Barry Lyndon 1975

Act I: The Unlikely Rise of Redmond Barry to Notoriety

As the curtain opens on the Irish countryside circa 1750s, an omniscient narrator (Michael Hordern) sets the stage for the tumultuous tale of Redmond Barry (Ryan O’Neal), whose life is forever changed by the fateful demise of his father in a pistol duel over a disputed horse sale. The bereaved widow Belle (Marie Kean) dedicates herself to her sole surviving son, fostering in him a sense of responsibility and ambition.

As Barry navigates adolescence, he becomes besotted with his older cousin Nora Brady (Gay Hamilton), whose charms are momentarily hers alone to savor during a high-stakes card game. However, her affections soon shift towards the esteemed British Army captain John Quin (Leonard Rossiter), leaving Barry heartbroken and consumed by jealousy. The situation escalates, culminating in a fateful duel beside a riverbank, where Barry takes aim at Quin and, in a moment of recklessness, sends him to his maker.

In the aftermath of this pivotal event, Barry is advised to flee the authorities and make haste for Dublin, but fate has other plans. As he travels through the countryside, he finds himself at the mercy of the notorious Captain Feeney (Arthur O’Sullivan), an infamous highwayman who strips Barry of his possessions, leaving him destitute and disheartened.

Undeterred, Barry presses on, eventually arriving in a bustling town where he is wooed by a charismatic recruiter touting the glories of serving in the British Army. The promise of fame, fortune, and a lifelong pension proves too enticing to resist, and Barry enlists, embarking on a journey that will test his mettle in the crucible of war.

As Barry serves with distinction in the regiment, he encounters Captain Grogan (Godfrey Quigley), an old family friend who harbors a deep affection for him. In a candid conversation, Grogan reveals the shocking truth: Barry’s duel with Quin was nothing more than a cleverly staged ruse engineered by Nora’s family to secure their financial future through a lucrative marriage.

Barry’s regiment is soon dispatched to Germany to participate in the Seven Years’ War, where he witnesses the brutal realities of conflict firsthand. The turning point comes when Captain Grogan falls victim to French forces during a skirmish at the Battle of Minden, leaving Barry feeling disillusioned and disheartened by the senseless violence.

Seeking escape from the horrors of war, Barry deserts his post, donning the uniform and identity papers of an officer courier. His journey takes him through neutral Holland, where he encounters Captain Potzdorf (Hardy Krüger), a perceptive Prussian officer who presents him with an unpalatable choice: return to the British Army, only to face certain execution as a deserter, or enlist in the Prussian military. Barry chooses the latter, embarking on a new chapter in his life that will be marked by valor and recognition from none other than Frederick the Great himself.

As the Treaty of Paris formally brings an end to the war in 1763, Barry finds himself entwined in a web of intrigue within the Prussian Ministry of Police. Employed by Captain Potzdorf’s uncle, he is tasked with monitoring the enigmatic Chevalier De Balibari (Patrick Magee), a cunning Irish expatriate and professional gambler suspected of being a spy. Barry’s mission is to uncover the truth behind the Chevalier’s supposed espionage activities, but as their paths converge, they form an unlikely alliance at the card table, where Barry’s exceptional eyesight proves invaluable in transmitting vital information to his partner.

Their successful collaboration yields a lucrative payday at the expense of the Prince of Tübingen (Wolf Kahler), who accuses the Chevalier of cheating without providing concrete evidence. The Prussians, still skeptical about the Chevalier’s motives, are wary of allowing another encounter between him and the Prince, fearing it may compromise their own operations. Consequently, they arrange for the Chevalier to be expelled from the country.

Barry discreetly conveys this decision to his new associate, who flees under the cover of darkness. The next morning, Barry, disguised as the Chevalier, is escorted out of Prussian territory by a contingent of army officers.

As their travels take them across Europe’s spas and gaming halls, Barry and the Chevalier thrive, exploiting their adversaries’ fortunes through high-stakes gambling, with Barry using his swordsmanship to extract payment from reluctant debtors. However, as time passes, Barry becomes increasingly disenchanted with his life of luxury, realizing that his fortunes are built on sand. In a bid to secure a more stable future, he sets his sights on marrying into wealth.

Their paths cross again at a gaming table in Spa, where Barry encounters the breathtakingly beautiful Countess of Lyndon (Marisa Berenson). He charms her with his wit and good looks, eventually winning her hand after the passing of her elderly husband, Sir Charles Lyndon (Frank Middlemass).

Act II chronicles the tumultuous events that beset Barry Lyndon. As June 1773 unfolds, Barry assumes his new title as Countess Lyndon’s spouse, settling in England to luxuriate in her wealth, yet still lacking a penny of his own. The young Lord Bullingdon (Dominic Savage), Lady Lyndon’s ten-year-old son by Sir Charles, vehemently disapproves of the marriage, viewing Barry as a “common opportunist” who lacks genuine affection for his mother. In retaliation, Barry subjects Bullingdon to relentless physical abuse.

