2001: A Space Odyssey--Reduxed! My analysis and tribute to Stanley Kubrick's Masterpiece!

Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film '2001: A Space Odyssey'. An essay and tribute to the greatest science fiction epic of all time!

For a film so far ahead of its time, it is hard to believe that 2001: A Space Odyssey was made in 1968 way before computer effects were invented. Director Stanley Kubrick co-wrote the film with British science fiction author and futurist Arthur C. Clark, based on Clark’s 1948 short story The Sentinel. Kubrick and Clark wrote the script concurrently while filming--more on the differences between the script and film later. 2001 was produced by Metro Goldwyn Mayer but filmed entirely in Britain. Its incredible cinematography is by Geoffrey Unsworth and the editing, which is equally impressive, is by Ray Lovejoy. The film stars Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood as astronauts Frank Poole and Dave Bowman, respectively, as well as actor William Sylvester as scientist Heywood Floyd. 2001: A Space Odyssey was not well-received by fans nor critics when it opened but gained momentum through word-of-mouth and became the highest grossing film of 1968. The film was nominated for 4 Academy Awards and won for Kubrick’s visual effects. 

As I mentioned earlier, there are many differences between the script and film, so much so that a lot of the film itself seems improvised by Mr. Kubrick. For 1, there’s a lot more exposition in the script’s dialog that explains more of what the film’s dialogue only implies. The script also has a voice-over that clears up a great deal of the ambiguity around who the aliens are and why they interfered with the ape-men and, later, modern man. I don’t know if the script would have worked in the film as Kubrick and Clark had written it; I think a lot of 2001’s mystique comes from the questions it raises and what it doesn’t tell you.

The film deals with themes that seemed irrelevant and even far-fetched at the time that it was made; however, now with the ushering in of artificial intelligence, 2001 has raised Stanley Kubrick from film director to prophet. The dominant theme in the film is how we can change the way in which we see ourselves collectively and individually. To me, this film is not just about how technologies like artificial intelligence, or social media, or driverless cars, or smartphones have changed the world; all of these are material. But the film is also about introspection and how a single idea--regardless of where, from whom, or how it originates--can alter the entire course of a person’s life. This is still--even with all the great science fiction films coming out lately--the pinnacle of speculative filmmaking, Like Orwell’s 1984, 2001 is not so much about the year but the idea for what this particular year stands for, an idea that will stand the test of time. 

Lolita reviewed and decoded in under 4 minutes!

For Humbert Humbert, a British, 40-something professor of French Literature, renting that room 4 years ago in Ramsdale, New Hampshire from that old lonely widow began as a simple stop over the summer before starting his professorship at Beardsley College in Ohio. It was a quaint country house that the widow was even more desperate to rent to him upon finding out he was a bachelor. Little did he know that she already had a tenant, a nubile, teenaged, heart-shaped-cherry-lollipop-licking, sunglass wearing daughter named Deloris, affectionately nicknamed Lolita. Lolita-- a memory of a lost sweet childhood love; he’d finally found her! But other eyes also have designs for her, namely filmmaker Claire Quilty. When the girl's mother mysteriously disappears, Humbert takes Lolita with him in his station wagon far away from her home in New Hampshire, all the while keeping 1 eye on the road and the other eye in the rear view mirror. Which is dominant, the man of intelligence or the man of flesh? Stanley Kubrick's 1962 black comedy ‘Lolita’ explores this question in the form of Humbert Humbert, a French professor and an impulsive 14 year old girl named Lolita. At the core of this film is the struggle between principle and the temptings of the flesh. When Lolita came out originally, the Hays Code and the Catholic Legion of Decency kept Kubrick from exploring the book’s erotic elements unlike Director Adrian Lyne's version of Lolita that came out in 1997. All the acting performances in this film are perfect starting with James Mason who delivers an unsettling performance as Humbert Humbert and Sue Lyon as the sexually precocious Lolita. This film contains no nudity or other explicit elements and it’s well enough acted that it doesn’t need them. In this film as he does in Kubrick’s 1964 film Dr. Strangelove, Peter Sellers plays multiple characters with ease. And Shelley Winters is also well-cast as Lolita’s emotionally insecure mother Delores Haze. I have this film on DVD and it looks and sounds great. The only issue I have with the DVD is that it isn’t widescreen. Anyway, Lolita showcases why most consider Kubrick among the best ever.

A quick review of A Clockwork Orange

A quick review of 'A Clockwork Orange'

Director Stanley Kubrick's 1971 British film A Clockwork Orange is based on Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel of the same name. Stars Malcolm McDowell and Patrick Magee spearhead the film’s all British cast in a story set in a futuristic dystopia overrun by street gangs. 


Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) is the id of the film and leader of a quartet of hooligans--or, as he refers to them, droogs--who spend their days in search of victims to rob, rape, and beat up. When they are not terrorizing society or brawling with other gangs, they can be found sipping drug-laced milk from the tit-like taps at the Korova milk bar. Alex's leadership is unquestioned by everybody except Dim who fails--even with the assistance of Georgie and Pete--in an attempt to unseat Alex as the gang’s leader. Later, though, Dim, Pete, and Georgie frame Alex for murder. Desperate to get out of prison, Alex agrees to participate in an aversion therapy experiment that takes away his violent tendencies by short-circuiting his ability to defend himself. He is then set free and rejoins society where those he once terrorized, including Dim, are waiting.


