Under Milk Wood

source: Under Milk Wood

Trailer—Under Milk Wood

Under Milk Wood

. . .I guess that this was the way to do it. But who had the harebrained idea of doing a play for voices as a film, the most visual of media? All the actors, with the exception of Elizabeth Taylor, were very talented people, and were clearly doing their best, but conditions were against them. And even Taylor wasn't precisely BAD--it was just that so much of Rosie Probert's part was cut that one couldn't get a fair impression of what she could do with the part. And why was so much of not just Rosie Probert's part, but the play as a whole cut? If it was because of time limitations, what was with the insertion of the totally-irrelevant and gratuitous 'Norma Jean' sequence? I'd say, save your money and buy a recording of some other version of MILKWOOD done as an audio play as God and Dylan Thomas intended.

Dylan Thomas sub-tilted Under Milk Wood with "A Play for Voices". This is where this is best. With the words allowing the listener to develop some lovely images. The film as little if anything to the Argo or BBC recordings (or should I say soundscape?). Buy either of the audio tapes or CD and enjoy. The film is best left alone.

I saw this film again after a gap of many years. The story is well known ,the author lauded and the actors quite superb. What really captured and engrossed me was the 'time frame' of the film in it's setting of Fishguard. It is of another age,innocent and simple, lost in the vaults of time. Everything about it is of the heart. The schoolchildren,the honest rascal, sometimes no-good, characters and the relationships. Watching and listening to Burton is to enjoy the rich voice of a great artist. And, has Elizabeth Taylor ever looked so stunningly beautiful as in this film ? It also shows how rich we were in highly talented actors during this period. This account " in the day of ...." will increase in importance as the years roll on. It will surely stand the test of time.

Dylan Thomas, whose surname was borrowed by someone born Zimmerman, was a weaver of words. He wrote a radio play, not a film script. If you have the DVD, put on your blindfold or turn your back to the wall. The visual elements, although they merge well enough with a faithful adaptation of Thomas' words, add little and tend to distract. If you insist on watching, there are some irrelevant treats. It's good to see Elizabeth Taylor playing a scrubber (of a floor). The casting director must have had a sense of humour to give David Jason, not the most authentic of Welshmen, the Onanistic part of Nogood Boyo. Sometimes a verbal work is enriched when embedded in pictures. Not so with 'Under Milk Wood'. Thomas demands attention with the ears, not the eyes. This film is a worthy but misguided attempt to bring the work of a great writer to people who can't be bothered to read or listen. Dylan Thomas knew best: this is 'a play for voices'.

The movie is a painting of scenes, and a romance with English words that, oddly enough, only Celtic people seem capable of; Welshman Burton's riveting voice gives life to his countryman's work like perhaps none living could, today . The language is so lively and the metaphors so concentrated that the film may leave some scratching their heads; but for lovers of poetry, or literature at large, this well-conceived and directed interpretation of Dylan is worth the viewing. Peter O'Toole and Elizabeth Taylor give interesting performances, and the film contains several scenes that will stay with the viewer long after the film is over. The lush countryside of seaside Wales, and the sleepy little village in which the action plays out, are also quite haunting. Llareggub, indeed.

This film is cool, but the 17 year old looks about 30. I think the film is at times bizarre but at other times an everyday life story. Elizabeth Taylor (Butterfield 8) is badly cast but O'Toole is fantastic as the blind fisherman. Never sentimental, at times a little hard going, but rewarding. Not worth watching for anyone under 15 though, very difficult bits involved, even if you are very clever.

There is no way on earth that this film can ever compare visually with the lyrical lines written by Dylan Thomas. Although it is nice to hear Burton speak the words of his great idol, the inclusion of Elizabeth Taylor as Rosie Probert is a mistake. Full marks to Peter O'Toole for a fine effort as Captain Cat.