Under Milk Wood

Good book.

DVD ARRIVED BY DUE DATE IN NEAR MINT CONDITION, AS DECRIBED BY THE SELER

There no subtitles. Disappointed. I prefer the original black and white less-starry version. But Burton's narrative carries the day.

I really like this particular version of Under Milk Wood. Which is not to say others are not equally good or better. But this one is very enjoyable. The story follows one day in the lives of the inhabitants of a remote fishing village in Wales, their gossip and their daily chores, but most of all their sexual desires. Originally a play for voices, based on the things the retired and now blind sea captain Tom Cat hears on that day, and punctuated by his reminiscences of the past, the story is adapted here for the big screen.The cast is quite stellar with Peter O'Toole in the role of the captain and Richard Burton acting as the narrator. I personally also quite like the seemingly incongruous Elizabeth Taylor as Rosie Probert. Yes, she is much too glamourous for the local prostitute in a Welsh harbour inn, but as a glorified vision in the head of the old captain she works just fine.The supporting cast is mostly Welsh and I really enjoyed the way the actors bring the voices in the old captain's head to life. A particular favourite of mine is Siân Phillips as the exacting Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard, in bed between her two husbands, both deceased. There is a lot of wicked humour here. The filming location in Wales adds to the appeal of the film.The DVD has a lot of (rather interesting) extra features which really make it worth owning: - Director's Introduction - Dylan on Dylan Documentary (60 mins.) - Director's Commentary with Andrew Sinclair - Original Interview with Richard Burton - Original Andrew Sinclair Interview - Original Theatrical Trailer

If you know the voice-only versions of this play, this is disappointing. The viewer's imagination does it all so much better: I want to imagine Rosie Probert in any way I fancy, not to have an image of Elizabeth Taylor's acting in my head whenever I hear her words.The film adds quite unnecessary extras to the original, in an attempt to give the text some sort of rational context. When listening to the play we can quite happily accept the narrators (First Voice and Second Voice) as disembodied observers. In the film there are awkward contrivances such as a coachload of sightseers and Burton meeting a girlfriend for a quick bonk in the afternoon to explain the narrators' presence. It's not just that those additions are instrusively out of context, but far worse they waste precious time which could be spent savouring the magnificent words of Dylan Thomas!Of course, the basics are still there. No amount of sometimes clumsy images will destroy the glory of the original text, or the joy of listening to Burton and many of the other characters. If you love language, don't miss experiencing Under Milkwood in any and every way you can, even this version. But best of all sit back, close your eyes, listen to all the glorious, tumbling, entrancing words of one of the audio versions (both those of Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins are worth owning) and give your imagination free rein.

... and let it wash over you... the words, the imagery, the places, the feelings.... and of course, to contradict "Amazon Customer - A Disappointing Interpretation", the coachload of tourists of course DID appear in the play! "Voice Of A Guide-Book: Less than 500 souls inhabit the three quaint streets... the one place of worship with its neglected graveyard is of no architectural interest" :-). And "the overt sexual scene"? Presumably meaning Mae's wanton exhibition on the cliffs - read the play again. "You just wait. I'll sin till I blow up!". And of course the whole play is one huge overt sexual scene in all its myriad ways."To stroll among our trees and stray.... and never, never leave the town." If only I could.

Great Piece of Classic Literature Very well portrayed by the excellent acting skills of all concerned in this Masterpiece of a BBC production .TO THE CUSTOMER Buy This You Will Love It , put aside the time needed to give it your full & undivided attention.IF your watching this with friends Swear them to absolute silence . If any of them break the silence:- Immediately jump up and snap their scrawny neck, then, sit down " unconcerned " & carry on watching this Masterpiece . Daggers,Hand Held Crossbow , And 9mm Beretta with silencer may also prove effective .

A bit overpriced I thought. Bought as I thought it would be a safe buy. Now wish I had bought one of the much cheaper versions.

This “DVD” is simply the (excellent) audio recording by Richard Burton with static color pictures (pastel or paintings) which stay on-screen for a few seconds before a soft fade to the next static photo and which (IMHO) add nothing to the audio. Not worth the extra cost; and make it impossible to play it on a CD player.

Il faut lire et relire le texte de Dylan Thomas puis passer à la vidéo. Un bonheur d'écriture passera sur l'écran.