Richard Burton 1977 Interview.

A candid interview with Richard Burton from 1977, in which he discusses his alcoholism and acting career.

[@izzyworkman1141]

I rewatch his interviews just to hear his dialect and elocution. I have always loved him and still find him utterly fascinating. What a brilliant mind. What a voice!! What a man!!

[@meghanmisaliar]

There was just something about him. His voice was magical.

[@Tabish29]

He was always courteous & honest in all his interviews. Great man.

[@carolenewman5180]

Magnificent voice. Marvelous command of our language. Lovely to watch and wish we still had him with us

[@williamgregory1848]

There’s something tragic yet beautiful about this man 😢

[@euanelliott3613]

He was brutally honest. He had a drinking problem and he knew it. He was functioning as an actor, but his body was taking too much punishment from alcohol. He used to drink with Richard Harris and Peter O' Toole and left bars dry. Legend has it that Alan Rickman joined them on occasion. He was brilliant in theatre and on film, and remains one of our greatest actors.

[@peterjonas4971]

I love his work, but he was not, sadly, brutally honest. If he were, he would have admitted the obvious--that he was in fact _actually_ an alcoholic and not "in striking distance from it." For us alcoholics, rigorous honesty is a matter of life and death.

[@timmccaffrey3161]

What a strange and rare magnetism Richard Burton had, flesh and blood like the rest of us but surrounded by an aura of magic.

[@pamappleton5535]

+Tim McCaffrey I was fortunate enough to see him onstage in1983, appearing in Private Lives on Broadway. Even though Elizabeth Taylor was no stage actor, it was incredible being in the same room with Burton. You could not take your eyes off him, plus THAT VOICE....

[@hunterluxton5976]

He's very Welsh. That has something to do with it. He's being himself, not pretending to be himself. That brings great power and confidence to any interview. But you're right he does have a strange magnetism that's not fabricated.

[@jamestiburon443]

Tru that

[@Mindfultranslations]

I’m another person in awe of Richard’s genius… I’m saddened such a talented man suffered so much… rip Mr Burton 😢😊❤

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

The talented all suffer a great deal. Goes with genius.

[@stevegans731]

What a man, what a voice.

[@Losrandir]

This was heart-chilling and heart-warming at the same time

[@MakinMovies7]

Great, honest, troubled man.

[@ReeltoRealAP]

As a fellow Welshman, Burton is a hero of mine. Gone too soon, of course. Rest in Peace, RB

[@MarkHarrison733]

He caused his own death.

[@Miriana727]

Richard Burton. What a great actor and wonderful human being. Have read his DIARIES. He was also a great writer. And so very handsome. To me, he was the most wonderful actor of his time. And he never received an Academy Award, though he was nominated many times.....10, I think. So articulate and so honest.

[@oscoe]

Also capable of lying at the drop of a hat. He was no saint.

[@jakartaman3365]

oscoe What, and you are?

[@oscoe]

Have you read my diaries???

[@baronsaturday9560]

He should have had all 10 awards, he was a fenomenal actor and man. You don't see much men like that anymore...

[@Liverpool5095]

@@baronsaturday9560 Many contend the main factor in him being snubbed for so many awards was his political views. He was an ardent socialist initially and then when he met Tito in Yugoslavia he publicly changed it to communist.

[@lindasafley4794]

What a man, really, a true, and wondrous human being.

[@gardendelight579]

Miss his BRILLIANT acting.....thankfully one can enjoy his many films and interviews!! GORGEOUS looking man!!!

[@jacquevino9664]

He is brutally honest, I always loved him.

[@thomasmclarnon5844]

Without doubt the greatest actor of all time. RIP Richard

[@julielevinge266]

Gracious and honest as usual what a gentleman✊♥️

[@corning1]

I don't remember the 5 days LOL! I love this man, it's a shame I never got to see him act.

[@logicalnetwork1611]

You can watch his films on tv and on line

[@sriradhe108]

Jesus ...his voice and command of English language mesmerising..no one to take his place

[@HLimmen]

He was great in Becket, the only role I've seen of him so far, but he was absolutely great in that.

[@christopherhogan691]

The Night of the Iguana... (The movie) Is basically a filmed stage Performance.. His honesty and talent and substance just moved me metaphysically from A to Z within just two hours. Fantastic actor..

[@myahollandia3552]

He's so honest and intelligent,love his voice .

