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-The film "The Last Days Of Dolwyn" -opens with a shot of a reservoir. | 0:00:05 | 0:00:10 | |
-The camera focuses on a monument -marking where the village stood. | 0:00:10 | 0:00:16 | |
-The village was drowned in 1892. | 0:00:17 | 0:00:20 | |
-At five years of age, -I remember standing by the lake... | 0:00:20 | 0:00:25 | |
-..with my father and older brother. | 0:00:25 | 0:00:29 | |
-The cameras were behind us. -People told me not to look back. | 0:00:30 | 0:00:35 | |
-But I kept looking back. | 0:00:36 | 0:00:38 | |
-I remember them -having to shoot several takes. | 0:00:38 | 0:00:42 | |
-I was amazed -at how good the film was. | 0:00:47 | 0:00:50 | |
-It had so much passion. | 0:00:50 | 0:00:52 | |
-Many people remember the film -and who was in it. | 0:00:56 | 0:01:00 | |
-Local people acted in it. -It has created a wonderful myth. | 0:01:01 | 0:01:06 | |
-We're all going to be deported - -to England! | 0:01:07 | 0:01:11 | |
-We see the old village as it was, -and I get to see my old dog. | 0:01:11 | 0:01:16 | |
-It was a film made in our village - -part of our heritage. | 0:01:17 | 0:01:22 | |
-THE DROWNING OF DOLWYN | 0:01:35 | 0:01:39 | |
-Fifty years ago, -the "The Last Days Of Dolwyn"... | 0:01:39 | 0:01:43 | |
-..was filmed at Rhyd-y-main, -near Dolgellau. | 0:01:44 | 0:01:47 | |
-Many local people -have sweet memories of this film. | 0:01:47 | 0:01:52 | |
-It was to change the lives -of those who were involved in it. | 0:01:53 | 0:01:58 | |
-My brother, Richard Burton, -took part in this film. | 0:01:58 | 0:02:03 | |
-This was his first -screen appearance. | 0:02:03 | 0:02:06 | |
-Rich's mentor and friend, -Emlyn Williams... | 0:02:11 | 0:02:15 | |
-..wrote and directed the film. -He also played a leading role. | 0:02:15 | 0:02:20 | |
-Many famous Welsh actors -appeared in it... | 0:02:22 | 0:02:26 | |
-..as Emlyn Williams tried to portray -a 19th century Welsh village. | 0:02:26 | 0:02:32 | |
-Local residents -made a valuable contribution... | 0:02:33 | 0:02:37 | |
-..both seen and unseen. | 0:02:37 | 0:02:39 | |
-In the film, I was in charge -of the dog, Mot, and the sheep. | 0:02:44 | 0:02:51 | |
-I had to make sure that Mot -kept an eye on these sheep. | 0:02:51 | 0:02:56 | |
-Maurice Browning, a monoglot -Englishman, was a shepherd. | 0:02:56 | 0:03:01 | |
-He had to sing a Welsh folk song -on the riverbank. | 0:03:01 | 0:03:06 | |
-My job was to make sure -Mot and the sheep kept quiet. | 0:03:12 | 0:03:17 | |
-It wasn't easy. | 0:03:18 | 0:03:20 | |
-We had to do it more than once. | 0:03:20 | 0:03:23 | |
-The dog and the sheep -had to be quiet. | 0:03:23 | 0:03:27 | |
-The weather wasn't good -when they were filming in July. | 0:03:27 | 0:03:32 | |
-What did you do? | 0:03:33 | 0:03:36 | |
-What did you do? - -I hid behind a hedge. | 0:03:36 | 0:03:38 | |
-Mot knew I was there -but he stayed and watched the sheep. | 0:03:38 | 0:03:43 | |
-We had to stay there until -the film people were satisfied. | 0:03:45 | 0:03:50 | |
-The children of Rhyd-y-main school -also joined in the excitement. | 0:03:52 | 0:03:59 | |
-I lived in this house behind me... | 0:04:03 | 0:04:06 | |
-..so I was a favourite for a part. | 0:04:07 | 0:04:10 | |
-There were three of us from -the school, two boys and one girl. | 0:04:11 | 0:04:17 | |
-I played ball with him. | 0:04:17 | 0:04:19 | |
-I remember the ball was colourful -and filled with cotton wool. | 0:04:20 | 0:04:25 | |
-We were by the river, -playing with the ball. | 0:04:26 | 0:04:29 | |
-When Hugh Griffith left the village -on a horse and cart... | 0:04:30 | 0:04:35 | |
-..Meinir and I were playing -by the wall and I raised my arm. | 0:04:37 | 0:04:42 | |
-You can see it in the film. | 0:04:42 | 0:04:44 | |
-My friend Dewi -was in the window of our house. | 0:04:45 | 0:04:48 | |
-I was lucky to be out playing. | 0:04:49 | 0:04:52 | |
-Clem Owen from Dolgellau got the -job of driving the stars around... | 0:04:52 | 0:04:58 | |
-..in a big American Chrysler. | 0:04:58 | 0:05:00 | |
-I worked in a garage at that time, -just after the War. | 0:05:01 | 0:05:05 | |
-One day, we had a call to go down -to the vestry in Bontddu... | 0:05:06 | 0:05:12 | |
-..to fetch the stars -and take them to Rhyd-y-main. | 0:05:15 | 0:05:20 | |
-A film was being made there. | 0:05:21 | 0:05:24 | |
