Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1972
Under Milk Wood (1972 film)
Buy Under Milk Wood (1972 film) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'Under Milk Wood' is a 1972 British drama film directed by Andrew Sinclair and based on the 1954 radio play 'Under Milk Wood' by the Welsh writer Dylan Thomas, commissioned by the BBC and later adapted for the stage. It featured performances by Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Sin Phillips, David Jason, Glynis Johns, Victor Spinetti, Ruth Madoc, Angharad Rees, Ann Beach, Vivien Merchant and Peter O'Toole as the residents of the fictional Welsh fishing village of Llareggub.
Plot
Along the Welsh coast lies a village called Llareggub - or "bugger all" backwards - which is peopled with eccentrics like Captain Cat (Peter O'Toole), a seafaring man who is losing his sight; the sexy Rosie Probert (Elizabeth Taylor); and Mr. Waldo (Ray Smith), a jack-of-all-trades who is full of regret. The story is told by Richard Burton's character.
Cast
* Richard Burton as First Man
* Elizabeth Taylor as Rosie Probert
* Peter O'Toole as Captain Tom Cat
* Sin Phillips as Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard
* Glynis Johns as Myfanwy Price
* Vivien Merchant as Mrs. Pugh
* Victor Spinetti as Mog Edwards
* Ryan Davies as Second Man
* Angharad Rees as Gossamer Beynon
* Ray Smith as Mr. Waldo
* Michael Forrest as Sinbad Sailor
* Ann Beach as Polly Garter
* Glynn Edwards as Mr. Cherry Owen
* Bridget Turner as Mrs. Cherry Owen
* Talfryn Thomas as Mr. Pugh
* Tim Wylton as Mr. Willy Nilly
* Bronwen Williams as Mrs. Willy Nilly
* Meg Wynn Owen as Lily Smalls
* Hubert Rees as Butcher Beynon
* Aubrey Richards as Reverend Eli Jenkins
* Mark Jones as Evans the Death
* Dillwyn Owen as Mr. Ogmore
* Richard Davies as Mr. Pritchard
* David Jason as Nogood Boyo
* Davyd Harries as Police Constable Attila Rees
* David Davies as Utah Watkins
* Paul Grist as Tom Fred
* Ruth Madoc as Mrs Dai Bread TwoMarsh, Gary (2008) "[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/cynon-valley/2008/07/03/colstars-say-hi-de-hi-to-ruth-91466-21207432/ Colstars Say Hi-de-Hi to Ruth]", 'Cynon Valley Leader', 3 July 2008
* Susan Penhaligon as Mae Rose Cottage
Production
The film was shot primarily on location in Wales and has since acquired a reputation among aficionados as a cult movie.[http://www.englishpen.org/event/under-milk-wood-screening-plus-qa-with-director-andrew-sinclair/] Interview with director Andrew Sinclair on englishpen.org "The film, beautifully photographed and spoken, casts the brooding spell of Thomas verse in its reconstruction of the seaside village and the daily round of its inhabitants", wrote Andrew Sinclair in the 'International Herald Tribune'.
The filming took place in Lower Town, Fishguard, Wales.[http://www.visitwales.com/holidays-breaks/days-out/tv-film-locations-uk/wales-on-film Wales hosts Hollywood blockbusters] The choice of location caused protest from some in Laugharne, the town forty miles away (60 km) where Thomas had written the play; an official there said, "To film 'Under Milk Wood' anywhere but Laugharne would be as absurd as filming James Joyce's 'The Dubliners' in Birmingham."Clwyd, Ann. "Welsh village gets set for 'Under Milk Wood", 'The Guardian', 10 February 1971, p. 5
Jacquemine Charrott Lodwidge was the film's production researcher.
Reception
In 'The Times', John Russell Taylor wrote:
Taylor concluded that "the final effect is to leave one wondering what, precisely, is the point of the exercise".
In 'The Guardian', Derek Malcolm wrote:
Legacy
In December 2012 the director of the film, Andrew Sinclair, gave the film rights to the people of Wales.
References
Buy Under Milk Wood (1972 film) now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1972