or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Colour:
Image not available

 

The Last Days Of Dolwyn [DVD] [1949]

Richard Burton , Edith Evans , Emlyn Williams    Parental Guidance   DVD
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
Price: £10.31 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 6 left in stock (more on the way).
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.
Want delivery by Tuesday, 21 May? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
Learn about LOVEFiLM
Amazon’s film and TV subscription service with unlimited access to thousands of titles to watch instantly, many in HD at no extra cost. Go to LOVEFiLM for title availability. Enjoy a 30-day free trial and watch across many devices including the Kindle Fire. Learn more at LOVEFiLM.com

Frequently Bought Together

The Last Days Of Dolwyn [DVD] [1949] + Valley Of Song [DVD] [1953] + How Green Was My Valley [DVD] [1941]
Price For All Three: £24.83

Buy the selected items together

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Product details

  • Actors: Richard Burton, Edith Evans, Emlyn Williams
  • Directors: Emlyn Williams
  • Format: PAL
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: studiocanal
  • DVD Release Date: 18 Feb 2013
  • Run Time: 91 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B008LU8NGO
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 15,686 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

Product Description

The peaceful village of Dolwyn is known for its friendly folk and its simple ways. But this idyllic retreat in North Wales is about to be thrown into utter turmoil thanks to the arrival of a ruthless water company. Due to geological difficulties the only way to complete their planned reservoir is to flood the village of Dolwyn. The campaign is lead by an embittered local who has returned from the big city and is intent on destroying the place he once called home. Are the village residents capable of fighting the industrialists and saving their home? Or is this truly the last days of Dolwyn?

Written and directed by Emlyn Williams (The Man Who Knew Too Much), this compelling and tragic British melodrama is known for being one of Richard Burton’s earliest roles on film.


Customer Reviews

3 star
0
2 star
0
1 star
0
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Gwen N
Amazon Verified Purchase
Moving and sweet drama from 1949 about an idyllic Welsh village (complete with quirky and salt-of-the earth characters), which is threatened to be flooded by the construction of a nearby dam. Because of the quality of the image and sound, the film feels much older than it actually is, but this is not an issue and actually adds to its charm.

The portrayal of village life is lovely and the pacing of the story is good. Underneath the sometimes too earnest script, the film also deals with some interesting themes such as the disappearance of a traditional way of life and the all-encompassing class system.

There is quite a bit of Welsh-speaking and -singing (including a haunting rendition of "Ar lan y mor") which is wonderful (even for people like me who don't speak the language).

The other main draw of this film is the chance to see a very young Richard Burton in one of his earliest roles. He plays the shy and very sweet son of the inadvertent heroine of the movie. He is less commanding here than he would later become, however, interestingly enough, the adjective that comes to mind is "luminous" and it's not because of the lighting.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic film 21 April 2013
Amazon Verified Purchase
As Burton's first film and a hoard of classic actors it had been lost for too long. Some early appearance of other stars too.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
4.0 out of 5 stars Old Fashioned Storytelling Wins the Day. 18 May 2013
By Bob Salter TOP 100 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
One of the years more interesting DVD releases. It seems highly likely that this one was only retrieved from the dusty film archives because it marked the 1949 film debut of Richard Burton, who started his glittering career in this very Welsh grass roots role. He also met his first wife Sybil Williams on the set, a marriage that lasted until Burton's rather well publicised affair with Elizabeth Taylor. It is strange to see the oh so youthful looking Burton bounding across the Welsh fields, long before the ravages of the high life etched their marks onto his world weary face.

The film itself is actually a very refreshing look back to the past. I have never seen this film on the TV in the past. Wales does not have a massive cinematic history, but this film could certainly be seen as an important one in that limited canon of work. With the talented Welsh playwright Emlyn Williams writing, acting and directing in true auteur fashion, it certainly has good Welsh credentials. What a pity Williams was not persuaded to direct again! The story itself is old fashioned in the best sense. Almost Victorian in style with a storyline that echoes the style of George Eliot. Having said this the story of the flooding of a Welsh village also eerily mirrors the real life flooding of the Welsh village of Capel Celyn in the 60's. The film is set in 1892 when a Welsh village is drowned to provide water for Liverpool. The story makes much of the destruction of this Welsh idyll by greedy capitalists, an issue that still causes heartache in poverty stricken South American countries. There is some high melodrama as the tightly knit little community is fractured. Edith Evans plays the humble Welsh matriarch who holds things together. The film comes to an interesting and satisfying finale well worth waiting for.

The film is far from perfect but it has an awful lot going for it. It is certainly well acted by an ensemble cast in which Burton shines brightly. Edith Evans is brilliant as ever and the character actor Hugh Griffith stands out as the minister. Williams has provided a poetic and moving script that makes good use of the rich Welsh language that sounds so good to the ear. I have no Welsh blood that I am aware of I hasten to add! It was a satisfying movie to watch and its genuine old fashioned virtues without any false artfulness won me over. It may have only been revived as a footnote in the history of one great actors career, but it is well worth watching in its own right.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


Amazon.co.uk Privacy Statement Amazon.co.uk Delivery Information Amazon.co.uk Returns & Exchanges