-It was very new to me and I didn't -really understand what was going on. | 0:05:26 | 0:05:32 | |
-I was feeling quite nervous -at the thought of it. | 0:05:33 | 0:05:37 | |
-I had heard of Emlyn Williams. | 0:05:38 | 0:05:41 | |
-But I had only seen him on film. | 0:05:42 | 0:05:45 | |
-Believe me, I felt quite nervous. | 0:05:46 | 0:05:49 | |
-My brother and sister -were extras in the film... | 0:05:50 | 0:05:54 | |
-..with a boy from the USA -who was here on holiday. | 0:05:54 | 0:05:59 | |
-They said, "Goodnight" -to Edith Evans after the service. | 0:06:01 | 0:06:06 | |
-But you barely saw them. -If you blinked, you missed them. | 0:06:06 | 0:06:11 | |
-My brother, his wife, and their son -had come over from America. | 0:06:12 | 0:06:18 | |
-They stayed with us in the village -for a few days. | 0:06:18 | 0:06:23 | |
-Emlyn Williams -asked if he'd like to take part. | 0:06:24 | 0:06:28 | |
-He was so delighted. | 0:06:29 | 0:06:31 | |
-They never saw the film in Wales, -but they saw it in Chicago. | 0:06:33 | 0:06:38 | |
-That gave them great pleasure. | 0:06:40 | 0:06:42 | |
-I'm pretty sure I'm the one -at the back of the chapel... | 0:06:43 | 0:06:48 | |
-..being held in someone's arms. | 0:06:48 | 0:06:51 | |
-It looks like me at that age - -but of course it's a long time ago. | 0:06:51 | 0:06:57 | |
-Relatives say it -is -me. | 0:06:58 | 0:07:00 | |
-There was great enthusiasm here. | 0:07:01 | 0:07:04 | |
-I was one of seven girls. | 0:07:05 | 0:07:08 | |
-We had to walk from Rhyd-y-main Hall -down to the village. | 0:07:10 | 0:07:15 | |
-That's when they filmed us. | 0:07:15 | 0:07:17 | |
-Two were from Dolgellau -and five were from Rhyd-y-main. | 0:07:19 | 0:07:24 | |
-The total sum was three pounds - -a huge sum for an 11-year-old then. | 0:07:26 | 0:07:33 | |
-It was enough to buy a bike! | 0:07:35 | 0:07:38 | |
-I remember the excitement. | 0:07:38 | 0:07:40 | |
-The village centre was full of -people and action and noise. | 0:07:42 | 0:07:47 | |
-Many people were shouting -at each other. | 0:07:48 | 0:07:52 | |
-People were in their costumes. -I had to dress up for the part. | 0:07:52 | 0:07:57 | |
-I had to wear braids and so on - -which was strange. | 0:07:57 | 0:08:02 | |
-We were eager to see the film stars. | 0:08:02 | 0:08:05 | |
-There was no television -in those days. | 0:08:07 | 0:08:10 | |
-Russell Lloyd, -Associate Director -On one oc - the unit -were invited to have tea... | 0:08:11 | 0:08:19 | |
-..about six of us went to have tea -with Mrs Roberts. | 0:08:19 | 0:08:24 | |
-During the conversation, -somebody said... | 0:08:25 | 0:08:28 | |
-.."Mrs Roberts, we're going to go -to chapel tomorrow"... | 0:08:30 | 0:08:34 | |
-.."but I don't know -that we'll understand too much". | 0:08:35 | 0:08:39 | |
-She said, "Yes, the whole service -is in Welsh"... | 0:08:40 | 0:08:44 | |
-.."except for the collection"! | 0:08:45 | 0:08:47 | |
-I came here with Hugh -when he was doing the film. | 0:08:48 | 0:08:53 | |
-There was a lot of excitement here. | 0:08:54 | 0:08:57 | |
-Elen Roger Jones, -Hugh Griffith's sister Peop - - -in period costumes. | 0:08:57 | 0:09:04 | |
-It was something new - -something special. | 0:09:04 | 0:09:08 | |
-I've often wondered -why they chose Rhyd-y-main... | 0:09:10 | 0:09:15 | |
-..and not some other area. | 0:09:15 | 0:09:18 | |
-Emlyn Williams had looked at sixty -villages in north and mid Wales... | 0:09:21 | 0:09:27 | |
-..before discovering Rhyd-y-main as -he travelled from Dolgellau to Bala. | 0:09:27 | 0:09:33 | |
-Here, he found what he wanted. | 0:09:34 | 0:09:37 | |
-A small, neat village -on the banks of a stream... | 0:09:37 | 0:09:41 | |
-..with no modern buildings. | 0:09:41 | 0:09:44 | |
-Workmen turned it -into one large film set. | 0:09:44 | 0:09:48 | |
-In front of the house -was a lamp and a well. | 0:09:48 | 0:09:52 | |
-This bridge had been covered in wood -which made it look old-fashioned. | 0:09:52 | 0:09:59 | |
-Then there was the Dolwyn Arms. | 0:09:59 | 0:10:01 | |
-In real life, a chapel deacon and -his wife lived in the Dolwyn Arms. | 0:10:02 | 0:10:08 | |
-We're standing here -in front of the Dolwyn Arms. | 0:10:09 | 0:10:13 | |
-There was no tavern in the village. | 0:10:14 | 0:10:17 | |
-They had put a small porch -on pillars here. | 0:10:17 | 0:10:21 | |
-It had "Dolwyn Arms" -written above it. | 0:10:23 | 0:10:27 | |
