Under Milk Wood (1972 film)

Plot

Along the Welsh coast lies a village called Llareggub – or "bugger all" backwards – which is peopled with eccentrics like Captain Cat, a seafaring man who is losing his sight; the sexy Rosie Probert and Mr. Waldo, 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
• Siân 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 Two
• 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. "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. 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."

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

References

1. Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 357. Income is distributor's receipts, combined domestic and international, as at 31 Dec 1978)
2. "Under Milk Wood".
3. Marsh, 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
4. [http://www.englishpen.org/event/under-milk-wood-screening-plus-qa-with-director-andrew-sinclair/] Interview with director Andrew Sinclair on englishpen.org
5. [http://www.visitwales.com/holidays-breaks/days-out/tv-film-locations-uk/wales-on-film Wales hosts Hollywood blockbusters]
6. Clwyd, Ann. "Welsh village gets set for 'Under Milk Wood", ''The Guardian'', 10 February 1971, p. 5
7. Taylor, John Russell. "Play it again, Clint", ''The Times'', 28 January 1972, p. 12
8. Malcolm, Derek. "Forty winking hallelujahs", ''The Guardian'', 27 January 1972, p. 8
9. (13 December 2012). "Dylan Thomas Under Milk Wood film rights gift to Wales". [[BBC Wales]].