by Ben Soton

Many remember Richard Burton as Alexander in his epic portrayal of the Macedonian conqueror in Alexander the Great. Others recall Burton as Mark Anthony in Cleopatra, which was the catalyst for his tumultuous marriage to Elizabeth Taylor. His later roles as Victor Deakin in Villain, Henry VIII in Anne of a Thousand Days and as the psychopath reeking destruction from an intensive care ward in The Medusa Touch were critically acclaimed. He even played Josip Broz Tito in a partisan war film called The Fifth Offensive that was much admired by the Yugoslav communist leader.

His origins were much more humble however. He was born and grew up in the Welsh industrial town of Port Talbot. Effectively brought up by his sister, his father was a drunkard. Born Richard Jenkins, the surname Burton was that of his adoptive guardian, mentor and English teacher, Philip Henry Burton.

Out now Mr Burton is a coming-of-age biopic centred around the relationship between the young Richard, played by Harry Lawtey, and his mentor, played by Toby Jones. The story could be referred to as ‘How Richard Burton lost his Welsh accent’. It is however, much more than that; the young Burton struggles with the loss of his working-class identity and how he has to transform himself. In one scene his teacher, with the help of his landlady (played by Lesley Manville), shows the young Richard how to eat.

The transformation is mirrored through the younger Burton’s portrayal of Henry V. In the Shakespearean play the young monarch casts aside youthful and frivolous ways as he takes up the throne after the death of his father. We see the younger Burton transformed from a humble Welsh teenager into a major star of stage and screen, and this is reflected in the closing scene. Henry abandons his frivolous and older drinking companion, Falstaff, who is seen as holding him back. But young Burton’s older companion actually welcomes and encourages his transformation.

The truth about Richard Burton is much more complicated. He never abandoned his working-class origins and his politics were very much of the left. In an interview he publicly stated that he was a communist and when asked if there was a contradiction between earning huge amounts of money as a Hollywood star and holding left-wing views, he stated that unlike capitalists he did not exploit people.