-People came down from chapel -and in through this door. | 0:10:27 | 0:10:32 | |
-Straight from chapel to the pub? | 0:10:32 | 0:10:34 | |
-Straight from chapel to the pub? - -Yes! | 0:10:34 | 0:10:36 | |
-If you look -on the upper part of this wall... | 0:10:37 | 0:10:41 | |
-..you can still see traces of the -mouldings they did during filming... | 0:10:43 | 0:10:50 | |
-..to make the upper part of the wall -match the lower part. | 0:10:52 | 0:10:57 | |
-The only building which didn't -please Emlyn was the chapel. | 0:10:57 | 0:11:02 | |
-It was too large and too modern. | 0:11:02 | 0:11:05 | |
-The chapel was camouflaged. | 0:11:06 | 0:11:08 | |
-The roof was completely covered -with bracken and vegetation. | 0:11:10 | 0:11:16 | |
-They painted one side of the chapel. | 0:11:21 | 0:11:25 | |
-In front of it they placed trees. | 0:11:26 | 0:11:29 | |
-You could swear -they had grown there naturally. | 0:11:29 | 0:11:34 | |
-They were there for some weeks. | 0:11:34 | 0:11:37 | |
-The chapel blended in perfectly -with the trees in the background. | 0:11:37 | 0:11:43 | |
-They had camouflaged it well. | 0:11:44 | 0:11:47 | |
-In placing pillars -outside the Dolwyn Arms... | 0:11:49 | 0:11:53 | |
-..Emlyn must have been influenced -by houses in nearby Llanfachreth. | 0:11:54 | 0:12:00 | |
-He also borrowed the image -of the church at Llanfachreth... | 0:12:01 | 0:12:06 | |
-..for the old church -that stands above Dolwyn. | 0:12:06 | 0:12:10 | |
-Rhyd-y-main chapel -remains hidden in the film. | 0:12:12 | 0:12:16 | |
-But this chapel, Bethel Llanfachreth -is an important location. | 0:12:16 | 0:12:22 | |
-Here, I can hear echoes -of Emlyn's childhood... | 0:12:23 | 0:12:27 | |
-..in a Flintshire village. | 0:12:27 | 0:12:31 | |
-He would sit in chapel, listening -to the preachers' performances. | 0:12:32 | 0:12:37 | |
-Preachers at important services -made a deep impression on Emlyn. | 0:13:02 | 0:13:08 | |
-Richard was certainly influenced by -our local chapel, Noddfa, Taibach. | 0:13:08 | 0:13:15 | |
-I've a theory that if I or -Hugh Griffith or Emlyn Williams... | 0:13:15 | 0:13:20 | |
-..had been born forty years earlier, -we would all have become preachers. | 0:13:21 | 0:13:26 | |
-Until about 1925, there were -no Welsh actors that I know of. | 0:13:27 | 0:13:32 | |
-The most important Welsh dramatic -figure then was Emlyn Williams. | 0:13:32 | 0:13:39 | |
-If Emlyn could do it, so could we. | 0:13:39 | 0:13:42 | |
-At this time, Welsh actors started -moving into the professional world. | 0:13:46 | 0:13:51 | |
-Think about them - -Clifford Evans, Richard... | 0:13:52 | 0:13:56 | |
-..Emlyn, Hugh Griffith, -Stanley Baker. | 0:13:57 | 0:14:01 | |
-I don't know why a group of them -suddenly appeared. | 0:14:02 | 0:14:06 | |
-There was no nepotism. | 0:14:07 | 0:14:09 | |
-No-one said, -"Why don't you give my mate a job?". | 0:14:09 | 0:14:14 | |
-We all came together -at the right time. | 0:14:14 | 0:14:18 | |
-To discover what Emlyn had in mind -when he filmed "Dolwyn"... | 0:14:18 | 0:14:24 | |
-..I looked at his scrapbooks - -now kept at the National Library. | 0:14:24 | 0:14:29 | |
-He had collected press cuttings -and photographs of the production. | 0:14:29 | 0:14:34 | |
-Meredith Edwards' name is missing -from the list of actors. | 0:14:37 | 0:14:42 | |
-I was just starting on my career. | 0:14:43 | 0:14:46 | |
-I'd heard about this film. -I was in Liverpool at the time. | 0:14:46 | 0:14:51 | |
-I was doing 'The Cherry Orchard' -at the old St James's Theatre. | 0:14:51 | 0:14:55 | |
-I wrote to Emlyn, and fair play, -he said, "Come and see me". | 0:14:57 | 0:15:02 | |
-The first time I met Emlyn Williams, -he was in bed... | 0:15:02 | 0:15:07 | |
-..eating his breakfast, -taking the top off his egg! | 0:15:07 | 0:15:12 | |
-"Sorry, but I've been working -all night," he said. | 0:15:13 | 0:15:17 | |
-I said, "I'd heard -you were making a film". | 0:15:18 | 0:15:21 | |
-"I'm very sorry," he said, -"but it's cast". | 0:15:22 | 0:15:25 | |
-"But I would like you -to have been in it." | 0:15:26 | 0:15:29 | |
-"You go back and get -as much experience as you can." | 0:15:30 | 0:15:34 | |
-"Perhaps we could work -together again." | 0:15:34 | 0:15:38 | |
-I did work with him, towards -the end of his life, on television. | 0:15:38 | 0:15:44 | |
