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  • Under Milk Wood

  • A BBC Radio Full-Cast Production
  • By: Dylan Thomas
  • Narrated by: Richard Burton
  • Length: 1 hr and 41 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (414 ratings)
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Under Milk Wood cover art

Under Milk Wood

By: Dylan Thomas
Narrated by: Richard Burton
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Summary

A classic BBC Radio full-cast production of Dylan Thomas' poetic play for voices starring Richard Burton as the narrator. To begin at the beginning: it is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black....

When Richard Burton breathed the opening words of Under Milk Wood into a microphone, broadcasting history was made. For this ‘play for voices’ conjures up the intimate dreams and waking lives of the inhabitants of a Welsh seaside village in a remarkable way. It is bawdy and beautiful; its colourful characters lust and love, gossip and fantasise. Through the magic of language, 'Under Milk Wood' creates a rich modern pastoral which, once heard, touches the listener with its poetry and haunts the imagination for ever. This radio drama is the completed version broadcast in 1963, which includes several passages that were omitted from the first recording in 1954.

©2001 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2001 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

What listeners say about Under Milk Wood

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Hasn't aged a bit!

Under Milk Wood is deservedly famous as a piece of writing and although I had not heard this audio recording before, I had heard of it. Richard Burton's narration is wonderfully atmospheric throughout and I love the way the character voices are integrated into the whole work, especially where they speak over each other. The children's singing is a great touch. From the initial idea of a quaint Welsh village, Under Milk Wood gets darker and more poignant and I think this vintage BBC radio programme is probably the definitive recording. Audio doesn't get much better than this.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Unbeatable

Laughing at Nicola's 'review' above - betraying her ignorance and then giving one of the greatest works of 20th century verse a one star review because it turned out to be... who would have thought it... poetry.

I listen to snippets of this probably every day. The beginning, in Burton's extraordinary Welsh tones, get me every time - 'it is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible black'. Funny, sad, and beautifully read and acted throughout. Sensational.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent welsh story

as a kid this was one of the first stories that I remember being read to me, when I was older I managed to get it on tape, and I kept playing it as the characters intrigued me so much could not get enough of it not matter how often I listened to it, but over the year the tape wore out and I forgot everything about it until I joined Amazon and started using Kindle then I joined Audible what a great area to have books that you can listen to, guess what the first thing I bought was Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas I could not believe it when I downloaded and started to listen to it especially as it was narrated by Richard Burton with that strong voice and the lilt of the Welsh you felt you were in the place and watching and listening to the characters and you felt that you could actually see the place the way it was described even though no place exists, It is a lovely tale well read and told, i feel that all you listen to this and forget the world as it is and enjoy the story

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Dr
  • 23-12-12

Dylan Thomas at his best, Masterful performance by Richard Burton

I first saw Under Milk Wood performed at the Belgrade Theater in Coventry, in about 1962. When I bought this version, all those characters I first heard, way back then, came bursting back to life. This is a truly brilliant performance by all the cast, and one which I treasure.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A treasure

'Under Milkwood' is actually why I first decided to get into audiobooks, having heard an old cassette of this as a child. Memory did not disappoint. Richard Burton captivates. Dylan Thomas is wonderful. Try it if for no other reason than to listen to the music of the Welsh voice- 'Orrrgan Morrrgan'. Delicious!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Not a patch on the 1954 version

I was very disappointed with this 'improved and extended version' as I've always loved the original broadcast. The voices and sounds of that broadcast are so deeply embedded in my memory that nothing else will do.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the greatest radio plays of all time!

What did you like most about Under Milk Wood (Dramatised)?

Quite simply to hear the majestic tones of Richard Burton's voice. Uttering the words of one of the all time greatest writers is pure magic.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Burton's narration is incredible. Whenever I read Under Milk Wood or see it live on stage. I cannot help but hear Richard Burtons voice.

What about Richard Burton’s performance did you like?

Pure magic!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

Just listen to this with your eyes closed and allow Dylan Thomas and Richard Burton to transport you to Welsh dreamland.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Luscious

Vivid story of village life, tenderly written , beautifully told. A must listen for lovers of voice.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Very well read and played out.

I didn't know what to expect with this play. I had heard of it before but never read or listened to it, but it was a set book for uni. All I can say is that it is a bit mad. It made me laugh and sigh, but most of all I was intrigued. I love TDs use of language, the way he describes things like 'a breeze from the creased water sighs,' it is so imaginative, the personification of the breeze, it's very poetic all the way through. It's just a lovely listen and one I would like to listen to again. Richard Burton has got such a lovely voice, a true pleasure to listen to.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It's Richard Burton and Dylan Thomas...nuff said!

What more can be said other than it's Richard Burton and cast reading the wonderful Dylan Thomas...nuff said! It's a classic.

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1 person found this helpful