Dylan Thomas

Nacimiento : 1914-10-27, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Muerte : 1953-11-09

Historia

Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer whose works include the poems "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "And death shall have no dominion"; the 'play for voices' Under Milk Wood; and stories and radio broadcasts such as "A Child's Christmas in Wales" and "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog". He became widely popular in his lifetime and remained so after his premature death at the age of 39 in New York City. By then he had acquired a reputation, which he had encouraged, as a "roistering, drunken and doomed poet". Thomas was born at the family home in Cwmdonkin Drive in the Uplands district of Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales, in 1914. An undistinguished pupil, he left school at 16 and became a journalist for a short time. Many of his works appeared in print while he was still a teenager; however, it was the publication in 1934 of "Light breaks where no sun shines" that caught the attention of the literary world. While living in London, Thomas met Caitlin Macnamara, whom he married in 1937. Their relationship was defined by alcoholism and was mutually destructive. In the early part of their marriage, Thomas and his family lived hand-to-mouth; they settled in the Welsh fishing village of Laugharne/Talacharn in Carmarthenshire. Thomas came to be appreciated as a popular poet during his lifetime, though he found earning a living as a writer difficult. He began augmenting his income with reading tours and radio broadcasts. His radio recordings for the BBC during the late 1940s brought him to the public's attention, and he was frequently used by the BBC as a populist voice of the literary scene. Thomas first travelled to the United States in the 1950s. His readings there brought him a level of fame, while his erratic behaviour and drinking worsened. His time in America cemented his legend, however, and he went on to record to vinyl such works as "A Child's Christmas in Wales". During his fourth trip to New York in 1953, after a night at the White Horse Inn, Greenwich Village, Thomas became gravely ill and fell into a coma, from which he never recovered. He died on 9 November 1953 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village. His body was returned to Wales where he was interred at the village churchyard in Laugharne on 25 November 1953. The grace is marked by a simple white wooden cross. Though Thomas wrote exclusively in the English language, he has been acknowledged as one of the most important Welsh poets of the 20th century. He is noted for his original, rhythmic and ingenious use of words and imagery. His position as one of the great modern poets has been much discussed, and he remains popular with the public.

Películas

National Theatre Live: Under Milk Wood
Writer
A community is sleeping. If you listen closely, you can hear their dreams. The retired sea captain yearning for his lost love. The landlady living in terror of her guests. A father who can no longer access his memories. A son in search of redemption. As they awake to boiled eggs and the postman, the residents of a small Welsh village juggle old secrets and new realities.
Under Milk Wood
Original Story
Two versions of Dylan Thomas' classic play "Under Milk Wood" were shot, with the same cast, one in Welsh, "Dan y Wenallt", and one in English. Directed by Kevin Allen, narrated by and starring Rhys Ifans, the films were shot largely in the Pembrokeshire village of Solfa during the summer of 2014. This surreal and erotic interpretation of Dylan Thomas' work is the first theatrical production of the brilliant, haunting radio play since Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's 1972 film. Certain to astonish and excite in equal measures, this production reunites director Kevin Allen with actor Rhys Ifans over 15 years after the release of their cult classic "Twin Town". An ensemble Welsh speaking cast of familiar faces is led by Ifans as First Voice and Captain Cat, with Charlotte Church as Polly Garter.
Great Poets: In Their Own Words
A journey into the BBC archives unearthing glorious performances and candid interviews from some of Britain's greatest poets.
Dylan Thomas - A War Films Anthology
Writer
Eight of the finest wartime works by the world-renowned poet Dylan Thomas who made a little-known but valuable contribution to Britain’s war effort scripting powerful propaganda films for the Ministry of Information. This anthology collects together eight of his finest wartime works: "THESE ARE THE MEN" (1943) - a blistering attack on the Nazis: "BALLOON SITE 568" (1942) - the women who worked as barrage balloon operators "WALES, GREEN MOUNTAIN, BLACK MOUNTAIN" (1942) - a tribute to Wales at war; "NEW TOWNS FOR OLD" (1942) - urban regeneration in the fictional town of Smokesdale; "THE BATTLE FOR FREEDOM" (1942) - the contribution made by the Empire towards the British war effort; "CEMA" (1942) - the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts; "A CITY REBORN" (1945) - a salute to the city Coventry; "A SOLDIER COMES HOME" (1945) - a soldier on leave with his family in London.
Under Milk Wood
Author
A poet's tale of a day in the lives of the villagers of a Welsh fishing town of Llareggub.
Rebecca's Daughters
Writer
Young aristocrat Anthony Raine returns home from India to find the farmers of Pembrokeshire protesting about the rates of a tollgate run by The Whitman Turnpike Trust, headed by the drunken Lord Sarn. So Raine dons a mask and, calling himself Rebecca, instructs his followers to dress as women as they attack the tolls, leading the common people to victory over their masters.
Weiber
Writer
A Child's Christmas in Wales
Story
It's Christmas Eve in Wales. A young boy named Thomas is excited about the holiday, but he's also disappointed because it's raining instead of snowing. His grandfather gives him an old snow globe as an early Christmas present and starts telling colorful, amusing stories about his childhood Christmases that are shown in flashback. Thomas keeps asking his grandfather more questions because he likes the stories and because he doesn't want to go to bed. His parents finally insist that he go to bed, and his grandfather tells him one last story about going to bed on Christmas night while listening to his family singing carols downstairs. After Thomas falls asleep at last, his grandfather opens the bedroom window and sees falling snowflakes.
El doctor y los diablos
Original Story
Un doctor que realiza tétricos y horripilantes experimentos con difuntos contrata a un grupo de hombres para que roben cadáveres para sus investigaciones.
Bajo el bosque lácteo
Theatre Play
Llareggub es un pueblecito galés de pescadores, habitado no sólo por una serie de extraños personajes, sino también por fantasmas.
No Room at the Inn
Screenplay
A group of children are evacuated during world war two into the care of an alcoholic woman.
The Three Weird Sisters
Writer
Three older sisters live on their family estate in Wales. This household once proudly reigned over a mining town, but the mines dried up and the estate and the town have fallen on hard times. When the land crumbles and a number of homes in the town are destroyed the sisters promise to rebuild the homes.
A City Reborn
Writer
Scripted by poet Dylan Thomas, this affecting docu-drama recalls the incendiary bombing of Coventry on 14 November 1940. The film focusses on reconstruction and morale: we see the city's rebirth through the eyes of a young local couple planning for their future, and an engineer interested in the new housing drive. This is one of several 1940s films introducing cinemagoers to the good old 'prefab'.
Our Country
Writer
A romantic tour of Britain set to Dylan Thomas's poetry.
These Are the Men
Writer
Anti nazi short.
These Are the Men
Director
Anti nazi short.
Wales: Green Mountain, Black Mountain
Writer
A documentary look at Wales's turbulent relationship with England, and its commitment to the defence of Britain during World War II through its industries, social rituals, rural life and future prospects
CEMA
Director
A documentary about the precursor to the Arts Council, the wartime Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (CEMA), featuring an introduction by education minister R A Butler, an art exhibition in a factory and live music and theatre performances in various English locations.
New Towns for Old
Writer
This wartime public information film combines impressive shots of industrial poverty with inspiring words scripted by Dylan Thomas, proffering new housing and better lives after the war.