In the Welsh town of Port Talbot, 1942, Richard Jenkins (Harry Lawtey) lives as a wayward schoolboy, caught between the pressures of his struggling family, a devastating war, and his own ambitions. However, a new opportunity arises when Richard’s natural talent for drama catches the attention of his teacher, Philip Burton, who takes Richard under his wing. 

 

Bio-pics, especially those about a Hollywood icon, are tricky beasts. Not only because every unique movement of theirs has been captured on celluloid but because the life of a Hollywood star is always so well known and documented. 

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But the details of Richard Burton’s life found here in Mr. Burton was a complete surprise, filled with intriguing and at times heartbreaking revelation as the depths of Richard’s family relational breakdowns and poverty are laid bare. 

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Being based in Wales, Mr. Burton plays almost like any other solid British historical drama, with a rich production design and lush locations to boot. It is also helped by superb cast led by the brilliant and subtle Toby Jones and the scene stealing divinity of Lesley Manville. 

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But it’s the relative newcomer Harry Lawtey who is the star of the show here. The temptation with such a well known figure as Burton would have been to fashion more of an impression than an immersive depiction. Lawtey gives us the latter, perfectly capturing the little tonal shifts of Burton’s voice with a hint of his mannerisms too. This shadow of Richard Burton that Lawtey manages to craft allows us to see his humanity in all its beauty and frailty. 

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A superb British drama, Mr. Burton is a revelatory experience as it delves into the life of one of Hollywood’s greatest stars with a career defining performance from Harry Lawtey.