A Clockwork Orange is Stanley Kubrick's follow up to his 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey and, like that film, A Clockwork Orange speculates on where we may be heading in the not so distant future. Among the film's themes are free will and human nature. Other themes in the film are violence, sex, and art and how each of these are interpreted according to class.


A Clockwork Orange only took Kubrick 8 months to shoot. The film's star Malcolm McDowell said that if Kubrick wasn't a director he could have been a Chief of Staff with the US Armed Forces. I have the film on DVD which is full-screen but I’ve read that the new versions are letterboxed. Don’t let the age of this film scare you out of making the best 5 or 10 dollar investment you’ll ever make.

A plot analysis of Stanley Kubrick's period drama film 'Barry Lyndon'

In this video, I will analyze key themes from Stanley Kubrick's 1975 American period drama film Barry Lyndon based on the 1844 novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray.

The film stars Ryan O'Neal as an Irish commoner named Redmond Barry who sets out to make a name for himself by marrying a wealthy countess and and assuming the name of her dead husband, earl Charles Lyndon. The film also stars Patrick Magee, Marisa Berenson, Hardy Kruger, and Gay Hamilton. At the 48th Academy Awards in 1975, it won 4 awards for Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, and Musical Score.

'Barry Lyndon': a scene analysis of Stanley Kubrick's 1975 period drama film

In this video, I will give a scene analysis of Stanley Kubrick's period drama film 'Barry Lyndon' based on the 1844 novel by William Makepeace Thackeray called The Luck of Barry Lyndon. 

The film stars Ryan O'Neal as an Irish commoner named Redmond Barry who sets out to make a name for himself by marrying a wealthy countess and and assuming the name of her dead husband, earl Charles Lyndon. The film also stars Patrick Magee, Marisa Berenson, Hardy Kruger, and Gay Hamilton. At the 48th Academy Awards in 1975, it won 4 awards for Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, and Musical Score.

Born To Kill: A short video analysis of 'Full Metal Jacket'

An analysis of Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket

In this video, I will analyze key themes from director Stanley Kubrick's 'Full Metal Jacket'. Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war action movie shot in London, England and directed by Stanley Kubrick who co-wrote the script with Michael Herr and Gustav Hasford, based on Hasford’s 1979 novel “The Short Timers.” The film stars Mathew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D’Onofrio, Lee Ermey, and Dorian Harewood. This is Kubrick's 2nd war film, his 1st being Paths of Glory from 1957 Starring Kirk Douglas and George Macready. That film, set in WWI, took an anti war position from the standpoint of a French officer ordered to execute 3 soldier's for cowardice. By contrast, FMJ is an ambiguous look at war through the eyes of a soldier conflicted by his nature to kill and his desire to see peace. Thanks for watching this video and I would appreciate if you would like it and leave a comment.

A video Analysis of Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey'

In this video, I will analyze key scenes and concepts from director Stanley Kubrick's 1963 science fiction film '2001: A Space Odyssey. 

Star Child

2001: A Space Odyssey gives us an abstract picture and asks us to interpret it any way that we see fit. This is what makes this film great because it is not attempting to answer anything at all; it, instead, forces us to ask questions, about ourselves personally and about where we are heading as a species. The film can be a metaphor for the individual as well as a cosmic metaphor. The direction of an individual in his own life or that of a species completely transformed by a single event. Thanks for watching this video and please feel free to leave a comment.

My perspectives on Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove

Stanley Kubrick's 'Dr. Strangelove' or How I Learned to Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb

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"Hit 'em before they hit you!"--U.S. Air Force Brigadier General, Jack D. Ripper

Jack D. Ripper believes that the Soviets are fluoridating America's water supplies to pollute the nation's 'bodily fluids.' Therefore, he sends the 3-digit 'go-code' to an American bomber patrolling Russia. But the Soviets have a secret weapon of their own called the Doomsday device that's automatically set to blow up the world in case of a nuclear attack. The only thing that can stop the U.S. bomber from triggering the Doomsday device is the 3-digit recall code. But there's 1 problem: the U.S. bomber is damaged and unable to get the recall code. Thus, the Doomsday machine is set and the world can only pray and cross its fingers that the plane runs out of fuel before reaching its target!

This '64 film by director Kubrick is a satirical look at the Cold War and those who man the 'switches.' The archetypes in this great film from Jack D. Ripper to Dr. Strangelove himself seem over-the-top until you realize that there were--and still remain in key posts-- individuals equally, if not more, loony in our government who have their finger on 'the button.' Truth is really stranger than fiction. Based on the 1958 book called Red Alert (Peter George) and a script co-written with longtime collaborator Terry Southern, 'Dr. Strangelove' is a Swiss-watch of a movie starring James Earl Jones, Keenan Wynn, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, and the ubiquitous Peter Sellers as Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, President Merkin Muffley, and Dr.Strangelove.

Scene analysis of Stanley Kubrick's 'Barry Lyndon'

Stanley Kubrick's 'Barry Lyndon'

Title 1 (3) (2:25-10:52) (8:32) Stop after Barry leaves Nora in the forest

Summary

Barry becomes infatuated with his cousin, Nora Brady, who is herself attracted to a British Army captain named John Quin. She upsets Barry by dancing with the captain 5 times. She considers Barry a boy and the Capt. a man. Therefore, in order to earn the hand of Nora, Barry vows to challenge him for it. 

