By Dulais Rhys, Ph.D
Ray Milland, Richard Burton, Anthony Hopkins
How three great Welsh actors, born within ten miles of each other, became Hollywood legends.
An illustrated lecture presented by Dulais Rhys, Ph.D
Ray Milland (1907-86), born Alfred Reginald Jones in Castell Nedd/Neath is nowadays mostly remembered for his leading roles in ‘The Lost Weekend’ (1945) and Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Dial M for Murder’ (1954). Starting his acting career as an extra in London movies of the 1920s, after moving to Hollywood in 1930, he signed for MGM as a stock actor before moving to Paramount, where he played secondary roles – usually as an upper-crust Englishman(!). Leading roles eluded him until his move to Universal in the late 1930s. He also directed movies, such as ‘A Man Alone’ (1955), and made frequent appearances on television in the 1950s and 60s, followed by a return to the Broadway stage, starring in plays such as ‘Hostile Witness’.
Richard Burton (1925-84), born Richard Walter Jenkins in the village of Pontrhydyfen, was known for his unmistakable “meillifluous baritone voice’. His acting career began in the 1950s with a series of Shakespeare plays, such as his role as Hamlet that thrust Burton into the theatrical spotlight. Following his move to Hollywood in the early 1950s, he was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, such as for ‘The Robe’ (1953), ‘Becket’ (1964) and ‘Equus’ (1977). In the 1960s, Burton was one of the highest paid actors in the world, whose stellar career was marred by unreliability and moodiness, a reputation that was reinforced by twice marrying and divorcing the equally tempestous Elizabeth Taylor.
Chameleon-like actor, director and producer Anthony Hopkins was born in 1937 in Port Talbot and during his half century on stage and screen is the recipient of multiple theatrical accolades. After graduating from Caerdydd/Cardiff’s Welsh College of Music and Drama then London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Hopkins’s acting talent was soon spotted in Shakepeare plays by renowned English actor, Laurence Olivier. Hopkins’s move to Hollywood in the early 1970s led to roles in acclaimed movies such as ‘The Elephant Man’ (1980) and his most (in)famous role as Hannibal Lecter in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991) for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor. Ever the proud Welshman, Hopkins now divides his time between Los Angeles and his beloved Cymru, of which he says: “Welsh people have a talent for acting… The English lack heart.”
Though often called “a nation of preachers and teachers”, for a country the size of New Jersey, Cymru has also given the world an amazing wealth of creative people, such as actors Milland, Burton and Hopkins, singers Bryn Terfel, Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey, painter Kyffin Williams and poet Dylan Thomas. Is it something in the water?
Wales’ National Anthem – Its History And How To Sing It
By Dulais Rhys, Ph.D
It is said that a national anthem is a reflection of the country and its people: the revolutionary fervor of France’s La Marseillaise, the dramatic nationalism of Italy’s Inno di Mameli, the historic passion of The Star-Spangled Banner. But what of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, the national anthem of Wales?
One advantage of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, compared to other anthems (such as The Star-Spangled Banner) is that it is among the easiest to sing. Some anthro-musicologists also believe (and who am I to disagree?) that Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is the anthem that’s always sung con gusto - with the greatest passion, fervor and emotion. Even those who do not speak Welsh are not unmoved by the inherent power and sentiment of singing the words of one of Europe’s oldest living languages: Cymraeg.
This presentation outlines the history and development of Wales’ national anthem; from its humble beginnings as a song, written in 1856 by father and son Evan and James James of Pontypridd, to its increasing popularity and eventual acceptance by Welsh people as a superior and more relevant replacement for the era’s existing ‘national anthem’: God Bless the Prince of Wales.
While The Star-Spangled Banner is performed in a variety of styles, versions and arrangements, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is almost always performed in one ‘traditional’ way. But even Welsh musical purists appreciate Welsh rocker Tich Gwilym’s 1978 electric guitar version of the anthem, which paid homage to Jimi Hendrix’s famous Woodstock rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner.
Though (to date), never officially adopted as its national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is accepted and performed worldwide as Wales’ national song; except, disgracefully, when Cymru has no choice but to ‘participate’ (such as at the Olympics) under the ‘Great Britain’ or ‘United Kingdom’ banner and endure the tediousness and irrelevance of God Save The Queen. The fact that this is also the anthem of England speaks volumes …
If you’ve ever wanted to sing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau yn Gymraeg, here’s an ideal opportunity to learn how to say and sing the words from a Welsh-speaking professional musician, so that you too can experience the thrill, passion and emotion that every Welsh person feels as s/he sings: ‘O bydded i’r heniaith barhau.’ [May the old language live forever]
You’ll never ‘do a John Redwood’ again! (to be explained)