-Brook Williams, -Emlyn Williams' Son -He didn't - -y much. | 0:15:45 | 0:15:51 | |
-But he found them restful. | 0:15:51 | 0:15:53 | |
-While waiting in his dressing room, -he used to write. | 0:15:53 | 0:15:58 | |
-He had no idea what was going on -when he wasn't on the set. | 0:15:58 | 0:16:04 | |
-He'd go out, they'd put him -on a mark, he'd say his lines... | 0:16:04 | 0:16:09 | |
-..then he'd go back and write -another scene for his next play. | 0:16:09 | 0:16:13 | |
-A chap called Russell Lloyd -was a tremendous help to Emlyn. | 0:16:16 | 0:16:21 | |
-He knew films -and could also direct... | 0:16:22 | 0:16:25 | |
-..or stand behind the camera -and direct Emlyn. | 0:16:25 | 0:16:29 | |
-I was credited with being -Associate Director. | 0:16:31 | 0:16:35 | |
-In fact, Emlyn rehearsed the scene -with the artists... | 0:16:37 | 0:16:42 | |
-..but it was up to me to decide the -set-ups, the artists' movements... | 0:16:44 | 0:16:50 | |
-..when they did this -and when they did that. | 0:16:50 | 0:16:54 | |
-Also, the great thing of saying, -"Action!" and "Cut!" at the end. | 0:16:55 | 0:17:01 | |
-I remember one wet day, -when nothing was happening. | 0:17:03 | 0:17:08 | |
-Everyone was feeling fed up. | 0:17:10 | 0:17:13 | |
-I went to the car to have a snooze. | 0:17:16 | 0:17:19 | |
-Suddenly, I heard a noise -in the back of the car. | 0:17:25 | 0:17:30 | |
-I looked behind me - -and it was Emlyn Williams. | 0:17:31 | 0:17:35 | |
-He'd gone there for a snooze too. | 0:17:37 | 0:17:40 | |
-He told me he wouldn't mind -changing jobs with me. | 0:17:40 | 0:17:44 | |
-He couldn't do anything -in such bad weather. | 0:17:44 | 0:17:49 | |
-I told him -I didn't think he'd like my job. | 0:17:49 | 0:17:53 | |
-With Emlyn, it wasn't so much -the conversation... | 0:17:54 | 0:17:58 | |
-..but the way he looked at you. | 0:17:59 | 0:18:02 | |
-You didn't have to regard him -as some important man... | 0:18:06 | 0:18:11 | |
-..and yet he was important. | 0:18:11 | 0:18:13 | |
-That's probably why -he was such a great man. | 0:18:13 | 0:18:17 | |
-Emlyn Williams -used to come to this cottage. | 0:18:18 | 0:18:22 | |
-He came here every day -and my mother would give him tea... | 0:18:22 | 0:18:27 | |
-..and a sort of pancake. -That was a real treat. | 0:18:28 | 0:18:32 | |
-That's what we'd give him -as a real treat. | 0:18:35 | 0:18:38 | |
-Were you rewarded -at the end of the day? | 0:18:38 | 0:18:42 | |
-Yes. A crate of grapes from London. | 0:18:42 | 0:18:44 | |
-He was a very kind man. | 0:18:48 | 0:18:50 | |
-He always knew how to treat people. -He got the best out of everyone. | 0:18:52 | 0:18:58 | |
-No-one refused him anything. | 0:18:59 | 0:19:01 | |
-There was great cooperation -between everyone. | 0:19:02 | 0:19:06 | |
-The original script -is also at the Library. | 0:19:07 | 0:19:11 | |
-It's full of Emlyn's notes. | 0:19:11 | 0:19:14 | |
-There's a lot of Welsh in it - -something Emlyn had to battle for. | 0:19:15 | 0:19:21 | |
-In his later life, I worked with him -on a film in Anglesey. | 0:19:24 | 0:19:29 | |
-I got to know him. -He was a wonderful man. | 0:19:29 | 0:19:33 | |
-I told him I'd seen -"The Last Days Of Dolwyn"... | 0:19:33 | 0:19:37 | |
-..and was amazed -at how much Welsh there was in it. | 0:19:38 | 0:19:42 | |
-He said he'd had trouble -with the producer. | 0:19:45 | 0:19:49 | |
-He'd say, -"Is this Welsh? It's got to go". | 0:19:50 | 0:19:54 | |
-"Don't want that rubbish." | 0:19:56 | 0:19:58 | |
-Emlyn said, "If that goes, -then the film's not made". | 0:19:58 | 0:20:03 | |
-This was the first film -Emlyn directed. | 0:20:03 | 0:20:07 | |
-He had invested a lot in it. | 0:20:07 | 0:20:10 | |
-It would have been so easy to say, -"Oh, alright, then". | 0:20:12 | 0:20:17 | |
-At that time, there was -no Welsh Language Society... | 0:20:17 | 0:20:22 | |
-..no fuss about the language. -We all had to compromise. | 0:20:22 | 0:20:27 | |
-Emlyn made a stand. | 0:20:27 | 0:20:29 | |
-Subtitles | 0:20:33 | 0:20:33 | |
-Subtitles - -Subtitles | 0:20:33 | 0:20:35 | |
-In 1943, Emlyn Williams gave Rich -his first professional stage part. | 0:20:36 | 0:20:42 | |
-Five years later, it was -Williams who put him on screen. | 0:20:44 | 0:20:49 | |
-That was the beginning for Rich. | 0:21:02 | 0:21:05 | |
-Verdun Jenkins: Burton's brother -Emlyn Williams gave him the break -in "The - -olwyn". | 0:21:06 | 0:21:12 | |