[@henryuy1680]

He is a very good and eloquent speaker, very admirable and impeccable indeed, good to watch speakers Like him Talk, very straightforward and unpretentious!!! What a Man!!! I Like his Handsome Macho looks, his Beautiful English Accent and His Magnetic character. But on the Other Hand, sad to hear and know that he is An alcoholic and smoking addict!!! He could have been AN INSPIRATION to Many Actors Today had he lived a more discplined life!!! Nonetheless, May you R.I.P. Mr. Burton! God bless you Always! It was Wonderful knowing such a Great Actor Like you. Missing You!!! 🙏😃🙏

[@annaelvis3138]

Richard Burton intelligent man.Sincer man and the world remember him for the great great actor he was.Great lovley Richard.I read his Diaries what's a great writer and great culture have this wonderful man.

[@euanelliott8068]

Effortless brilliance and self-destruction personified. Probably better than Olivier and Guinness because of the natural magnetism he possessed. Also refreshingly frank in interviews.

[@MOGGS1942]

Richard Burton, as spellbinding as ever.

[@vincentkosik403]

What a smooth elegant gentleman

[@kathyvarela2215]

Alot of class.Very Goodlooking and Humble person To bad he passed 🙏

[@MarkHarrison733]

He committed suicide.

[@MS-wb5mf]

the contrast between what the millennials think is the best and what we had is astounding.

[@thomsboys77]

OK Boomer

[@Markmywords803]

What an amazingly honest interview❤

[@ludwigfan3013]

This is the first Interview where I heard him mention that he suffers from agoraphobia. I can really relate since I've been dealing with the same thing for over 15 years now. My heart goes out to anyone else who has to battle with the same thing.

[@mandykhoo2473]

Great speaker and refreshing to see unaudited interviews

[@littlezit2]

he has a sense of humour lol, "if I did say it, I was on a 4th bottle that day" lol

[@Stunatra]

I think he was being 'alcoholic honest'.

[@julielevinge266]

His stories about his father are hilarious, what a voice! What an actor, always sadly missed. Talented people on that level always seem to self Destruct!

[@christinescheiner5194]

The interviewer cut him off when he was making a statement about the frailty of human nature. Burton was very gracious about it but I would have loved to have heard what he had to say.

[@jaybowden2658]

I would've given the interviewer evils for the rest of the interview myself! ahah

[@TheMasterNo6]

Burton interviewed by Ludovic Kennedy. Clearly the interview was done during the filming of The Wild Geese - this was the outfit he wore at the start of the film up until the point Richard Harris and Burton get Roger Moore out of the Casino and prevent the hit on Moores characters life. A wonderful group of actors, a wonderful film, a wonderful man and a wonderful interviewer.

[@calho7297]

The real-life Mike (Mad) Hoare could have been proud to have been portrayed by like-minded rabble-rousers.

[@annabellecork5791]

I love Richard Burton a gentleman in every way ! What an amazing voice !

[@christopherknight4864]

A great man and actor

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

You sure don't get stars being this up front and straight any more. Wonderful actor.

[@briangraham1024]

Candid and concise. Wonderful interview. Very smart looking in that trench coat. A true spy that came in from the cold. :-)

[@furdiebant]

I love the quitting smoking anecdote.

[@Yellowswift3]

I don't know whether it's a coincidence but Richard looks like he might be wearing the clothes he wore at the end of the Wild Geese. Perhaps this was taped while on set. Fascinating to listen to, thank you for the upload. :)

[@TheMasterNo6]

Half right. He's wearing the clothes from the start of the film to the point he and Harris rescue Moore and leave the Casino.

[@34Charmian64]

Impressively honest . Thanks for posting.

[@viniciusalvesmaciel6436]

Your voice is amazing, great actor

[@Eire_Go_Deo]

I’ve always loved how Rich described a drink problem - “It’s a human frailty”.

[@tallulahrubymonroe4280]

I think every intelligent talented person has many many demons

[@peterturley1331]

Indeed.

[@tallulahrubymonroe4280]

@James Henderson Addiction

[@pdmore123]

So true.

[@beheadingbuddha4256]

Genius.

[@mandykhoo2473]

Fascinating man ,,epic voracity and lyric verbosity,,,,,,,,focussed honesty

[@matthewgabbard6415]

Richard is such a good actor he was able to fool himself that he wasn’t a chronic alcoholic. Only the most intelligent, prideful people can do that. Lesser people would drop the pretense

[@Syusanne]

His voice and presence is as mesmerizing as John Hurt's was.

[@clairebleasdale7233]

What a man what a voice what an actor! Such an interesting man Alcoholism is the number one killer in the world! But we all have a vice Your missed so much Mr Burton X

[@theart8039]

He looks like he's on fire with all that smoke

[@catherineoconnell3213]

Richard Jenkins (Burton) humble beginnings ..........something happened early along the way................that troubled him day by day.........

