Barry Lyndon (1975)

Barry Lyndon (1975) follows the rise and fall of Redmond Barry (Ryan O’Neal), an opportunistic young Irishman who uses duels, military service, gambling and seduction to climb the social ladder of eighteenth‑century Europe. After a disastrous duel and a stint in the armies of Britain and Prussia, Barry becomes the protégé of the scheming gambler Chevalier de Balibari (Patrick Magee), marries the wealthy Lady Lyndon (Marisa Berenson) after her first husband’s death, and assumes the title “Barry Lyndon.” What begins as a relentless pursuit of status and gentility turns into complacent waste, bitter family conflict—most notably with his stepson Lord Bullingdon (Leon Vitali)—and a slow, inexorable unraveling of the life he built. Seeing the film is an immersive, atmospheric experience: painstaking period detail, formal compositions, and long, measured takes that recreate the rhythms of the eighteenth century. The pace is deliberate and methodical—rewarding viewers who enjoy visual mastery, quiet irony, and moral observation rather than fast action. Expect sumptuous costumes, candlelit interiors, classical music, and a cool, often bleak sense of inevitability as Barry’s ambitions collide with the social realities and resentments around him. It’s a historical drama that reads as both a character study and a meditation on class, identity, and the costs of social climbing.

Actors: Ryan O'Neal, Marisa Berenson, Patrick Magee

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Runtime: 185 min

Genres: Adventure, Drama, History

7.9 /10 89 /100 8.1 /10 8.3 /10