Name that film in one...

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marjoram_blues
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Name that film in one...

Post by marjoram_blues »

...can you name the film shown in the one minute YouTube clip of Richard Burton reciting 'The Greatest Poem in the English Language' ? The clip itself is taken from the documentary 'Richard Burton:In from the cold' - part of a 'Great Performances' series (1988).

I've tried and failed... Please take pity on me...pretty please...pleeeeez ??!!
Skip
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by Skip »

I'm going to guess "Under Milkwood, though there is no indication of costume and only a very brief glimpse of setting.
It's the only one I'm aware of that's actually about poetics.
marjoram_blues
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by marjoram_blues »

I was wondering - given the mention of religion at the beginning - and looking at various works in wiki - if it might not be a practice run for Burton as George Hollyoak in A Subject of Scandal and Concern - BBC Sunday Night Play (1960).

Hollyoak was a Victorian social reformer on trial for saying he doesn't believe in God. Last person in England to be tried for blasphemy.

? Should be Holyoake as described in humanism.org
Walker
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by Walker »

I think it’s from the documentary itself and not a movie or published poem.

From what I read, Burton tells the story that he, Dylan Thomas, and someone else were having a conversation and the topic of the greatest poem arose. The words that Burton recites are Thomas’ contribution, and it sounds like he just spoke them off the cuff. Burton declared it the greatest poem.

He does a good job of selling it.

That’s all I found after a brief search. Might be true, might be false.
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vegetariantaxidermy
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by vegetariantaxidermy »

marjoram_blues wrote:...can you name the film shown in the one minute YouTube clip of Richard Burton reciting 'The Greatest Poem in the English Language' ? The clip itself is taken from the documentary 'Richard Burton:In from the cold' - part of a 'Great Performances' series (1988).

I've tried and failed... Please take pity on me...pretty please...pleeeeez ??!!
I didn't know he was such a ham. :shock:
Walker
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by Walker »

They say he could move souls and hearts by reading the phone book, and that his true power emerges on the stage and not film. That's takes some ham.

That he had something personal to contribute while channeling great words certainly added to his charisma.
Last edited by Walker on Sun Feb 12, 2017 9:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
marjoram_blues
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by marjoram_blues »

Walker wrote:I think it’s from the documentary itself and not a movie or published poem.

From what I read, Burton tells the story that he, Dylan Thomas, and someone else were having a conversation and the topic of the greatest poem arose. The words that Burton recites are Thomas’ contribution, and it sounds like he just spoke them off the cuff. Burton declared it the greatest poem.

He does a good job of selling it.

That’s all I found after a brief search. Might be true, might be false.
?

Well, that sounds good to me. Impressive after a 'brief' search. Where did you find it, pray tell ?
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Hobbes' Choice
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by Hobbes' Choice »

marjoram_blues wrote:...can you name the film shown in the one minute YouTube clip of Richard Burton reciting 'The Greatest Poem in the English Language' ? The clip itself is taken from the documentary 'Richard Burton:In from the cold' - part of a 'Great Performances' series (1988).

I've tried and failed... Please take pity on me...pretty please...pleeeeez ??!!
Can't you link it?
The documentary Richard Burton:In from the cold' is 2 hrs long. can you give a time?
marjoram_blues
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by marjoram_blues »

Hobbes' Choice wrote:
marjoram_blues wrote:...can you name the film shown in the one minute YouTube clip of Richard Burton reciting 'The Greatest Poem in the English Language' ? The clip itself is taken from the documentary 'Richard Burton:In from the cold' - part of a 'Great Performances' series (1988).

I've tried and failed... Please take pity on me...pretty please...pleeeeez ??!!
Can't you link it?
The documentary Richard Burton:In from the cold' is 2 hrs long. can you give a time?
Sorry no. I would if I could but I can't.
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vegetariantaxidermy
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by vegetariantaxidermy »

Walker wrote:They say he could move souls and hearts by reading the phone book, and that his true power emerges on the stage and not film. That's takes some ham.

That he had something personal to contribute while channeling great words certainly added to his charisma.
A sexy ham with a beautiful voice. :)
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vegetariantaxidermy
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by vegetariantaxidermy »

Hobbes' Choice wrote:
marjoram_blues wrote:...can you name the film shown in the one minute YouTube clip of Richard Burton reciting 'The Greatest Poem in the English Language' ? The clip itself is taken from the documentary 'Richard Burton:In from the cold' - part of a 'Great Performances' series (1988).

I've tried and failed... Please take pity on me...pretty please...pleeeeez ??!!
Can't you link it?
The documentary Richard Burton:In from the cold' is 2 hrs long. can you give a time?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDNCEp8Utjo
I don't know if she means this, but I don't think it's from a film.
marjoram_blues
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by marjoram_blues »

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:
Hobbes' Choice wrote:
marjoram_blues wrote:...can you name the film shown in the one minute YouTube clip of Richard Burton reciting 'The Greatest Poem in the English Language' ? The clip itself is taken from the documentary 'Richard Burton:In from the cold' - part of a 'Great Performances' series (1988).

I've tried and failed... Please take pity on me...pretty please...pleeeeez ??!!
Can't you link it?
The documentary Richard Burton:In from the cold' is 2 hrs long. can you give a time?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDNCEp8Utjo
I don't know if she means this, but I don't think it's from a film.
She did mean that, thanks VT.
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Hobbes' Choice
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by Hobbes' Choice »

Why not just take him at his word.

He says "I will will teach you infinities...

The greatest poem in the English language is the present tense of the verb to be... I AM.. THOU ART.

He's not reciting Dylan Thomas.
marjoram_blues
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by marjoram_blues »

Skip wrote:I'm going to guess "Under Milkwood, though there is no indication of costume and only a very brief glimpse of setting.
It's the only one I'm aware of that's actually about poetics.
Thanks, Skip, I will have to watch or listen to 'Under Milkwood' at some point. But, as yet, I can't fit it to that.
marjoram_blues
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Re: Name that film in one...

Post by marjoram_blues »

Hobbes' Choice wrote:Why not just take him at his word.

He says "I will will teach you infinities...

The greatest poem in the English language is the present tense of the verb to be... I AM.. THOU ART.

He's not reciting Dylan Thomas.
Listen again.
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