Next is Achieving Perfection.

This feature was made in 2017 by Criterion, and features Barry Lyndon focus puller Doug Milsome, gaffer Lou Bogue and excerpts from a John Alcott audio interview.

“There’s Only One” director, says Milsome.
He says working with Kubrick was long, intense, and thoroughly enjoyable.
(But he doesn’t know if he could do it with another director- only Stanley!)
Lenses are discussed, and John Alcott reminds us that Stanley was primarily a photographer.

Kubrick’s crew were mathematically precise, hence why Stanley worked with them film to film- what they did was second nature, and were so knowledgeable that they rarely made mistakes.
We hear of scenes being re-created from illustrations or paintings.
Each frame of this film was perfectly composed, and we learn how and why.




Next is TIMING AND TENSION.


Tony Lawson gives us memories of editing Barry Lyndon.
Editing began after principal photography was done, and was edited at Stanley’s house.
We learn how laborious the editing process was on Steenbeck machines, how much work it was compared to editing a movie today.
We learn of how music and narration shaped the film.
Great special feature.