-I couldn't have been happier. | 0:21:13 | 0:21:16 | |
-In general, it is remembered -because it was Burton's first film. | 0:21:16 | 0:21:22 | |
-He was very striking - -handsome and photogenic. | 0:21:23 | 0:21:28 | |
-For me, the one who stood -out was Richard Burton. | 0:21:29 | 0:21:35 | |
-He stood out with out a doubt. | 0:21:36 | 0:21:40 | |
-His voice was remarkable - -when he spoke and when he sang. | 0:21:41 | 0:21:46 | |
-You could tell from his voice -he would go far. | 0:21:48 | 0:21:54 | |
-It was also a significant time -in Rich's personal life. | 0:22:04 | 0:22:09 | |
-He met Sybil Williams, -a young Welsh actress. | 0:22:09 | 0:22:13 | |
-She had a lovely personality. | 0:22:14 | 0:22:17 | |
-Emlyn Williams initiated it all -and soon they were in love. | 0:22:18 | 0:22:24 | |
-Sybil was an extra - -a Welsh peasant lady. | 0:22:25 | 0:22:29 | |
-She told me this story later... | 0:22:31 | 0:22:34 | |
-At the end of the day, the extras -would queue up for their money. | 0:22:34 | 0:22:40 | |
-I don't know what they were getting. -Not much - about 2 10s. | 0:22:44 | 0:22:49 | |
-She'd queue up -to be paid by the day. | 0:22:53 | 0:22:57 | |
-She realised there were -quite a lot of extras. | 0:23:00 | 0:23:04 | |
-So, she said to another girl, -"Lend me your bonnet". | 0:23:08 | 0:23:13 | |
-She swapped bonnets with the girl -and Sybil got in the line again... | 0:23:17 | 0:23:21 | |
-..and got another 2 10s -as a different person. | 0:23:21 | 0:23:25 | |
-That's when she met Richard. -He was tickled by the idea. | 0:23:28 | 0:23:32 | |
-It wasn't all hard work. | 0:23:35 | 0:23:37 | |
-Emlyn gave the actors -a taste of Welsh culture. | 0:23:37 | 0:23:41 | |
-Clem Owen remembers -one trip in particular. | 0:23:42 | 0:23:45 | |
-I took them to Penybont Fawr, -home of the harpist, Nancy Richards. | 0:23:46 | 0:23:52 | |
-My passengers were Emlyn Williams, -Richard Burton and Hugh Griffith. | 0:23:56 | 0:24:02 | |
-They were all singing - I remember -Richard singing 'Aderyn Pur'. | 0:24:06 | 0:24:12 | |
-He had a great singing voice. | 0:24:15 | 0:24:17 | |
-Then, the roads became steeper -and the fog a little thicker. | 0:24:18 | 0:24:24 | |
-On the right, there was a big -drop and Richard was scared. | 0:24:29 | 0:24:35 | |
-He said "Clem, you're -a better singer than driver". | 0:24:37 | 0:24:41 | |
-I'm sure he was afraid of the drop. | 0:24:41 | 0:24:44 | |
-Also making his debut -was the actor, Dafydd Havard. | 0:24:47 | 0:24:53 | |
-I was proud to work on the film - -glad to work on any film. | 0:24:58 | 0:25:02 | |
-When Emlyn Williams asked -for a taxi, I said... | 0:25:12 | 0:25:16 | |
-I was there for a week instead of -a day because it rained. | 0:25:22 | 0:25:28 | |
-I was paid at the end -of every day on location. | 0:25:33 | 0:25:39 | |
-I said, "Every time it rains, -I can buy a new suit". | 0:25:41 | 0:25:44 | |
-After a week, Emlyn said, "You'll be -able to buy lots of new suits now". | 0:25:44 | 0:25:50 | |
-Emlyn Williams asked me to help -Dame Edith Evans... | 0:25:53 | 0:25:58 | |
-..to master the Welsh accent. | 0:25:59 | 0:26:02 | |
-She came from south-east England. | 0:26:02 | 0:26:05 | |
-She picked up the accent -very quickly. | 0:26:07 | 0:26:11 | |
-She was a great actress -and she prepared herself well... | 0:26:11 | 0:26:16 | |
-..to pronounce her lines -with a natural Welsh accent. | 0:26:17 | 0:26:22 | |
-She was the chapel cleaner. | 0:26:23 | 0:26:26 | |
-I remember her being -very stately and grand. | 0:26:27 | 0:26:30 | |
-Most chapel cleaners -are quite ordinary women. | 0:26:33 | 0:26:38 | |
-I'm not so sure if she'd captured -the essence of such a character. | 0:26:38 | 0:26:44 | |
-She had a strong personality. | 0:26:44 | 0:26:46 | |
-In one scene, where Emlyn meets -Edith Evans in the chapel... | 0:26:49 | 0:26:55 | |
-..I wanted Edith up in the pulpit -and Emlyn sitting down. | 0:26:58 | 0:27:04 | |
-Emlyn said it made her -more important than him. | 0:27:04 | 0:27:09 | |
-I said, "That is exactly -what I want to happen. | 0:27:10 | 0:27:13 | |
-For her to be more important than -him but not play as if she knew." | 0:27:14 | 0:27:20 | |
-That is how the scene was done. | 0:27:22 | 0:27:26 | |
-It was film debut -of the famous stage actress. | 0:27:35 | 0:27:39 | |
-The extras' union was the FAA - -Film Artists' Association. | 0:27:41 | 0:27:46 | |
