Under Milk Wood
BB.5
(out of 5)
Dylan Thomas’ popular radio drama is adapted to film with a number of stars making brief and, in some cases, obscure appearances, including Peter O’Toole, Elizabeth Taylor, Glynis Johns, and Richard Burton, whose own recording of the original text is one of his most beloved career accomplishments. Made in a style looking to recapture the critical success of Ulysses, it features moments from the lives of the Welsh town of Llareggub (that’s “Bugger all” spelled backwards), some humorous, some poignant, with Thomas’ charming text left pretty much intact. It’s actually quite lovely at times, but there’s an uneven tone to the whole thing, both in dramatic movement and casting: Taylor looks ravishing in her £600 worth of dresses (for three days of filming, for which she received a whopping £10,000), but having so obvious a movie star in the midst of plainer faces like Vivien Merchant is somewhat jarring (even Burton and Johns blend in better by comparison). It’s a weird movie, but its cult status means that you might be among those who take it in as one of their own.
Directed by Andrew Sinclair
Screenplay by Andrew Sinclair, based on the play by Dylan Thomas
Cinematography by Robert Huke
Produced by John Comfort
Music by Brian Gascoigne
Production Design by Geoffrey Tozer
Costume Design by Dulcie Midwinter, Roy Ponting
Film Editing by Willy Kemplen, Greg Miller
Cast Tags: Angharad Rees, Ann Beach, Aubrey Richards, Bridget Turner, Bronwen Williams, David Davies, David Jason, Davyd Harries, Dillwyn Owen, Dudley Jones, Elizabeth Taylor, Glynis Johns, Glynn Edwards, Hubert Rees, Mark Jones, Maudie Edwards, Meg Wynn Owen, Michael Forrest, Peggy Ann Clifford, Peter O’Toole, Ray Smith, Richard Burton, Richard Davies, Ryan Davies, Siân Phillips, Talfryn Thomas, Tim Wylton, Victor Spinetti, Vivien Merchant
