Under Milk Wood (1971)
Studio: The Rank Organization
Running time: 88 minutes
“Legendary Hollywood icons Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and Peter O’Toole star in the screen adaptation of Dylan Thomas’ classic play.
“A celebration of life and death, the film follows the people and events in a small Welsh harbour village, on one spring day.
“Captain Cat (O’Toole), the blind sea captain, awake or asleep, yearns for Rosie Probert (Taylor), the greatest passion of his youth. Richard Burton plays the key role of the first voice, an all-seeing compassionate narrator.” [From the DVD]
Cast
First Voice: Richard Burton
Rosie Probert: Elizabeth Taylor
Captain Cat: Peter O’Toole
Myfanwy Price: Glynis Johns
Mrs. Pugh: Vivien Merchant
Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard: Siân Phillips
Mog Edwards: Victor Spinetti
Second Voice: Ryan Davies
Gossamer Beynon: Angharad Rees
Mr. Waldo: Ray Smith
Sinbad Sailors: Michael Forrest
Polly Garter: Ann Beach
Mr. Cherry Owen: Glynn Edwards
Mrs. Cherry Owen: Bridget Turner
Mr. Pugh: Talfryn Thomas
Mr. Willy Nilly: Wim Wylton
Mrs. Willy Nilly: Bronwen Williams
Lily Smalls: Meg Wynn Owen
Butcher Beynon: Hubert Rees
Mrs. Beynon: Mary Jones
Rev. Eli Jenkins: Aubrey Richards
Evans the Death: Mark Jones
Mr. Ogmore: Dillwyn Owen
Mr. Pritchard: Richard Davies
Nogood Boyo: David Jason
Lord Cut Glass: Davydd Havard
Utah Watkins: David Davies
Mrs. Utah Watkins: Maudie Edwards
Ocky Milkman: Griffith Davies
Bessie Bighead: Peggyann Clifford
Dai Bread: Dudley Jones
Mrs. Dai Bread One: Dorothea Phillips
Mrs. Dai Bread Two: Ruth Madoc
P. C. Attila Rees: David Harries
Mary Ann Sailors: Rachel Thomas
Waldo Wife One: Andree Gaydon
Second Woman/Waldo Wife Two: Eira Griffiths
First Neighbor/Waldo Wife Three: Margaret Courtenay
First Woman/Waldo Wife Four: Roda Lewis
Waldo Wife Five: Pamela Miles
Jack Black: John Rees
Mrs. Rose Cottage: Jill Britton
Mae Rose Cottage: Susan Penhaligon
Inspector: Edmond Thomas
Organ Morgan: Richard Parry
Mrs. Organ Morgan: Dilys Price
Gwennie: Olwen Rees
Mother: Iris Jones
First Fisherman: Gordon Styles
Second Fisherman: Brian Osbourne
First Drowned Sailor: Shane Shelton
Second Drowned Sailor: Paul Gris
Third Drowned Sailor: Bryn Jones
Fourth Drowned Sailor: John Rainer
Fifth Drowned Sailor: Bryn Williams
Villagers in “Sailors Arms”: Aldwyn Francis, Ifor Owen, Dudley Owen, and Gladys Wykeham-Edwards
Gomer Owen: Ieuan Rhys Williams
Old Man: T. H. Evans; Second Neighbor: Gwyneth Owen
Third Neighbor: Lucy Griffiths
Fourth Neighbor: Angela Brinkworth
Crew
Director: Andrew Sinclair
Producers: Hugh French and Jules Buck
Screenwriter: Andrew Sinclair
Based on the Radio Play by: Dylan Thomas
Cinematographer: Bob Huke
Art Director: Geoffrey Tozer
Musical Score: Brian Gascoigne
Editor: Willy Kemplen
Did You Know?
Richard Burton, who was an admirer of Dylan Thomas and counted the legendary Welsh poet as a friend, appeared in the first radio performance of Under Milk Wood.
Llareggub, the fictional Welsh seaside village where the story is set, is “Buggerall” spelled backwards. Although Under Milk Wood was shot in Wales, Elizabeth, who was suffering from back problems, filmed her part over two days in London.
Financing for Under Milk Wood was secured on the strength of its three stars—Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Peter O’Toole—who deferred their usual high salaries for a percentage of the profits.