In pictures: Stanley Kubrick making Barry Lyndon
Exclusive behind-the-scenes images courtesy of the Stanley Kubrick Archive showing the director in production on his lavish 18th-century period masterpiece Barry Lyndon.
Between takes at the army encampment. In Kubrick’s adaptation of William Thackeray’s picaresque novel, Ryan O’Neal plays the 18th-century adventurer Redmond Barry. Fleeing his hometown after taking part in a duel, Barry enlists in the British army and travels to the continent to fight in the Seven Years’ War.
Kubrick and O’Neal chatting during filming of the communal dinner scene in Barry’s Irish hometown. It’s at this table that Barry comes to blows with his love rival John Quin (Leonard Rossiter), a British army captain – the conflict that sets our hero’s adventures in motion.
Kubrick setting up a shot with Ryan O’Neal.
Kubrick surveys the scene from atop the camera platform, as his crew and extras mingle below.
The director prepares a shot. His cinematographer on the film was John Alcott, who won the Oscar for best cinematography on what is often referred to as one of the most beautiful films ever made. Alcott also collaborated with Kubrick on A Clockwork Orange (1971) and The Shining (1980).
Filming the bare-knuckle brawl at the army encampment, in which Barry is pitted into combat with a troublemaker called Toole. Toole is played by actor and wrestler Pat Roach, who would later turn up as various strongmen in the first three Indiana Jones films, Clash of the Titans (1981) and Never Say Never Again (1983).
Kubrick with actors Ryan O’Neal and Godfrey Quigley, filming the scene in which Barry’s friend Captain Grogan (Quigley) is mortally wounded in battle.
Marisa Berenson being made up as the beautiful Countess of Lyndon. Barry’s fortunes take an upward turn in the second half of the film, when he meets the countess at a gambling table and subsequently seduces her.
Kubrick with actor Patrick Magee as the Chevalier de Balibari. Barry is employed by the Prussians to befriend the Chevalier, whom they suspect is a spy, and to report on his activities.
Kubrick shares a joke with O’Neal and Berenson.
Surveilling the scene from on high. Notice the floral garden chair with the words ‘Stanley Kubrick’ emblazoned on the back – a picnic-ready alternative to the traditional director’s chair.
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