-One of the extras asked Dame Edith -if she was a member. | 0:27:46 | 0:27:50 | |
-She went to Emlyn and said... | 0:27:51 | 0:27:54 | |
-"Emlyn, they say I can't work -in pictures... | 0:27:56 | 0:27:59 | |
-..unless I'm a member of the FAA." | 0:27:59 | 0:28:03 | |
-What is the FAA?" | 0:28:03 | 0:28:06 | |
-Despite his limited film work... | 0:28:07 | 0:28:10 | |
-..Hugh Griffith was given -a key role in "Dolwyn" by Emlyn. | 0:28:10 | 0:28:15 | |
-This pleased his mother who wanted -him to keep his job at the bank. | 0:28:16 | 0:28:22 | |
-Mam was very worried when -he left the bank to go to RADA... | 0:28:24 | 0:28:30 | |
-..but when she heard he had a part -in a film with a Welsh theme... | 0:28:31 | 0:28:37 | |
-..she changed her mind a little. | 0:28:37 | 0:28:41 | |
-Hugh was a character. | 0:28:41 | 0:28:45 | |
-He played himself a lot - he had -this magnificent face and eyes. | 0:28:45 | 0:28:51 | |
-I loved his expression. | 0:28:54 | 0:28:56 | |
-He looked as though he'd kill you. | 0:28:57 | 0:29:00 | |
-Fifty years on, -I can still see those eyes. | 0:29:00 | 0:29:05 | |
-Such penetrating eyes. | 0:29:06 | 0:29:09 | |
-Was he mad or not? | 0:29:10 | 0:29:13 | |
-Whichever, he was a great friend. | 0:29:15 | 0:29:18 | |
-Every actor must be a bit -of a rogue or a vagabond. | 0:29:20 | 0:29:24 | |
-That what they used to be. | 0:29:26 | 0:29:29 | |
-It's essential to be a rogue -in order to act. | 0:29:30 | 0:29:35 | |
-That's why I don't understand why -preachers and ministers act so well. | 0:29:35 | 0:29:41 | |
-Despite playing comic characters, -Hugh had strong political beliefs. | 0:29:50 | 0:29:56 | |
-He always spoke up for Wales. | 0:29:58 | 0:30:01 | |
-I knew "The Last Days Of Dolwyn" -was being filmed in Rhyd-y-main... | 0:30:02 | 0:30:07 | |
-..and that Hugh Griffith was there. | 0:30:08 | 0:30:11 | |
-So, I arranged a Plaid Cymru -meeting in Dolgellau... | 0:30:12 | 0:30:18 | |
-..with Hugh Griffith -as guest speaker. | 0:30:18 | 0:30:21 | |
-I contacted him -and he was keen to take part. | 0:30:22 | 0:30:26 | |
-I organised the meeting -at the library for eight o'clock... | 0:30:26 | 0:30:32 | |
-..and he said, -"Come to dinner with me beforehand". | 0:30:34 | 0:30:38 | |
-Sitting opposite us at the table -was Richard Burton. | 0:30:39 | 0:30:45 | |
-He was young and very handsome -and on the brink of stardom... | 0:30:48 | 0:30:54 | |
-..in "The Last Days Of Dolwyn". | 0:30:55 | 0:30:57 | |
-He was extremely friendly. | 0:30:58 | 0:31:02 | |
-I plucked up the courage to ask -him to join us at the meeting. | 0:31:03 | 0:31:09 | |
-"Alright", he said. | 0:31:10 | 0:31:12 | |
-Hugh Griffith -gave a brilliant speech. | 0:31:13 | 0:31:16 | |
-At the end, he said, -"Richard Burton is with us tonight". | 0:31:18 | 0:31:23 | |
-"He is a young actor -who will be famous one day." | 0:31:23 | 0:31:29 | |
-"Richard, come here" he said. | 0:31:31 | 0:31:33 | |
-"Right, I will", he said. | 0:31:34 | 0:31:36 | |
-He spoke a little in Welsh -before he lost his confidence... | 0:31:37 | 0:31:43 | |
-..and changed to English. | 0:31:44 | 0:31:47 | |
-However, his love of Wales -came through in his words. | 0:31:47 | 0:31:52 | |
-I felt he was truly with us. | 0:31:54 | 0:31:58 | |
-I'll never forget that evening. | 0:31:59 | 0:32:02 | |
-Coincidentally, Hugh also speaks -at a public meeting in the film. | 0:32:04 | 0:32:10 | |
-His words now seem prophetic. | 0:32:19 | 0:32:22 | |
-Who could have foreseen the sad irony -in Emlyn's work of fiction? | 0:32:22 | 0:32:28 | |
-Emlyn Williams' inspiration -came during a dry summer... | 0:32:31 | 0:32:36 | |
-..when he saw the remains of a -village at the bottom of a reservoir. | 0:32:37 | 0:32:42 | |
-Fifty years ago, water wasn't -as controversial as it is today. | 0:32:45 | 0:32:51 | |
-It became a political matter -when a few miles from Rhydymain... | 0:32:51 | 0:32:55 | |
-..the village of Capel Celyn in -the valley of Tryweryn was drowned. | 0:32:55 | 0:33:01 | |
-The Tryweryn business -came to remind us... | 0:33:28 | 0:33:31 | |
-..when Tryweryn -near Bala was drowned... | 0:33:31 | 0:33:34 | |
-..it made us think of -"The Last Days Of Dolwyn". | 0:33:35 | 0:33:39 | |
-There were many similarities. -There was some connection there. | 0:33:39 | 0:33:45 | |