Analysis

In this scene, Barry learns that in order to get the things he wants—in this case, love— he has to earn respect by challenging those who have it in the honorable fashion at that time which is to a duel. His father died in a duel over horses, but his death was honorable. 

footnote (s): from wikipedia

Title 2 (7) (19:26-30:44) (11:18) Stop after Barry shoots John Quin

Summary

To earn honor and respect and the exclusive right to his cousin, Nora Brady, Barry challenges Capt. John Quin to a pistol duel and wins.

Analysis

In challenging Capt. Quin to a duel, and doing so honorably, Barry earns the respect of his second, Jack Grogan.

footnote (s): from Howstuffworks at http://people.howstuffworks.com/duel1.htm

 A second was a friend who came along to help prepare your weapons, make sure the other duelist wasn't going to ambush you and make sure the rules of the duel were being followed. Seconds were also supposed to try to defuse the situation that led to the duel by getting an apology from one party or another. 

Title 3 (11) (33:46-43:39) (9:53) Stop after Jack Grogan offers Barry money (shillings)

Summary

Barry turns to Army service to earn distinction. Once again, he is reunited with Jack Grogan, his 2nd in his duel with Capt. John Quin who tells him that he didn’t kill Capt. Quin who went on to marry Nora Brady with whom he has children. Being that there was so much to be gained from their sister marrying the wealthy captain, Nora’s brothers loaded tow in Barry’s pistol which knocked Capt. Quin out but didn’t kill him. In other words, the duel was set up to get Barry to leave

Analysis

With Nora Brady marrying John Quin, a coward, Barry learns that money means more than courage and honor when it comes to love. This experience plays significantly in his decision to marry Countess Lyndon later in the film.

Title 4 (15) (47:39-58:06) (10:27) Stop after Barry leaves woman’s house

Summary

Barry’s friend, Captain Jack Grogan, is killed in a skirmish with a rearguard of the French army and Barry decides that military service is not for him and deserts, stealing the uniform, identity papers, and horse of a British officer.

Enroute to Holland, a neutral zone in the war, Barry stays with a woman for several days. She has a small boy named Peter and her husband is away serving in the war. She and Barry have a love affair, both very lonely.

Analysis

Barry taking the name, uniform, and horse of the gay officer foreshadows him taking the name and property of Charles Lyndon later in the film. Staying with the wife of the soldier foreshadows Barry taking the wife of Charles Lyndon, also.

Title 5 (20) (1:07:15-1:22:46) (15:31) Stop after Barry tells Potzdorf he believes Chevalier won the money fairly

Summary

Once again, Barry earns distinction. After deserting the British Army, he is detained by and forced to serve as a spy for the Prussian Army who sends him to Austria to get information on Chevalier Balibari who is suspected of being an Irishman impersonating as a Frenchman. 

Analysis

Again, the idea of pretending to be someone else foretells Barry taking on the name of Lyndon. In this scene, he takes on a false identity to go into the service of Chevalier Balibari, who himself, is pretending to be someone he isn’t. Also, Barry continues to earn honor with his own name by saving Potzdorf’s life.

Gambling is used to describe the role chance and opportunity has played in Barry’s success. Chance and opportunity can work out for the worse or the better and so far it has worked out for the better with Barry and will continue to do so. However, luck at the tables, as in life, changes if you stay long enough. 

footnote (s): from wikipedia

Frederick the Great (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_the_Great#Sexuality)

Recent major biographers of Frederick, including Alings, Blanning, Burgdorf and Hahn, are unequivocal that he was predominantly homosexual, and that his sexuality was central to his life and character.

Title 6 (24) (1:24:22-1:33:43) (9:21) Stop after narrator introduces Bullingdon

Summary

Barry, disguised as Chevalier Balibari, is kicked out of Austria after Balibari refuses to forgive a gambling debt of the prince of Tubingen who is involved in a love affair with Frederick the Great. The prince had refused to pay his gambling bill and Potzdorf feared that the Chevalier might challenge the prince to a duel to force repayment. Therefore, to preclude the possibility of the king losing his lover, Potzdorf decides to exile Chevalier. Barry sets sights on Countess Lyndon.

Analysis

Again, Barry profits from chance and pretending to be somebody else as the Prussians unknowingly escort him to Saxony and freedom. Chance, or gambling, sets the tone for the 2nd act of this film and how Barry chooses to get a name for himself unlike the 1st act of the film where he does things to earn that good name.

footnote (s): from wikipedia

The Friedrich d'or (French doré "goldener Friedrich (II.)") was a Prussian gold coin (pistole) nominally worth 5 silver Prussian Reichsthalers. It was used from 1741 to 1855 and since it was a silver standard regular issue coin and trade coin at this time, it had a different purpose to domestic silver coinage or Kurantgeld, the so-called window on the stock exchanges. 

Title 7 (27) (1:39:01-1:46:04) (7:03) Stop after Barry blows smoke in the countess’ face

Summary

Barry sets his sights on a wealthy countess married to Charles Lyndon. Barry and the countess fall in love and begin a courtship. Charles, her husband, is aware of the courtship and suffers a heart attack. Barry marries the countess and takes the name of her late husband. 

