Under Milkwood
Year: 1971
Director: Andrew Sinclair
Cast: Richard Burton , Elizabeth Taylor , Peter O'Toole , Glynis Johns, Vivien Merchant, Sian Phillips, Victor Spinetti, Rachel Thomas, Angharad Rees, Ann Beach.
Set Locations:
Wales: Fishguard on the beautiful West Wales coast doubled as Dylan Thomas' fishing village of Llaregubb.
Andrew Sinclair’s 1972 film ‘Under Milk Wood’ was a version of the classic 1954 radio play written by author Dylan Thomas . The story tells of life in a fictional Welsh fishing village called ‘Llareggub’ (reverse the word to find out the hidden meaning!).
This is a humorous and light hearted tale of the quirky residents of this off beat Welsh village and includes characters such as Organ Morgan, Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard, Captain Tom Cat and the two Mrs Dai Breads. Richard Burton knew Dylan Thomas well and narrated the original radio play, before returning to act in the 1972 film alongside other infamous names such as Elizabeth Taylor and Peter O’Toole.
Dylan Thomas wrote the story whilst staying in New Quay in Cardigan Bay , Ceredigion in Wales. New Quay is both a traditional fishing town and a seaside resort. He visited there in 1944 and he continued to work on the radio play for about another eight years, first performing a part of the play in America, before recording a version at 92nd Street Y in Manhattan. He died shortly afterwards and the BBC then recorded a version of the play with a distinguished Welsh cast. This was first broadcast two months after Dylan Thomas’ death.
The play has delighted many ever since with its large array of colourful characters and their strange ways. There is PC Attila Rees who relieves himself into his helmet at night time, despite knowing that he will regret this in the morning. Mr Willy Nilly the postman dreams of his job each night and knocks on his wife as she sleeps as if she were a door; Mrs Willy Nilly dreams that she is being spanked by her teacher for being late as a result of her husband’s knocking!
Dylan Thomas was reported to have written this delightful piece in response to the bombing of Hiroshima , in order to show there is still beauty in this earth. Anyone in any doubt about that fact simply needs to visit the mountains and valleys of Wales. You will be left in no doubt that this is the case. The village of Llarregub in the film is portrayed by Lower Town, Fishguard in Pembrokeshire. This would make a great start point in your search for beauty and offers a wide variety of accommodation including some very quaint ‘olde worlde’ cottages that are available to rent.
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