Mr. Burton: Film Review
Richard Burton is an acting legend of the stage and screen with an unusual origin story. How did he go from being a Welsh miner’s son to a Hollywood star? Marc Evans’s drama Mr. Burton fills us in.
Set in Port Talbot in 1942, the film tells the story of Burton’s upbringing through the lens of his life-changing relationship with Phillip Burton (Toby Jones), his teacher, acting coach and, for all intents and purposes, surrogate father. When young Richie Jenkins (Harry Lawtey) declares that he wants to be an actor, Phillip takes him under his wing and teaches him how to lose his Welsh accent and conduct himself like a gentleman.
At the beginning of the film, Lawtey overdoes the Welsh accent (inconsistently) so he can gradually tone it down as Phillip helps Richie iron out the Welsh vowels and pronounce words with an English accent. I enjoyed watching these lessons and seeing Phillip teach Richie how to enunciate his words and project his voice instead of shouting. Over time, Phillip basically becomes Richie’s father as his own is an alcoholic who let him be raised by his older sister Cecilia (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) and her husband Elfed (Aneurin Barnard).
The film spends the majority of the time in Wales before skipping ahead eight years to show Richie – now known as Richard Burton – performing professionally on stage in England, complete with that unmistakable, deep English accent. It’s quite a surprise when Lawtey first speaks like him after doing his lilting Welsh accent but he does a convincing job. Despite being early in his career, Richard is already difficult to work with and struggling with an alcohol addiction. I found this section the most compelling, particularly his reunion with Phillip after many years apart.
Richard Burton has publicly said of Phillip Burton: “I owe him everything,” while his wife, Elizabeth Taylor, once said, “Without Phillip Burton, there would never have been a Richard Burton.” And who better to play him than the ever brilliant Toby Jones?! In the centenary year of the actor’s birth, this low-key biopic shines a well-deserved light on the man behind the Hollywood legend.
In cinemas from Friday 4th April and on BBC on Monday 10th November