Dylan Thomas, whose surname was borrowed by someone born Zimmerman, was a weaver of words. He wrote a radio play, not a film script. If you have the DVD, put on your blindfold or turn your back to the wall. The visual elements, although they merge well enough with a faithful adaptation of Thomas' words, add little and tend to distract.If you insist on watching, there are some irrelevant treats. It's good to see Elizabeth Taylor playing a scrubber (of a floor). The casting director must have had a sense of humour to give David Jason, not the most authentic of Welshmen, the Onanistic part of Nogood Boyo.Sometimes a verbal work is enriched when embedded in pictures. Not so with 'Under Milk Wood'. Thomas demands attention with the ears, not the eyes. This film is a worthy but misguided attempt to bring the work of a great writer to people who can't be bothered to read or listen.Dylan Thomas knew best: this is 'a play for voices'.

Firstly you must remember that this was originally a play for voices. To fully appreciate this surreal movie you need to listen to a recording of Dylan Thomas' play beforehand.The imagery in the movie totally worked for me. I was familiar with all the characters and was delighted how they were delineated on screen. The only performer I had "issues" with was Peter O'Toole as Captain Cat. He was obviously too young for the part - or his make-up was just not good enough. I enjoyed the way that the 2 Narrators were able to move around the town like ghostly interlopers, observing and describing the behaviour of the denizens. Using voice-over instead of direct speech added to the "other worldliness" feel of the whole. Such a shame that Richard Burton was allowed to monopolize the dialogue - Ryan Davies should have read more lines. Interesting to see Elizabeth Taylor (quite obviously in this due only to Welsh hubby Burton's involvement) playing the part of the popular local village prostitute no less. (For a sample of the same affection shown to Rosie Probert see "Never On Sunday" (1960) with Melina Mercouri.) Regarding the gratuitous menage-a-trois in the barn - if you view this as a surreal adaptation then the scene fits even though this was never written in the play.A long time ago I read that it was common in these small isolated Welsh villages for the water supply to became contaminated with heavy metals - probably due to all the dams that were built in the valleys that prevented the natural flow of water into the local wells. The result was that the local population suffered from a kind of pollution-induced madness. As the UK government provided no funding to find a cure these communities were fenced-in and the inhabitants allowed to live out their natural lives within the confines of their village. It is said that Dylan Thomas' play was describing this type of life. If you decide to watch this movie bear this in mind when considering the eccentricities displayed by the characters.

The movie is a painting of scenes, and a romance with English words that, oddly enough, only Celtic people seem capable of; Welshman Burton's riveting voice gives life to his countryman's work like perhaps none living could, today . The language is so lively and the metaphors so concentrated that the film may leave some scratching their heads; but for lovers of poetry, or literature at large, this well-conceived and directed interpretation of Dylan is worth the viewing. Peter O'Toole and Elizabeth Taylor give interesting performances, and the film contains several scenes that will stay with the viewer long after the film is over. The lush countryside of seaside Wales, and the sleepy little village in which the action plays out, are also quite haunting. Llareggub, indeed.

This film is cool, but the 17 year old looks about 30. I think the film is at times bizarre but at other times an everyday life story. Elizabeth Taylor (Butterfield 8) is badly cast but O'Toole is fantastic as the blind fisherman. Never sentimental, at times a little hard going, but rewarding. Not worth watching for anyone under 15 though, very difficult bits involved, even if you are very clever.