-Just seven years after -"The Last Days Of Dolwyn"... | 0:33:45 | 0:33:51 | |
-..that is exactly what happened. | 0:33:52 | 0:33:55 | |
-Rumours were rife that -Liverpool was to drown Tryweryn. | 0:33:56 | 0:34:01 | |
-It was incredible - -totally prophetic. | 0:34:03 | 0:34:07 | |
-Every time I pass Tryweryn lake... | 0:34:07 | 0:34:10 | |
-..I always think of -"The Last Days Of Dolwyn". | 0:34:11 | 0:34:15 | |
-Subtitles | 0:34:22 | 0:34:22 | |
-Subtitles - -Subtitles | 0:34:22 | 0:34:24 | |
-After six weeks, it was time for -Emlyn and the crew to say goodbye. | 0:34:26 | 0:34:32 | |
-I was asked to go to Bontddu... | 0:34:36 | 0:34:39 | |
-..to pick up Richard Burton. | 0:34:40 | 0:34:44 | |
-The filming for "The Last Days -Of Dolwyn" had finished. | 0:34:44 | 0:34:48 | |
-We were on our way to Dolgellau. | 0:34:50 | 0:34:52 | |
-I helped Richard with his cases -on to the platform. | 0:34:55 | 0:35:01 | |
-I can see him now -putting his hand into his pocket... | 0:35:02 | 0:35:06 | |
-"Clem, here's a pound note -for a pint", he said. | 0:35:06 | 0:35:10 | |
-I'll never forget it. | 0:35:11 | 0:35:14 | |
-If I'd made him sign it, -it would be worth a lot now... | 0:35:15 | 0:35:20 | |
-..but a pound in those days -was a lot too. | 0:35:22 | 0:35:25 | |
-Wages were low - -a pound was a great help. | 0:35:27 | 0:35:32 | |
-Some of the houses in Rhyd-y-main -were re-created in the studio. | 0:35:35 | 0:35:41 | |
-Emlyn's son recalls being let loose -on the set during his holidays. | 0:35:44 | 0:35:50 | |
-I was dressed up as a little boy. | 0:35:52 | 0:35:54 | |
-If I appeared in a scene -by mistake... | 0:35:55 | 0:35:58 | |
-..if I wandered off, -it would be alright... | 0:36:02 | 0:36:04 | |
-..because I looked like one -of the kids in the village. | 0:36:04 | 0:36:10 | |
-I had quite a good time - we were -told to play games in the street... | 0:36:11 | 0:36:17 | |
-..and pretend -the camera wasn't there. | 0:36:18 | 0:36:23 | |
-The most boring thing was -the fact that the camera was there. | 0:36:23 | 0:36:27 | |
-People would shout "Quiet, Please!". | 0:36:28 | 0:36:31 | |
-The film was released in early 1949. | 0:36:33 | 0:36:36 | |
-Many remember seeing it - -for different reasons. | 0:36:37 | 0:36:41 | |
-When the film was shown in Bangor... | 0:36:42 | 0:36:47 | |
-..a bus full of locals -went to see it. | 0:36:48 | 0:36:52 | |
-It was an exciting day. | 0:36:54 | 0:36:56 | |
-I remember going to Bangor -to see the film. | 0:36:57 | 0:37:02 | |
-It was so exciting -and we had free admission. | 0:37:03 | 0:37:08 | |
-Cis said to me... | 0:37:09 | 0:37:10 | |
-.."Verd, our Rich's film -is at the Plaza in Swansea". | 0:37:14 | 0:37:18 | |
-Let's all go and see it. | 0:37:19 | 0:37:21 | |
-We were thrilled. -The whole family queued up. | 0:37:21 | 0:37:26 | |
-Someone knew my sister, Hilda. | 0:37:26 | 0:37:30 | |
-"That's Richard Burton's sister!" | 0:37:30 | 0:37:34 | |
-He was Richard Jenkins then, -of course. | 0:37:36 | 0:37:39 | |
-We all went in without paying -a penny - what a night! | 0:37:40 | 0:37:46 | |
-I saw it at the cinema in Bala... | 0:37:47 | 0:37:51 | |
-..and I took my two children. | 0:37:52 | 0:37:55 | |
-It was a new thing for them. | 0:37:57 | 0:37:59 | |
-By then, their grandmother -had moved to the village. | 0:38:00 | 0:38:05 | |
-They were familiar with Rhyd-y-main. | 0:38:06 | 0:38:09 | |
-In the scene -where the flooding begins... | 0:38:13 | 0:38:17 | |
-..and the water thunders -through the village... | 0:38:18 | 0:38:21 | |
-..and into the houses -and through the houses... | 0:38:22 | 0:38:26 | |
-..my children were frightened - -they were shouting and screaming. | 0:38:28 | 0:38:33 | |
-They were so frightened -I had to take them out. | 0:38:34 | 0:38:38 | |
-Gwilym Hughes is -in The Guinness Book of Records... | 0:38:39 | 0:38:45 | |
-..for having watched -the highest number of films ever. | 0:38:45 | 0:38:49 | |
-Gwilym Hughes, Film Expert -I've seen "The Last Days -Of Dol - -es. | 0:38:49 | 0:38:55 | |
-What do you think of the film? | 0:38:56 | 0:38:59 | |
-It's not Oscar material -but it is a piece of history. | 0:38:59 | 0:39:03 | |
-It's a historical document. | 0:39:04 | 0:39:07 | |
-"Dolwyn" has a clever script. -It is deceptively complex. | 0:39:09 | 0:39:15 | |
-Some might expect a tale -of English against Welsh... | 0:39:16 | 0:39:21 | |
-..but it's not that simple. | 0:39:21 | 0:39:24 | |