Analysis

footnote: Wikipedia

Title 8 (32) (1:50:17-1:56:29) (6:12) Stop after Barry whips Bullingdon 

Summary

Barry enjoying married life and the name of Lyndon after marrying the countess. The countess’ son doesn’t like Barry and tells his mother that she is insulting his father’s name. Barry gives the boy 6 lashes 

Analysis

Success is having a negative effect on Barry. He has the name of an honorable man but not the respect of this name’s former owner. Burlington sees Barry as a faker and Barry’s methods for earring respect have been corrupted by gambling. In the beginning, he looked for great deeds as a way to make his name but now he is an opportunist

footnote: Wikipedia

Title 9 (35) (2:00:11-2:07:39) (7:28) Stop after “Decorators and cooks” as Barry is paying the bills

Summary

Barry’s mother tells him to get a title to protect himself in case something happens to the countess and everything goes to her son Charles who won’t give Barry a cent. Barry consults a Barrister who is close to the monarchy and who promises to help Barry get a title. From this point, Barry mingles in the proper circles, accompanies this barrister to all the important parties, lavishes his wife’s wealth on land, paying 10 times its value, purchases for large sums worthless paintings and other articles at ruinous prices.

Analysis

The means he takes to get a title in this half of the film are the opposite of the means he sets forth to make a name for himself in the 1st half of the film. The foreshadowing of this scene takes place when Barry deserts the British Army and inadvertently crosses Paths with the Prussian company led by Captain Potzdorf. Then, Barry—hoping to make his way to Holland, a neutral territory—lies to Potzdorf about his identity and his destination which he claims is Bremen. Potzdorf, then, informs Barry—whose stolen identity was Fakeham—that he is heading in the WRONG DIRECTION. This statement by Potzdorf foreshadows Barry’s downfall in seeking to buy a good name, something that can’t be purchased but that he was on the road to earning rightfully until his meeting with Chevalier Balibari and marrying the widow of the man whose name he’d stolen

Title 10 (36) (2:07:55-2:19:39) (11:46) Stop at Barry and dog in boat

Summary

Barry gives Charles Lyndon Jr. 6 lashes for spanking Bryan, Barry’s own son, who takes advantage of the fact that he is favored by his father. Barry invites a large number of his influential friends over to hear his wife play the piano with Reverend Runt accompanying her on the flute. Charles interrupts this performance walking in barefoot and holding the hand of his stepbrother wearing his older brother’s large shoes. Charles asks his mother if Bryan fits his shoes better. Then, he addresses Barry, accusing him of infidelity and squandering his dead father’s wealth. Barry loses his temper and beats Charles in front of everyone. The brutal attack alienates all of Barry’s guests who have nothing to do with him anymore 

Analysis

With all of the work put into getting a title, it takes just 1 mistake to ruin his name. Now, instead of honor there is only dishonor. All of the creditors bill him at once—this means that he is reaping everything he has sown from cheating on his wife, dating her while she was still with her husband,etc. 

Title 11 (42) (2:38:02-2:50:56) (12:54) Stop after Bullingdon shoots Barry

Summary

Bullingdon returns to the Hackton Estate after running away following his horrible beating at the hands of his stepfather. Through Reverend Runt and Graham, the family accountant, Bullindon knows that the estate is in shambles. He seeks to avenge the beating by Barry and challenges him to a pistol duel. But when Bullingdon’s gun goes off accidentally and fires the shot into the ground, he has to accept Barry’s shot. Barry, however, deliberately fires his gun towards the ground, unable to shoot Bullingdon who gets another try, this time shooting Barry’s leg. Barry is taken to a nearby Inn where a doctor tells him that he has to get the leg amputated

Analysis

Having ruined his reputation by beating his stepson, Barry rediscovers his sense of honor by sparing the life of his stepson who, in the faces of those witnessing the duel between he and Barry, loses his own chance at honor by not reciprocating the mercy Barry shows him. Barry loses his leg, his wife, and claim to the Hackton estate but, in a sense, he has regained the honor he lost.

An analysis of Stanley Kubrick's 'Barry Lyndon'

Stanley Kubrick's 'Barry Lyndon'

Barry Lyndon is a stylish 1975 British period drama directed by Stanley Kubrick who also wrote the script based on the 1844 novel by William Makepeace Thackeray called The Luck of Barry Lyndon. At the 48th Academy Awards, it won 4 awards for Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, and Musical Score. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts gave Kubrick its Best Director award. Though often left out of the conversations among seminal works such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, or Full Metal Jacket, Barry Lyndon is—given its running time of 3hrs and 11 minutes--probably his best film in terms of overall entertainment including a great deal of humor to go along with everything else. 

The film follows the rise and fall of an ambitious Irish commoner named Redmond Barry who sets out in the world to make a name for himself after being dumped by his beautiful cousin for an officer of the military. The film is told in 2 parts: the 1st half of the film follows Barry from his humble beginnings as a naive innocent man who fights for love, honor, and country, a man who gains respect and admiration everywhere he goes, from challenging an English Army captain for the hand of a woman; to signing up to fight in the 7 years war against the French; to standing up to a much bigger man; to saving the life of his captor—through all of these, Redmond Barry makes a name for himself. The 2nd half of the film follows a pivotal point of the film where Barry—to escape the Austrian government using him as a spy—takes on the disguise of someone else to start a new life as a professional gambler in Saxony and sets his sights on the wife of an earl named Charles Lyndon. At this point of the film, Barry’s methods for acquiring a name for himself become dishonorable, openly courting Mr. Lyndon’s wife and upon the husband’s death marrying her and assuming her dead husband’s last name; having open affairs with all of the maids on the estate; flogging her son, Bullingdon Lyndon who hates him with a passion; squandering the estate’s wealth on worthless works of art, etc—in other words, everything he did to earn honor of his original name, he squanders to counterfeit a name stolen from another man. A barrister with influence promises Barry peerage, or a proper title, from the king in exchange for Barry’s “friendship” which involves mingling with the proper people, attending parties, and giving ill advised loans to others of high ranking in society. What he once fought for he now resorts to paying for with disastrous results. Here is more on the key themes in this film.