[@hunterluxton5976]

You sound jealous and bitter. Why not grow a pair and say what you really think? What's wrong with being born as most people are? You're Irish. Has that gone something to do with your thinly veiled toxic comments?

[@ishqwalalove802]

Lovely accent

[@TheRivalConcept]

Cleopatra and taming of the shrew is what i saw him in and wow auxh a great actoe and tjat voice.....

[@paulmurphy8400]

Superb actor.

[@ryanodonnell6748]

I'm an Addict and everything he spoke about I can totally identify with. Although I ain't in a Hospital but could sure use a break because I'm totally exhausted now.

[@juliecavanagh7399]

Hang in there. You are worth it.

[@ryanodonnell6748]

@@juliecavanagh7399 Thanx Julie i truly appreciate that. Presently I'm coming down from a Methodone prescription and when i commented on this originally i was on 40ml a day. I'm now on 30ml each day and this Wedensday i will be down to 25ml each day. Im finding it really tough today but i will get there. I've been doing the odd NA mtg but i find those mtgs really difficult and find it hard to trust people. Sorry for the big rant. Ha.. I wish you a very nice and peaceful weekend. Thanx for your reply as it cheered me up.

[@juliecavanagh7399]

@@ryanodonnell6748 Sweet :) think of it all as a gift you are giving to your future self. (And I've had great results personally with hypnosis. Michael Sealey cured 80% of my migraines and if you look at the comments on his videos, he has changed lives... Anyway, have a beautiful day--every day :) kzbin.info )

[@petekdemircioglu]

Almost everyone is: especially in US. And many addicted to synthetic drugs. Its systemic.

[@cymro6537]

One of Wales' greatest sons 👍 Gorwedda mewn hedd Richard🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🙏

[@8nansky528]

I ADORE READING

[@peterfranks6243]

He's being interviewed on the set of The Wild Geese, the 1978 blockbuster with Roger Moore, Richard Harris, Hardy Gruger

[@charlottevairet3453]

Hardy KrÜger

[@peterfranks6243]

@@charlottevairet3453 My apologies

[@charlottevairet3453]

​​@@peterfranks6243 Please ! There's no harm : it was probably a typing mistake from you, but I still prefer this kind of things to be be done in a "korrekt !" way (which Burton would presumably have agreed with) ; a result of my inclination for the German language ? For us, French, Hardy KrÜger 😉 is, I'm afraid, mostly known for one movie : "Un taxi pour Tobrouk" (by Denys de la Patelliere, 1960) in which he plays alongside Charles Aznavour and Lino Ventura. Probably one of the first French films which was made with a kind of lightness in spirit toward the Resistance fighters (the FFL - Free French Forces - in this case) and not with the unquestionable admiration if not even the reverence attitude this subject seemed to naturally command until then... I very much admire (and envy) the actors who are able to play flawlessly in several languages. Hardy Krüger was one of them. Now there are Ulrich Tukur, Richard Samel, Sebastian Koch, Diane ... KrUger 😉, who also are trilingual (🇩🇪, 🇫🇷, 🇬🇧) in there work. As to the French, 😒...

[@marissadower-morgan3313]

so tragic, what a loss ..If they had gotten him help earlier

[@derekholgate6345]

Didn't read the comments, so I'm very sorry if this was previously mentioned, but this interview looks like he was on the set of The Wild Geese

[@WintersWar]

burton was us.

[@andystewts]

one of the best actors on film. i also watched the spectacular movie cleopatra in germany that had so many gorgeus clothes and a fantastik history. tschuss wich means goodbye in english. have a nice weekend. andy

[@okongift6364]

We miss 😢 you ❤ 😢 😔

[@jdncoke2]

"not quite sure if i am an alcoholic yet i was up to three bottles a day and had to go to hospital to get dried out"...come on richard, talk about being in denial, alcohol use is alcohol dependency no matter what stage you're at, you use it because you think it's giving you something or helping with something. Great actor but not a very grounded being, read the diary, he was a very troubled individual

[@internetguy8075]

I think it doesn't help that the term 'alcoholic' is surrounded with a lot of superstitious woo-woo. If people realised it is an addiction like any other, it wouldn't be so hard for people to admit that they were addicted. I partly blame AA for this situation. People have no trouble saying: 'I used to be addicted to cigarettes, but now I'm not. I stopped smoking ten years ago.' In the same vein, someone who hasn't had a drink in a decade should be able to say: 'I used to be an alcoholic, but now I'm not.' But AA doesn't allow that. Does that mean it's a good idea for a former addict to start using again after a decade of abstinence? No, of course not. But he doesn't have to keep calling himself an alcoholic for his entire life to realise that. I honestly believe a lot of people would reach out for help a lot sooner if it wasn't for all the stupid ideas surrounding the term 'alcoholic'. It makes admitting you have a problem even scarier than it already is.