-The villain of the piece -is a Welshman. | 0:39:26 | 0:39:29 | |
-Emlyn Williams' plays a Welshman -who's turned his back on his people. | 0:39:30 | 0:39:35 | |
-When asked if he's a Welshman, -he replies... | 0:39:36 | 0:39:40 | |
-"I've been out of Wales for -twenty years. I'm a cosmopolitan." | 0:39:40 | 0:39:44 | |
-"Dolwyn" is a tale about -a man who takes revenge... | 0:39:44 | 0:39:48 | |
-..on the village that disowned him -for stealing from chapel as a boy. | 0:39:49 | 0:39:53 | |
-Years later, he returns -to take his revenge. | 0:39:54 | 0:39:57 | |
-I found it a very realistic film. | 0:39:58 | 0:40:01 | |
-It never got the credit it deserved. | 0:40:03 | 0:40:07 | |
-Russell Lloyd, Associate Producer -I enjoyed it as much as any film. | 0:40:08 | 0:40:13 | |
-It may be looked upon now -as a bit old-fashioned... | 0:40:14 | 0:40:17 | |
-..but then it was old-fashioned -in those days. | 0:40:18 | 0:40:22 | |
-I enjoyed it... | 0:40:24 | 0:40:27 | |
-..but there was too much -melodrama and singing. | 0:40:28 | 0:40:33 | |
-Some singing was needed -but not so much of it. | 0:40:35 | 0:40:41 | |
-Today, I look at the film -in a different way. | 0:40:44 | 0:40:48 | |
-I feel nostalgic. | 0:40:50 | 0:40:52 | |
-The strong acting -still comes across today. | 0:40:54 | 0:40:58 | |
-It's fifty years -since Rhyd-y-main became famous. | 0:40:59 | 0:41:03 | |
-Fifty years is a big slice -of anyone's life. | 0:41:07 | 0:41:11 | |
-The young have become grandparents... | 0:41:12 | 0:41:16 | |
-..and young actors have grown old. | 0:41:20 | 0:41:23 | |
-The stars are now screen legends. | 0:41:23 | 0:41:26 | |
-Hugh Griffith became a famous actor. | 0:41:28 | 0:41:32 | |
-He won an Oscar for 'Ben Hur'. | 0:41:34 | 0:41:37 | |
-Emlyn Williams worked mainly -in theatre. | 0:41:38 | 0:41:42 | |
-"The Last Days Of Dolwyn" was -his first and last film as director. | 0:41:42 | 0:41:48 | |
-The one who received the greatest -career boost was my brother, Rich. | 0:41:48 | 0:41:54 | |
-Years later, I saw him - -when he'd gone to America... | 0:41:57 | 0:42:02 | |
-..and I said to myself, -"You were right". | 0:42:05 | 0:42:09 | |
-We're lucky - -Richard was born in the south... | 0:42:10 | 0:42:16 | |
-..but in a way, -he was born in the north too... | 0:42:17 | 0:42:20 | |
-..since he made his first film -in north Wales. | 0:42:21 | 0:42:23 | |
-We should be proud -that we can all share him. | 0:42:24 | 0:42:27 | |
-Actors and authors know a story must -have a beginning, middle and end. | 0:42:30 | 0:42:36 | |
-Life is also like that... | 0:42:38 | 0:42:40 | |
-..with birth, life and death... | 0:42:41 | 0:42:43 | |
-..a beginning, a middle, and an end. | 0:42:44 | 0:42:46 | |
-My brother's story begins -at Pontrhydyfen in 1925... | 0:42:48 | 0:42:52 | |
-..and ends in Switzerland -58 years later. | 0:42:54 | 0:42:58 | |
-The family feels it that Rhyd-y-main -was the turning point in his career. | 0:43:00 | 0:43:06 | |
-That's when his career -started in earnest. | 0:43:07 | 0:43:13 | |
-I remember seeing Rich -at Stratford-on-Avon in 'Henry V'. | 0:43:14 | 0:43:20 | |
-He came on stage and stood still - -no movement at all. | 0:43:21 | 0:43:27 | |
-Everyone was looking at him. | 0:43:27 | 0:43:30 | |
-I thought, thank you, Emlyn Williams -for "The Last Days Of Dolwyn". | 0:43:30 | 0:43:36 | |
-I'm glad Rich had his screen break -in a film with a Welsh theme. | 0:43:43 | 0:43:48 | |
-Despite making some 60 other films, -only one other, 'Under Milk Wood'... | 0:43:49 | 0:43:55 | |
-..was filmed in Wales. | 0:43:56 | 0:43:58 | |
-Despite being fifty years old... | 0:43:59 | 0:44:02 | |
-.."The Last Days Of Dolwyn" -still has its own charm. | 0:44:02 | 0:44:06 | |
-I think it's a lovely film. | 0:44:06 | 0:44:09 | |
-It's a classic of a kind -and a part of history. | 0:44:10 | 0:44:16 | |
-It was the first chance -to see Welsh actors... | 0:44:17 | 0:44:21 | |
-..in this lovely village. -Isn't it lovely? | 0:44:23 | 0:44:27 | |
-I'm glad Emlyn has had recognition. | 0:44:27 | 0:44:30 | |
-I unveiled this plaque for him. | 0:44:31 | 0:44:34 | |
-I'm glad they remembered Emlyn. | 0:44:35 | 0:44:38 | |
-It was a golden age for Wales when -the Welsh made the film "Dolwyn". | 0:44:39 | 0:44:45 | |
-Lovely - I hope it lasts forever. | 0:44:47 | 0:44:50 | |
-. | 0:44:50 | 0:44:50 |