Pretending to be someone else

Throughout the film, Barry takes on a number of false identities, most of which occur in film’s 2nd act when doing so precedes him taking the name of Lyndon. Along with the false identities are a number of clues that he will assume another man’s wife and name. 

• Barry takes the name of an officer named Fakeham whose horse, uniform and papers he’s stolen
• Barry has a brief love affair with a woman whose husband is away fighting in the war
• assuming the property and wife of this officer foreshadows him stealing the property and wife of earl Charles Lyndon. 
• taking on the identity of the Chevalier Baliberi
• Barry assuming the false identity of lazlo Zilagy, an agent of the Prussian Army

The wrong direction

• Another foreshadowing of Barry’s name change and his methods for gaining respect is him going in the wrong direction. After deserting the British Army, he steals a horse to go to Holland, a neutral region of the 7 years war. On the way there, he is stopped by a Prussian Captain and lies about who he is and where he’s headed, telling the captain he’s headed to Bremen. Captain Potzdorf informs Barry, under the name of Fakeham, that he’s going in the wrong direction and offers to point him in the right direction with a correct map. Barry’s lie is eventually found out but the point is that by 1st deserting his army, then stealing another soldier’s name and horse, Barry is beginning to go in the wrong direction even though following this episode he continues to do honorable things such as saving the life of his captor Captain Potzdorf. 
• Also key to this turning point in the story is Holland being a neutral zone or a midpoint in Barry’s transition away from the honorable acts defining him in the story’s 1st half. 
• Still another foreshadowing of Barry’s turning away from honorable methods is him being a deserter, not just in the Military sense of the word but also in the figurative sense in that he gives up his own name for the name Fakeham.)
• The point of no return occurs in the scene where he fools his captors by disguising himself as Chevalier Baliberi, fooling them into not only setting him free to leave Austria but also receiving from them 2,000 guineas for doing so. 

What’s in a name?

In the beginning, he tries to earn his name; in the 2nd half of the movie, he tries to buy his name or peerage.

Earning a good name

• Challenging John Quinn to a gun duel over Nora Brady and in doing so, earning the respect, admiration and friendship of Jack Grogan
• winning the boxing match against the bully in his regiment
• Saving Potzdorf’s life at the French fort
• As a spy for the enemy, he refuses to sell out a fellow Irishman

Earning a bad name

• Marrying the Countess only a year after her husband’s death
• sleeping with the maids
• gambling
• drinking
• running up bills
• instead of earning a good name by honorable deeds, he sets out to buy a name
• Beating Bullingdon in front of all the important people

The turning point…

…In Barry’s reputation comes when he gives up a good name he earned honestly to steal the name of another man.

'Barry Lyndon': plot summary

Epigram

"By what means Redmond Barry acquired the style and title of Barry Lyndon."

Backstory

Barry’s father killed in gun duel over a dispute over some horses but Barry’s mother refuses to remarry. 

1st Act

Barry and his 1st cousin, Nora Brady, play a game of strip poker. He wins a hand and she asks him to turn around so that she can hide a ribbon in her bosom. She stands in front of him and asks him to find the ribbon on her body but after 1 or 2 half-hearted tries he gives up. 

Losing her patience, she orders him to look again and gives him a hint by taking his hand and bringing it to her breast. He pulls out the ribbon and they kiss.

British Army drills

The English Army put on a demonstration for Brady Town in preparation for the French invasion. Barry watches them, particularly Captain John Quin of Kilwagen regiment, with envy in his heart. Later, Captain Quin dances with Nora Brady.

Barry and Nora walk in woods. He is upset with her because she danced with Captain Quin 5 times. She doesn’t consider the men as equals, Barry is but a boy while Captain Quin is a man known for fighting soldiers

Barry doesn’t have a guinea in the world. but he vows to challenge Captain Quin when he sees him. 

Quin declares his love to Nora Brady and she confesses to never having loved any man before him.

John Quin is very wealthy and her brothers prefer Nora to be with him. They act as her chaperones. Barry walks up on Nora and Quin as they are out for a walk. Barry returns the ribbon to her and she introduces them to each other. Seeing Barry hand Nora the intimate article angers Quin and he threatens to withdraw his affections from her and demands immediate repayment of debts the Bradys  owe him. Her brothers try to calm him down by insisting that nothing’s going on between Nora and Barry. One of her brothers reprimands Barry;  Nora marrying Quin would bring 1500 quid a year to their family

Dinner

Barry’s uncle, the father of Nora Brady, hosts a dinner in his home for Nora and Captain Quin. Everyone is seated at the dinner table except Barry who is standing and staring at Nora who is seated beside Quin; he looks smug. Barry is asked to sit and he does so reluctantly. Quit and Nora announce their plan to marry and kiss. Everyone toasts; Barry throws his glass of wine at Quin. Quin is besides himself with anger, reminding everyone that he’s a nobleman and a man of property. 

