Barry Lyndon

Rise and fall of the swindler and card cheat Redmond Barry from Ireland. Driven by ambition, he ultimately brings about his family’s downfall.

In the mid-18th century, Irish nobleman Redmond Barry is forced to leave his homeland after becoming entangled in a conflict with the wrong person. The young adventurer eventually ends up in the service of the English army and is stationed in Prussia. Politics and the warring ambitions of nations, however, do not interest Barry—his sights are set on climbing the social ladder. Unexpectedly, it is the Prussians who offer him a chance to do just that. After Barry is captured by the enemy, Captain Potzdorf assigns him to spy on an Irish card player at the Prussian court, whom they suspect to be an enemy agent. But the two countrymen get along well, leave Prussia together, and form a successful partnership as professional card cheats.

Their journey through high society leads Barry to the English noblewoman Lady Lyndon, whom he marries. But his newfound fortune is soon at risk—Lady Lyndon has a son from her first marriage, who may challenge Barry’s claim to nobility…