[@AnnabelleJARankin]

Also, it is questionable whether labelling yourself is really useful - he was completely aware of his problem, not in denial, but didn't want the label. Actually I do not think that tobacco is addictive in the same way - giving it up is a lot easier.

[@alansmithee4895]

A.A. is a crock of shit

[@lifesshorttt]

@@internetguy8075 i totally and utterly agree. This notion of telling everyone how long you have been sober is completely absurd. It's like having to cut back on chocolate and you go around telling everyone you haven't had a chocolate for 2 weeks. Then when you have a chocolate you start the count all over again. It's so childish. Imagine quitting drinking for 5 years and then getting drunk at a wedding. It's absurd that you must start the count again, it makes the drinker feel like a complete failure, killing off any pleasure they got from the evening. The count system is like religion, it's designed to keep you coming back to church or AA.

[@internetguy8075]

@@lifesshorttt The funny thing is, since posting that my opinion has changed a bit. I still believe there are many ways to get sober. Counting days has helped me. I would personally start counting again after the scenario you described, but I wouldn't see it as starting from scratch. In SMART that scenario would be called a 'lapse', vs. a relapse. I hope that makes sense. Whatever works, works.

[@ryanomahony2060]

RI P RICHARD - THE BEST - SO MANNERLY - + VOICE

[@julielevinge266]

What a stupid question!! Why are you an alcoholic? That’s a question for an expert on addiction, not the person suffering from the disease! Would you ask a cancer patient why they have cancer? We now know much more about addiction & why certain people are at higher risk than others. This interviewer is very crindgie ! Think Burton is extremely polite & patient as usual,what a gentleman✊♥️

[@vhs8669]

Filmed on the set of "the Wild Geese"?

[@240soundwave]

at the end there it looks like the interviewer gives his hand for a handshake and burton just looks at it and gives it a little cheeky perverse wink?

[@TheAlmightyAss]

How much would you have had to drink the 60s/70s to be considered to have a drink problem?

[@barbaracovell]

nice

[@altongrimes]

A man without an equal

[@susanc6350]

Actually being an alcoholic or denying has nothing to do with pride or intellect. The addiction takes over and one cannot control the urge to drink.

[@nigelneedham8075]

Ahh yes,not many of these fine actors left now,films like villain where eagles dare and many others,dont knock him because he drinks,so do i, real ale and a good whiskey and plenty.along with John Le mesurrier these were nice people,actually I had a good drink up with the late Arthur Lowe from dads army down here at the three tuns pub in bransgore near Christchurch and he was an absolute gent,anyone who drinks a lot seems to have a stigma attached to him, wrong,you can still remain a decent person regardless what anyone thinks,in the meantime I believe I will have another pint of real ale.

[@jakartaman633]

Robin Reed And you're a pathetic, talentless troll that will forever be on the outside looking in.

[@seddimoussavi3721]

So sad that he had to go so soon.

[@markharrison2544]

He killed himself.

[@bethfiori4708]

No regrets, a la Piaf. Respect.

[@michaelmuldowney8]

The not very good film he mentions was EXORCIST II.

[@Warp75]

Funny as fuck though

[@hunterluxton5976]

Interesting dynamics going on here. A privileged Englishman who has a private education and an easy ride through life ( ludavic Kennedy) and a Welshman, who grew up in poverty and became self made through his own intelligence and force of personality. Kennedy here is distant and possibly mildly contemptuous he shows no warmth or genuine interest. Burton is on other hand typically Welsh, warm good humoured, honest and direct.

[@---wc2zp]

Who has the better voice, Richard Burton or Jeremy Irons?

[@gayhendrie84]

Oh wowthats a very tough one I would say Burton aAlanRickman also had a wonderful voice

[@fedup745]

No contest. Richard.

[@seongpark9034]

Natural

[@umitzaferyarg3440]

He has very strange charcter. I have never seen. Very carismatic

[@baronsaturday9560]

He does this great interview on the Dick Cavett show here on YT about his upbringing in a Welsh miners town, etc... He was an incredible guy.

[@mbd6054]

Wonderful, intelligent, cultured man, of great humanity and talent.

[@sonicgoonpics2996]

He went to a disco at his age ??

[@annmcdonald6180]

WHY NOT - Ageism.......

[@noeyedeer4227]

wut 😳 that chainsmoking part was weird - he had a blackout while not smoking?? dafuq

[@barbarabrooker2502]

SHAME ON THE ACADAMY FOR NOT GIVING HIM AN ACADAMY AWARD! NO ONE LIKE HIM. NO ONE

[@MarkHarrison733]

He was a wooden film actor.