An uncle walks Barry home and warns him that his actions could wind up costing the family a lot of money. Quin has promised to pay off all of the family’s debts. Jack Grogan also reminds Barry that Nora’s father had been nice enough to take on him and his mother after Barry Sr. died. With all this said to him, Barry remains defiant and swears to fight any man who tries to take Nora’s hand in marriage. He asks his uncle to set up duel between himself and Captain Quin. Jack Grogan looks at Barry in disbelief, then smiles and kisses him in admiration declaring that he “shall not want a friend or a second. Never saw a lad more game in me life!” He agrees to set up the duel.

Duel

The pistols are loaded by Nora’s brothers. Jack Grogan seconded Barry, making sure the pistols are properly loaded and other rules of etiquette are followed. The men are given their pistols. Jack asks Barry to back out of duel and to apologize to Captain Quin but Barry’s mind is made up and Jack throws up his hands. Barry notices that his gun isn’t his own but the gun of one of Nora’s brothers. Jack wishes him luck. The pistols are aimed and cocked (Quin looks terrified).

Both guns fire and Quin falls dead to the ground.

Barry leaves Kilwagen on horseback and sets off to Dublin (bagpipes playing) with 20 guineas in gold in is pocket. He stops at a cottage for a drink of water. Two men there eye him with interest. He thanks them and resumes his journey.

The 2 men he saw at cottage are there and they rob him of his gold (his money) and horse.

The 2 men he saw at the cottage meet him in the woods and they order him, at gunpoint, to dismount the horse. The older bandit is Captain Feeney; they younger bandit is his son. Feenney is cordial but firm. He relieves Barry of his money but, out of courtesy, he allows Barry to keep his boots so he can walk 5 miles to the next town.

Gale’s Regiment of Foot

Officer Gale enlists Barry in the British Army to fight against the French. The compensation for serving is a shilling for life, clothing, arms, and accoutrements. Barry goes through training, marching with other recruits. Fighting against the French Army provides the perfect opportunity for Barry to earn distinction and a proper name. 

During one of the breaks in training, Barry receives a cup full of grease. When he complains to the recruit who served him, the bully among the recruits goes over and takes his cup and drinks the grease and spits it out, throwing the cup and laughing. 

Barry teases the bully about the beating he takes from his wife. The bully gets mad and challenges Barry to a fight.

Fight (Duel)

Barry is too fast for the bully who telegraphs every punch. Barry wins easily and rides off on the shoulders of his fellow recruits.

Graduation

After a month of training, Barry is made into a proper soldier. The men are ordered to stand attention for Captain Jack Grogan who rides by them on a horse. He and Barry smile at each other.

That night, Jack reprimands Barry for not letting his family know of his whereabouts. Barry never wrote home because he was ashamed for being robbed of his gold, horse, and his father’s pistols. Jack hears none of it and makes him write his mother immediately. Barry asks Jack about Nora. She, Jack confesses, has married Captain Quin. Quin survived the gunshot because Nora’s brothers had loaded Barrys pistol with tow instead of lead; they weren’t taking chances on Barry killing the captain who promised to pay off all the family’s debts on top of an allowance of 15 guineas a year! The duel was set up to get Barry to leave Kilwagen.

The 7 years war

England and Prussia are allies against France, Sweden, Russia, and Austria. Barry’s 1st taste of battle comes against a rearguard of Frenchmen who occupy an orchard that the British main force wants to pass through. The soldiers on the British side are slaughtered. Jack Grogan falls to the ground with a fatal wound. Barry carries him to a creek. Jack kisses him, gives him his last 100 guineas, and dies.

Barry now wants to get out of service for which he is obligated for 6 years. He stumbles on 2 gay soldiers bathing together in a lake. Johnathan is upset because Frederick has joined another regiment. Barry takes Johnathan’s uniform, identification papers, and makes away on the officer’s horse (50:00). Barry sets off for Holland, a neutral territory. Along his journey he sees a Prussian infantry. He sees a young woman on a small farm and asks her if there is an inn where he can grab a bite to eat. She says no and he offers her money in exchange for food and she invites him into her home for supper.

She has a baby named Peter whose father is away fighting in the war. He’s been gone since spring and she, like Barry, is lonely. He tells her that his name is Lieutenant Fakenham. She asks him to stay with her for a few days and on the 3rd day, he kisses her goodbye and leaves. 

He is but 1 of a long line of soldiers that stopped through the woman’s home. 

To keep its forces replenished, the Prussian Army resorts to kidnapping. Barry meets Capt. Potzdorf claiming to be carrying urgent dispatches to Bremen. Potzdorf points out to Barry that he is going in the wrong direction and asks for the identity papers he’d stolen from Officer Fakeham. 

Satisfied with these papers, Potzdorf offers Barry a meal, a proper map, and night’s lodging.

Over diner, Potzdorf asks Barry who he’s reporting to at Bremen and Barry answers incorrectly;  General Williamson has been dead 10 years! Potzdorf has Barry arrested for desertion. 

Barry is forced to join the Prussian army after passing through a gauntlet and receiving a lash from all of the Prussian officers. 

Barry saves Potzdorf’s life in the Battle of Audorf and for his heroism the King rewards Barry with 2 Frederick d’ ors.

The war ends and Barry’s regiment is garrisoned at the capital. Potzdorf promotes Barry to Police and promises him more promotions conditional on him working as a double agent to go into the service of a suspected spy named Chevalier de Balibari who is employed by the Queen of Austria. Though Balibari pretends to be a Frenchman he is actually an Irishman.

_

Barry agrees to spy on Baliberi. Potzdorf instructs Barry who will pretend to be Hungarian, not know a word of English, and is to have served in the war but was released due to weak loins.

