Comments on: LORDLY & LADY PLEASURES : DUELING ABOUT COURTESIES OF CULTURE

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:01:21 +0000

funfab, thanks so much for reading. Its always a work in progress. Best,
Dave

By: funfabmegan

funfabmegan — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:21:30 +0000

I really love the way you write!!

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:45:51 +0000

hi David,
thanks for reading. I wrote this a couple months ago, but I do remember that duels were incredibly common, or at least commonplace as was eluded to in the story. As well, Kubrick, with his acute sense of detail, could not have failed to notice the aesthetic potential. i tried to, but failed to find the video of the duel in Highlander. Specifically, I may have linked some sources in the blog, and it did take me some time to come up with material. The Bullingdon duel must have been reported somewhere, but I wonder why Thackeray would omit it? As far as “fire at leisure”, Kubrick, well, he does nothing by accident, so there must be a reason and if I knew it, I would tell. Best, and feel free to comment in the future.
Dave

By: david stead

david stead — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:43:14 +0000

Hello, Dave
I’ve just found your site with the fascinating videos from Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon.When I first saw that film, I was struck by how much the duels – in real time – contributed to it. Just watching the encounter with Captain Flynn showed me just how its screenplay anticiipates the final Bullingdon duel, which – a small point – makes it a bit of a pity that you don’t show the whole of that last encounter. But what really interests me is that the Bullingdon duel is not in Thackeray’s book, so Kubrick made it up. Which prompts the questions: what were his sources, on which I think I once had an unlikely idea? And more difficult. what historical precedents are there for the Lyndon-Bullingdon scenario, in which of course each duellist takes his turn to fire at leisure an individual shot? If you know any answers and have time to tell me, I would appreciate it! And again, congratulations on your superb site.
Best wishes
David Stead.