[@tarhunta2111]

The irony is that it wasn't drink that killed him but the woodbines.

[@MarkHarrison733]

It was both.

[@melisagalvalizi6982]

he was binge drinking days before he died, it KILLED him.

[@mantra3000]

The tragedy of human life entirely incarnated.

[@willrich3908]

+mantra3000 yep. Talent. Wasted.

[@littlezit2]

+Will Rich how was it wasted? he bought the best jewels on the planet, he dated the prettiest women on the planet. he didnt even like acting that much, sure he could have become a better actor, he could have died of lung cancer or anything else at 58 your life is running out anyway

[@willrich3908]

littlezit2 wasted has two meanings you know - and to answer all the rest, he could also have made some better movies. Anthony Hopkins didn't hit his stride till he was 54.

[@mantra3000]

Now that you mention it, I think Richard Burton would have been a tremendous Lecter.

[@hunterluxton5976]

He saw acting as idiotic a sort of English middle class vanity. I recall growing up in the 70s in South Wales my father would invite some of his friends back home for a party during Christmas, they were all hard drinking men, full of charisma, humour wit and poetry. They all had a kind of nobility, not the nobility of ermin, but the nobility of real people who had no illusions who who they were and looked up to no one but their mothers and wives.

[@GuitarPilgrim]

the interviewer is rather rude...

[@hunterluxton5976]

Yes, he is a privilege Englishman, showing a subtle contempt For Burtons fame. It comes through quite easily.

[@joycerandall9800]

Don't care for interviewer at all. Richard answers all the questions very nice. He is a extraordinary man.

[@danielmanful]

millions help

[@michaelcollins237]

the interviewer was exceedingly rude

[@bdthomas73]

He was da man...Talk about a love affair with Cleopatra herself!!!

[@JL-gf3yc]

Must have been on the set of the wild geese there

[@pix046]

He sounds like he has had a few here but he says not.

[@Johnconno]

Analysis Paralysis. Even when it's Richard Burton.

[@peggyon1]

The interviewer is bit hostile.

[@stevencassidy6982]

His Welsh accent is nearly gone..

[@MOGGS1942]

Welsh people would disagree.

[@jax9574]

He speaks with an English accent RP accent

[@carldavies4776]

There's definitely still a South Wales twang..hard to disguise

[@hunterluxton5976]

@@jax9574 not quite. Only the English would say that.

[@hunterluxton5976]

@@MOGGS1942 he has lost the coarse valleys accent which Philip Burton himself stated needed refining. However, the timbre of a Welsh voice is hard to loose, unless to change the emphasis of the vowels. He speaks well, his voice is clear has resonance and is deep. He sounds Welsh to me, like one of my old school teachers I had back in Wales. They spoke with a refinement, but distinctive Welshness. John Rhys Davies is the same.

[@maaidakausar9802]

Almighty Allah created him with great love

[@jax9574]

He wasn't sure if he was an alcoholic drinking 3 bottles a day? I reckon his threshold was pretty low. Guys like Robert Mitchum would down a whole bottle of Gin in around 45 mins and then some more and look completely normal.

[@craig1553]

Oxford and RADA gave him his “English” accent. If you played this interview to people who didn’t know Burton, they would assume he was English, upper class accent. Anthony Hopkins has kept his Welsh accent which is great.

[@hazlitt1]

He never went to RADA.

[@hunterluxton5976]

He never attended RADA, he had no formal institutional training. He spend a short term at Oxford, not even 4 months. Philip Burton trained his voice, he retained the baritone Welshness, that many Welshmen possess. He pronounces many words in Welsh way, which is not discernible to a non Welsh person. Proper upper class English accents sound distorted the wag they drag out their vowels, they lack the mellifluousness of Burtons tone its cadence is beautiful to listen too. Listen to hi. In War of the Worlds. Sublime does not come close.

[@fedup745]

This interviewer is infuriating. Asks him questions and then cuts him off!

[@alibutt693]

Aslam or muslam darnik nhi krta🕋❤️🕋🌹🕋 muslam?? No darnik I love aslam muslam🌹❤️🌹🕋🕋🕋❤️🌹❤️ Omar Ali 🙏🙏

[@angloaust1575]

Rather old for wild geese and not Too fit however they needed a star To sell it Bob Simmons did the difficult bits!

[@MarkHarrison733]

They should have cast someone who was still a draw for audiences. Burton is probably why the racist film flopped in the US.

[@plasticweapon]

not too old, but looked older than he was. same difference.