Barry arrives at the Austrian palace and meets Chevalier Balibari who asks for Barry’s credentials. Barry tells Baliberi that his name is Lazlo Zilagy and that he is a Hungarian. But being in the presence of a fellow Irishman makes Barry homesick and causes him to break down and confess that he is a spy. Barry and Baliberi cry in each others’ arms.

Barry gives his report to Potzdorf consisting of mundane details prearranged with Balibari.

Barry serves as Baliberis’ valet pretending not to understand a word of English. At a card game, he serves the drinks so that he can see the cards of Balibari’s opponents. A wipe of the table with a napkin meant the enemy was strong in diamonds; adjusting a chair meant ace/king; asking Balibari if he wanted punch or wine meant hearts, etc. 

The Prince of Tubingen loses to Balibari and looks over his bill suspiciously, accusing the Chevalier of cheating and refuses to pay. 

Barry reports this to Potzdorf who asks whether Chevalier did cheat at the card game with Tubingen and Barry says no. Potzdorf orders Barry to report back to him tomorrow. 

Chevalier instructs Barry to tell Potzdorf that he may challenge the prince of Tubingen to a duel to force him to pay his gambling debt. This, the Prussian government cannot allow because prince Tubingen and Frederick the Great are lovers (wikipedia: King of Prussia from 1740 until 1786) and no harm could come to him.

Potzdorf decides to deport Chevalier. According to Barry’s false report, the Chevalier has a habit of taking a ride in his carriage every morning after breakfast. So, tomorrow morning after the Chevalier has finished his breakfast, that carriage will ride him to the frontier and out of the Austria.

The next morning, Barry is disguised as Chevalier and acts surprised at seeing 2 Prussian officers standing by his carriage. They tell him that they have orders to take him to Saxony. Barry is upset; he has an appointment at the Austrian ambassador’s home. The officers give him a small bag containing $2,000 Friedrich d’or's and usher him into the carriage (The real Chevalier left Austria the night before and was already in Saxony awaiting Barry). 

Barry and Chevalier at gaming table with Lord Ludd who loses and asks for credit. Chevalier grants his request. Barry makes Lord Ludd sign a promissory note but Lord Ludd reneges on the note.

Duel

Barry and Lord Ludd duel with swords. Barry wins and Ludd agrees to honor his promissory note. 

Barry and Chevalier travel throughout Europe gambling and are received as gentlemen by the best societies. Barry acquires a taste for the finer things in life and these tastes grow beyond the fine clothes and trinkets he earns by gambling. Like all men like him who are ambitious but are not born into wealth, he sets his sights on a wealthy woman, in his case, Viscountess of Lyndon, wife of Charles Lyndon, Knight of the Bath, parents of little Viscount Charles Bullingdon. He sees her in a courtyard, her husband in his wheelchair, little Charles Bullingdon their son, and their chaplain Reverend Runt.

Chevalier and Barry at gaming table with Charles Lyndon. Barry and the Countess can’t take their eyes off each other(these glances are complemented by burning candles). She leaves the table to go outside for fresh air. Barry leaves the table also and meets her on the terrace where they kiss.  From this moment, she is rarely seen without him by her side. 

Montage

• They ride in a small boat
• They walk the grounds

Charles and his friends are at the gaming table. Barry walks in and immediately Charles accuses him of cheating with his wife. The moment Barry leaves this setting, Charles dies at the table. 

Intermission

2nd Act

One year later, in the year 1773, Reverent Runt marries Barry to the countess. Barry takes the last name of the late Charles Lyndon. He has arrived!

He and the countess ride in a carriage. He is smoking a pipe and looking pleased with himself. The smoke bothers her and she asks him not to smoke. He blows smoke in her face. 

Young Bullingdon and Mr. Runt are in a separate carriage. Charles voices his dissatisfaction  with Barry, his mother, and their hasty marriage.

The following year, the countess gives birth to Barry’s 1st child, Bryan Patrick Lyndon. 

Montage

• She sits in chair with child looking lonely
• Barry having a ball with the maids

Charles, Reverend Runt, and the countess are strolling the grounds and see Barry kissing one of the maids. He sees them, too.

The countess, Reverend Runt and maids are playing cards. The countess asks of the time and Reverend Runt tells her that it is very late (Barry is out kicking it)

As the countess is bathing, Barry walks in and orders the maids to leave. He apologizes to his wife and they kiss. 

The countess tells Barry that she’s taking the children to the village and he tells Charles to look out for his mother and little brother. He kisses Charles who refuses to kiss him back and accuses his mother of insulting the memory of his dead father. 

Barry takes the boy to another room and gives him 6 lashes.

Barry throws a magic show for Bryan’s 8th birthday. Barry’s mother has come up from Ireland and is among the guests.

Barry tucks Bryan in bed and tells him about a battle he fought in the war with the French. He leaves the candles burning for his son.

Barry and his mother standing on a bridge. She tells him to get a title for himself. The countess has everything and one day all of her wealth will go to Bullingdon who won’t give him a cent.

Barry visits Lord Hallam, a fellow gambler and lawyer of the higher courts, a man who is also the 13th Earl of Wendover. His proximity to the monarch makes him the perfect advocate for Barry’s peerage.

Barry begins his campaign for peerage—or higher ranking in society—by mingling in all the proper circles where those of upper society attended. He uses the Countess’s wealth—including her diamonds—to buy land for 10 times its value, to buy overpriced paintings and other articles of little value (note—this is how he goes broke. In the beginning, he tries to earn his name; in the 2nd half of the movie, he tries to buy his name or peerage). 

