Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5575 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-09-10
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, French, German
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 177 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Perhaps Stanley Kubrick's most underrated film, Barry Lyndon--adapted from the picaresque novel by William Makepeace Thackeray--inhabits the 18th century in the way A Clockwork Orange and 2001: A Space Odyssey inhabit the future: perfect sets, costumes and cinematography capture characters whose rises and falls are at once deeply tragic and absurdly comical. Narrated in avuncular form by Michael Hordern, the film follows the fortunes of Redmond Barry (Ryan O'Neal), a handsome Irish youth forced to flee his hometown after a duel with a cowardly English officer (Leonard Rossiter). Stripped of his small fortune by a deferential highwayman, Barry joins the British army and fights in the Seven Years War, attempting a desertion that leads him into the Prussian army. A position as a spy on an exquisitely painted con man (Patrick Magee) leads to a life of gambling around the courts of Europe, and just before the intermission our hero achieves all he could want by marrying a wealthy, titled beautiful widow (Marisa Berenson). However, Part Two reveals that Barry can no more be a clockwork orange than the protagonist of Kubrick's previous film, and his spendthrift ways, foolhardy pursuit of social advancement and unwise treatment of his new family lead to several disasters, climaxing in another horrific, yet farcical duel. Shot almost entirely in the "magic hour", that point of the day when the light is mistily perfect, with innovative use of candlelight for interiors, Barry Lyndon looks ravishing, but the perfection of its images is matched by the inner turmoil of its seemingly frozen characters. Kubrick is often accused of being unemotional, but his restraint is all the more affecting when, for example, Barry is struck by the deaths of those close to him, his wife writhes into madness or his stepson (Leon Vitali) vomits before he can stand his ground in a duel.

On the DVD: The extras are skimpy, a trailer and a list of awards, a French alternate soundtrack and subtitles in seven languages. However, the film--"digitally restored and remastered"--is served superbly by the medium. Letterboxed to 1.59:1 (which fits the 14:9 option of a widescreen TV), with a 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack, the print looks and sounds wonderful, which not only allows a fresh appreciation of the wit and beauty of the film but shows just how good the apparent underplaying (unusual in Kubrick films) of the cast is. --Kim Newman

Special Features
DVD Technical Information:

• Languages: English, French
  
• Sub-titles: English, French, Italian, Dutch, Arabic, Spanish, German; English for the hearing impaired

Synopsis
BARRY LYNDON is Stanley Kubrick's epic costume drama based on William Makepeace Thackeray's picaresque novel. It tells the story of a young rogue who wanders through life getting lost in various adventures, meeting his share of women and oddball characters. When Redmond Barry (Ryan O'Neal, trying desperately to maintain an Irish brogue) becomes jealous of Captain Quin's advances on Barry's beloved cousin, he challenges the man to a duel. Winning the duel, young Barry is forced to leave his home and his mother, and off on his adventures he goes. He meets thieves, lonely soldier brides, Prussian army leaders, and British widows, inventing new stories about himself at every turn of the road.
BARRY LYNDON is lush and magnificent, sparkling with color, every frame reminiscent of the finest European art. The blues of the Prussian army uniforms and the reds of the British contrast sharply with the majestic green land and mountains in nearly every background. Kubrick often begins a shot close in, then zooms out to reveal the beautiful natural landscape and ornate rooms surrounding the now seemingly insignificant characters. With rousing performances from O'Neal, Marisa Berenson, Hardy Kruger, and Leonard Rossiter, jaw-dropping camerawork, spectacular natural lighting, and a marvelous classical-music soundtrack painstakingly put together by Kubrick, BARRY LYNDON is a dramatic romantic epic that may be Kubrick's most beautiful film.

Customer Reviews

A fantastic film
Barry Lyndon is a magnificent, sweeping epic. Tracing an Irish adventurers progress across 18th century Europe, it is a roller coaster ride, full of action. Ryan O'Neal plays the "hero" who (depending on your perspective) could be described as a loveable rougue, or something far less polite! The film charts his journey to greatness, his inability to control himself, and his inevitable fall from glory.

The costumes, settings and atmosphere created by the movie are superb, as is the classical soundtrack. It is far more exciting then most costume dramas screened on terrestrial tv. It is a long film, but it is an astonishingly beautiful and haunting masterpiece by the late, great Stanley Kubrick.

Just feel the quality
Ryan O Neal stars in the title role of this historical epic about the adventures of a gentlemanly rogue travelling the battlefields and parlours of 18th century Europe. Determined to make for himself the life of a nobleman through seduction, gambling and duelling in this methodical film showing the rhythm and life of the period. Director Stanley Kubrick brings his usual eye for detail to this underrated drama, which boasts some very spectacular locations and great cinematography by John Alcott who won an Oscar for his work.

Pure art
Barry Lyndon is a haunting tale woven beautifully into a rich and almost static and slow moving tapestry. Some critics famously argue about the coldness of Kubric's characters in his work but here in lies the secret to the success of the film. Emotion is something that is hard not to create, there is more than enough emotion in the visuals and score for the audience. The amazing use of music again by the director enhances the visual feast to the point of over indulgence and I feel that the theme of the film is about beauty and indulgence.

Although not rated as highly as Full Metal Jacket or The Shining I really liked this film. The choice of cast for the film is top class with each character the personification his or her role.

Who could not admire the scene when Barry walks out to meet Lady Lyndon, the beauty of that scene alone is worth watching the film Barry Lyndon. Watch this film and you treat yourself.