early 1900's weren't.
Actually it was "officially recognized in 1830" but this is merely a technical distinction. From an article in Wikipedia on the history of Belgium we have: The history of Belgium extends before the founding of the modern state of that name in 1830. It's like most nations an incredibly complex story that stretches from the dawn of history to present day. So, you can pick a date and make the kind of case you want. It's knit picking on your part.
In true technicality, the Kingdom of Belgium was a mere possession split between the greater European powers. Spa itself in this time period was apart of the Bishopric of Liège, of which was a French possession. As some have already stated - Belgium wasn't officially recognized until 1831. Until then, it was known as a Kingdom, though it was just occupied by other European powers. A prime example of this is Switzerland. Many people know about the Swiss Confederation, yet few know that parts of Switzerland was carved up by foreign powers in Europe to hold influence. Namely you had the Italian Genoese and Lombardians in the south, the French in the West, bordering with Prussian holdings in the canton of Neuchâtel, etc. European geo-politics is an amusing, yet complicated game.
Everyone praises the painting-like scenes - and this is very true, you can hardly find such a movie that perfectly displays the 18th century through subtle references with painting of that era. But the sound is equally important here, the voices sound just incredible.
You can watch this guy in another wonderful performance in To Give Them All My Days. A series about teachers in a English public school. I believe still on RU-vid
cardiac medication has been around for a very long time. it's plant based toxin which is used to try to correct arrhythmia or increase the strength of a heartbeat
Too bad the narrator is talking about the Kingdom of Belgium, which wouldn't exist before at least 60 years after those events. Spa was then part of the Principality of Liège, in the Holy Roman Empire. Great scene and great movie though.
The actor who played Ryan O’Neal as Sir Charles Lyndon i heard this one great movie It’s lot scenes this movie that movie made by Warner Bros. Pictures from 1975!!!!!!! 😀🎞📽🎥🍿
This film gets way too many plaudits It's crap from start to finish, with millions of dollars, fancy credits and posh names associated with it in the bargain. Rubbish