He even begins paying bribes rationalized as loans to those he believes can influence his chances at gaining peerage. 

At the palace, Barry and others like him seeking peerage stand shoulder to shoulder before the king like sycophants hoping to be recognized and distinguished. Lord Hallam is there, and when the king passes over Barry, Hallam puts in a word for Barry to the king who gives him a polite cursory nod.

Barry and wife pays the bills which is 1 of the unpleasant duties of managing the estate. Reverend Runt, the boys’ tutor, leaves them alone to work on their assignments.

The moment Reverend Runt leaves the room, Bryan starts fidgeting. He asks Bullingdon what the word strenuous means. Bullingdon is trying to concentrate and wants to be left alone but Bryan is restless and needs attention. Charles blocks him out. Bryan climbs down from his chair and tries to wrestle the pencil away from Bullingdon. Bullingdon spanks Bryan and Barry walks in. 

He gives Charles 6 lashes for laying his hand on Bryan, something he was forbidden to do. After his punishment, Charles warns Barry not to hit him again, threatening to kill him if he did so. 

The Countess and Mr. Runt entertain guests with a musical performance. She plays the piano and he, the flute. Bullingdon crashes the party by coming in barefoot with shoes on his little his brother. 

Bullindon asks his mother if his shoes fit Bryan better. Then he tells his mother that he’s running away because he doesn’t like Barry, or him fooling around on her, or his squandering of his father’s wealth. Barry beats the boy in front of the guests. 

Everyone that attended that performance and witnessed that beating now have nothing to do with Barry and avoid him at every opportunity. Barry spots Neville at a restaurant and goes over to invite him to a game of cards; Neville invents an excuse not to do so.

All of Barry’s creditors bill him at the same time!

Montage: outcast

• Barry fishes alone in a boat with his dog
• Barry reads a book to Bryan
• Barry teaches Bryan how to fence
• Barry rides a horse and Bryan rides a pony

Barry buys Bryan a horse and has it put up until his birthday next week. 

The Lyndon’s and Reverend Runt— minus Bullingdon—have dinner. Bryan tells his father that he knows that he’s getting a horse for his birthday and that he also knows that the horse is being kept for him at a farm nearby. 

The countess makes Bryan promise not to ride the horse without his father being present.

As Barry is shaving Reverend Runt walks in to tell him that there’s been an accident regarding Bryan; the boy snuck to Doolan’s farm to ride the horse! 

Barry rushes to the farm and two men with the cart carrying his son meet him on the trail. The horse had thrown Bryan off. Barry sends for the doctor but the boy’s death is imminent. 

Barry and Countess at child’s bedside. Bryan asks his father whether he will die but Barry says no and tells him his favorite bedtime story of how he and his fellow soldiers stormed a French fort in the 7 Years’ War.

Mourners follow the carriage containing Bryan's body.

Montage 

• Barry’s mother finds him passed out from drinking and has two servants to carry him to bed
• Reverend Runt, with the countess at his side, reads a passage out of the Bible

Barry and the countess are so distraught over Bryan’s death that Barry’s mother has taken over the estate. She informs Reverend Runt that the estate can no longer afford him. He offers to waive his salary so he can keep an eye on the countess. Ms. Barry’s polite bearing vanishes and she accuses Runt of putting Mrs. Lyndon in her present state. He only takes orders from Mrs. Lyndon, he tells her, going on to voice his opinion of how she and her son, Barry, ruined the estate’s finances. She throws Runt out! 

The countess tries to take her life by poison.

Runt and the family counselor meet with Bullingdon to plot his return to the estate and revenge on Barry. At the estate, Bullingdon finds Barry and his friends drunk and semi-conscious around a gaming table. Bullingdon challenges Barry to a duel. 

They meet in a barn. Two seconds load the pistols and hand them to Barry and Bullingdon. Bullingdon wins the coin toss for the 1st shot. Barry stands tall and braces himself. Charles looks terrified. He is told to cock his pistol and to take aim. Bullingdon has never fired a gun and the gun goes off and the ball of lead is spent in the ground. He asks for another try but he isn’t allowed another shot until after Barry gets his turn. Bullingdon throws up and stands for the shot. Barry, seeing how afraid the boy is, aims his pistol at the ground and shoots. 

(he regains his honor) Everyone looks at each other with shock mingled with admiration. They ask Bullingdon if he is satisfied and he says no. They reload his pistol. Barry is stoic and braces himself. This time, Bullingdon cock’s the gun correctly, aims it directly at Barry, and fires. Barry falls down hollering and holding his leg. Bullingdon looks relieved.

Barry is taken to an Inn where a surgeon amputates his left leg below the kneecap.

A carriage transports Bullingdon and the family counselor back to the estate. Charles orders the counselor to take his mom to London and to evict Ms. Barry immediately. 

Graham the counselor visits Barry and his mother at the Inn. The counselor gets down to business: 

Bullingdon wants both of them to leave England in exchange for $500 guineas a year for life. If they choose to stay in England they will do jail time for the estate’s outstanding debts. 

Barry and his mother climb into carriage which is weighed down with bags and suitcases. They return to Ireland where Barry resumes his gambling career but his luck is not as good as it was before.

Bullingdon and his mother are at a table with Mr. Graham signing checks and other documents. For a long time, she looks at the contract to pay Barry 500 guineas a year for life. She finally signs it.