Lady Lyndon bears Barry a son, Bryan Patrick (David Morley), but their union is marred by unhappiness. Barry’s infidelity and profligate spending on self-indulgent luxuries only serve to further isolate his wife, keeping her in seclusion as he revels in the opulence she has provided for him.

As time passes, Barry’s mother makes the fateful decision to relocate to the Lyndon estate, where she imparts a sobering warning to her son: should Lady Lyndon meet her demise, their entire fortune would be bequeathed to Lord Bullingdon, leaving Barry and his young son Bryan destitute. With this unsettling prospect in mind, Barry’s mother urges him to secure a noble title as a means of protecting their interests. To further advance his social standing, Barry cultivates a relationship with the influential Lord Wendover (André Morell) and lavishes considerable sums on high society, all in an effort to curry favor.

However, this elaborate strategy is foiled at Lady Lyndon’s birthday celebration when Lord Bullingdon, now a young adult, makes a dramatic appearance. In a public declaration, he enumerates the reasons for his intense dislike of Barry and vows to vacate the family estate as long as Barry remains there, married to his mother. Consumed by rage, Barry brutally assaults Bullingdon, only to be forcibly restrained by the party guests. This brutal outburst exacts a devastating toll on Barry’s reputation, causing him to lose the very social connections he had so diligently cultivated and ultimately forcing him into exile from polite society.

In stark contrast to his mistreatment of Lord Bullingdon, Barry proves an indulgent and devoted father to Bryan, spending every waking moment with his son after Bullingdon’s departure. He is powerless to resist Bryan’s demands, including the latter’s insistent request for a full-grown horse on his ninth birthday. The spoiled Bryan disobeys his parents’ explicit instructions, disregarding Barry’s repeated warnings and ultimately suffers a life-altering injury when thrown from the horse. The devastating consequences of this reckless decision unfold swiftly, as Bryan succumbs to his injuries just days later, leaving Barry shattered by the loss of his young son.

As the crushing weight of bereavement settles upon him, Barry Lindon (character) finds solace in the numbing effects of liquor, while his grief-stricken wife, Lady Lyndon, turns to the comfort of religion, with guidance from Reverend Samuel Runt (Murray Melvin), a wise and venerable tutor who had previously instructed Lord Bullingdon and Bryan. Meanwhile, Barry’s mother assumes control of their respective households during their periods of mourning, ultimately dismissing the reverend due to the family’s financial struggles, which have been exacerbated by Barry’s profligate spending habits.

Lady Lyndon’s despair deepens, prompting her to attempt self-destruction, though she ingests only a small enough quantity of poison to render herself temporarily incapacitated. As the situation worsens, Reverend Runt and the family’s accountant, Graham (Philip Stone), seek out Lord Bullingdon, who is informed of these dire events and subsequently returns to England from his travels abroad.

Upon arriving in England, Lord Bullingdon finds Barry wallowing in self-pity at a gentlemen’s club, mourning the loss of his young son rather than offering solace to his grieving wife. Seething with anger over this perceived slight, Lord Bullingdon challenges Barry to a duel, demanding satisfaction for his public humiliation.

The duel takes place in a rustic tithe barn, where a coin toss awards Lord Bullingdon the right to fire first. However, he nervously falters, causing his shot to miss its mark. In a display of chivalry, Barry elects not to return fire, instead firing into the ground, which only serves to enrage Lord Bullingdon further.

Undeterred by Barry’s mercy, Lord Bullingdon fires again, striking Barry in his left leg. As Barry lies recovering at a nearby inn, he learns from a skilled surgeon that the leg will require amputation below the knee if he is to survive.

As Barry convalesces, Lord Bullingdon reasserts control over the Lyndon estate, leaving Barry with few options but to accept an offer from his adversary: in exchange for granting Barry an annuity of 500 guineas per year, Barry must agree to leave England forever, with payments ceasing should he ever return. With his credit and bank accounts exhausted, Barry is forced to accept this proposal, fearing the alternative: imprisonment at the hands of his creditors.

The film’s narrative concludes with a somber assessment of Barry’s fate, as he departs for Ireland with his mother before eventually returning to his former life on the European continent, where he resumes his career as a gambler. Despite his promise to never return to England or rekindle his relationship with Lady Lyndon, Barry’s past continues to haunt him.

The final scene takes place in December 1789, when a middle-aged Lady Lyndon signs Barry’s annuity check, watched by her son, whose gaze is filled with a mix of regret and resignation.

Within the storied era of King George III’s reign, a cast of characters, each with their own unique tapestry of virtues and vices, joys and sorrows, came to life. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of this tumultuous period in history, where social hierarchies were rigidly defined by wealth, beauty, and status. And yet, amidst the opulence and extravagance, a subtle thread of equality began to weave its way through the fabric of society, as individuals from all walks of life converged to shape their own destinies.