Richard Burton Diaries
Posted: August 10th, 2013, 1:12 am
This was an interesting doumentary about Richard Burton and his Diaries. There were also interviews with family and friends including actor Robert Hardy, famous for his Churchill potrayals and his tv series All Creatures Great And Small.
Hardy said that Taylor played her part in destroying Burton, adding when she really got into her stride she could be vulgar. On a positive note he said, while visiting the set of Who's Afraid Of Virginia Wolf he noted that because they shouted at each other in character that when they went home they were sweetness and light. One of Burton's Nephews made the point he finds it unreal that Elizabeth Taylor was once his Aunt.
It also said the Burton stopped briefly writing in his diary after his seperation and divorce from Taylor, because he was in a dark period of his life. This was highlighted in an interview on the Parkinson show (filmed in the morning before the pubs were open, so he'd be sober) when he admitted to trying to drink himself to death, only to pull himself back from the brink.
In his diaries he says often that he hates acting, prefering to be a scholar and a writer (He was a great admirer of Dylan Thomas). In fact in a break from acting, Burton took up a teaching post at a University. Burton's one ambition in life was to do major piece of writing. Robert Hardy thought it was a tragedy he died not realizing his ambition, but went onto add that his diaries would became recognized as a great work of art.
He also looked after his family in Wales. buying them all houses.He also said he'd rather have played Rugby Union for Wales, in a sport he was quite good rthaer than be an actor. There was even a clip of him, saying he was taking Elizabeth to an International, to which she said she was looking forward to it
Hardy said that Taylor played her part in destroying Burton, adding when she really got into her stride she could be vulgar. On a positive note he said, while visiting the set of Who's Afraid Of Virginia Wolf he noted that because they shouted at each other in character that when they went home they were sweetness and light. One of Burton's Nephews made the point he finds it unreal that Elizabeth Taylor was once his Aunt.
It also said the Burton stopped briefly writing in his diary after his seperation and divorce from Taylor, because he was in a dark period of his life. This was highlighted in an interview on the Parkinson show (filmed in the morning before the pubs were open, so he'd be sober) when he admitted to trying to drink himself to death, only to pull himself back from the brink.
In his diaries he says often that he hates acting, prefering to be a scholar and a writer (He was a great admirer of Dylan Thomas). In fact in a break from acting, Burton took up a teaching post at a University. Burton's one ambition in life was to do major piece of writing. Robert Hardy thought it was a tragedy he died not realizing his ambition, but went onto add that his diaries would became recognized as a great work of art.
He also looked after his family in Wales. buying them all houses.He also said he'd rather have played Rugby Union for Wales, in a sport he was quite good rthaer than be an actor. There was even a clip of him, saying he was taking Elizabeth to an International, to which she said she was looking forward to it