Library to exhibit Richard Burton letters

Wed, 18 Feb 09 12:39:00

 

Letters written by screen legend Richard Burton to an old friend are being exhibited at The National Library of Wales for the first time.

 

The letters and telegrams to Dennis Burgess are being shown at the National Library later this month. They include an invite to Burton's 50th birthday party in 1975 from his then wife Elizabeth Taylor. The letters, some written on location, mostly relate to Burton's efforts to help his friend's acting career. They also illustrate how Burton's children encouraged him to appear in the 1968 film Where Eagles Dare, a celebrated thriller in which Burton starred alongside Clint Eastwood.

 

‘I was instructed to find a film in which I killed a great many people like J Bond and remain alive at the end,’ wrote Burton.

 

He writes about finding Burgess a part in the 1972 film Bluebeard, and details his own bloodthirsty role in the movie. ‘I kill seven of my wives in various fiendish ways,’ he told his old school friend.

 

The Library bought the letters, which included one to Burgess from actor Sir John Gielgud, for around £800 at Bloomsbury Auctions.

 

There is also a telegram from Elizabeth Taylor, then Elizabeth Burton, inviting Burgess and his wife to Burton's 50th birthday party at the Dorchester Hotel in London. The invite says the party was in the hotel's Orchid Suite and that the dress code was ‘formal or informal’.

 

The letters will be shown at the Library's recent acquisitions exhibition 28 February – 27 March 2009.

 

Press Office

Medi Jones-Jackson

medi.jones-jackson@llgc.org.uk

01970 632 534