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The incredible story of how Rich Jenkins, a young man from a poor family in Port Talbot became a multi award winning Hollywood star.

It's fair to say this is my kind of film, but knowing Burton's story pretty well, it was interesting to see how they decided to translate it onto the big screen.

Without sounding sentimental, it's a lovely, heartwarming movie, it's uplifting and emotional, a young Burton seemed to have everything against him, his troubled father, poverty, even the country itself, but somehow he overcome the odds.

It is beautifully made, it looks terrific, the sets and clothes look terrific, they did their best with the CGI.

Toby Jones and Lesley Manville do what they do best, they deliver, I know Harry Lawtey well from the wonderful BBC series Industry, I thought he did a very fine job.

The first cinema film I've seen for some time that's made me want to order the blu ray.

8/10.

At the risk of sounding like a Seinfeld episode, I'm forced to say, "Not that there's anything wrong with that..." This would have been a solid 8 if it hadn't been for the forced inclusion of the implied homosexuallity current that ran throughout the second half of the film. It wasn't necessary, had no bearing on the biographical aspect of the movie, and was simply innuendo that was never addressed by either Philip nor Richard Burton.

Rumors. And they just HAD to incorporate it to be what? Socially relevlant?

It didn't ruin an otherwise excellent film, but it certainly didn't help it, either.

Just completely unnecessary.

Mr. Burton offers a glimpse into the pivotal early life of Richard Burton (Rich Jenkins), guided by his influential teacher, Philip Burton.

While Toby Jones delivers a predictably strong performance as Philip Burton, anchoring the film with his understated gravitas, the movie itself presents a mixed bag, showcasing both its heartfelt intentions and some narrative stumbles.

The film's core strength lies in its portrayal of the mentorship between Philip Burton and young Richard Jenkins (a commendable Harry Lawtey). Their evolving dynamic is compelling, painting a vivid picture of how a working-class boy from Port Talbot was shaped into a theatrical force. Jones and Lawtey share a believable chemistry that drives the narrative forward, highlighting the profound impact one individual can have on another's destiny.

However, "Mr. Burton" isn't without its drawbacks. The pacing, while allowing for character development, can feel overly deliberate, occasionally bordering on slow. Some narrative beats follow a familiar biopic trajectory, which, while comforting, can also limit the film's sense of fresh discovery. Furthermore, while the film touches upon the complexities and whispers surrounding their close relationship, it tends to shy away from deeper exploration, leaving certain intriguing facets underexamined. In a certain way, that might have been for the better!

Ultimately, it's a sincere and well-acted tribute, but one that occasionally plays it safe, preventing it from truly soaring.

If for no other reason this film is worth watching for the performance of Toby Jones as Philip Burton. The teacher who started Richard Burton on his way to super stardom.

It is touching and moving to see the faith that the teacher had in Richard Burton that he would make good as an actor.

The whole cast is excellent particularly the two actors playing Burton as a schoolboy and then as an actor in his twenties at the beginning of his metioric rise to startdom. Burtins overindulgence in alcohol, probably inherited from his father hinting at the problems that would confront him in later life and lead to his early death.

This deserves to be seen by more than the small cinema attendance.

Don't know who he is, didn't watch him play the new joker, haven't heard anyone mentioned about him. Didn't event want to watch this movie when glancing the movie poster with Toby Jones.

But when the trailer showed up before another movie I was going to watch, oh my, the way he escalates the mountain screaming was A Master already, just this new seconds, I wanted to know who this guy is , how good he can act, what about Mr Burton.

The way to tell this biography-like is predictable, a bit boring tbh, but, watching this upcoming super star acting , from an innocent school teenage boy, to an ungrateful adopted troubled young man, to an arrogant alcoholic rising actor, it was FASCINATING, his eyes are telling story, dragging all the audiences at once !

I wish he will get more and more important roles with world class production. We can't let an actor with this astonishing talent slips away.

I didn't know what I was expecting from this film, but It is absolutely superb.

At first I wasn't sure that Harry Lawtey as Burton had the presence needed for such a huge role, by then end I was wondering if he may well win an Oscar for his performance.

Also starring Toby Jones and Lesley Manville, two of the finest actors around and both as excellent as expected, although Manville slightly underused in my opinion.

Rounding out a superb cast are Anuerin Barnard and Aimee-Ffion Edwards again both excellent.

Knowing the story of old It's a true life feel good movie showing how having belief in someone with no agenda pays off handsomely and is very inspiring.

The scenes in Taibach, Port Talbot and surrounding areas are fascinating to see how they've caught that moment in time with the steelworks spewing out the pollution that so blighted the landscape.

The best film i've seen in a long time and is a must see.

Despite being a bit lop-sided, this is still quite a poignant story of the young Richard Jenkins (Harry Lawtey) who has been living with his elder sister and her husband since his mother died whilst he was an infant. His dad (Steffan Rhodri) worked hard down the mines then boozed hard afterwards, and so the young lad was largely neglected by him as he grew to curious manhood. He was interested at school, liked to read and sing and play rugby - and that attracted the attention of his teacher Burton (Toby Jones). He was a scholarly man, but a frustrated Thesp, who had lodged for many a year with the widowed "Ma" (Lesley Manville) and wrote scripts for BBC Radio. It was this latter man's determination to get his young protégé to focus, knuckle down and learn how to say "here" properly that serves as the thrust of the plot here and allows both Jones and the impressive Lawtey to give us not just an illustration of Burton's conflict and potential, but also a glimpse into just how valued education was at a time when families lived on the poverty line and working at the pit from an early age was a necessity that made schooling a luxury. It takes a few liberties with the facts of their relationship and sows some suggestive seeds about what might have driven both men, but for the most part it's an interesting character study of a troubled man who quite possibly didn't know how to be loved. The conclusion is all a bit rushed, we do jump ahead quite substantially in the last ten minutes and those missing years do rather leave a gap in his transition from geeky student to Stratford celebrity, but with a generous contribution from Manville to help guide us through this turbulent period for him, his teacher and his country this is at the better end of television biopics, and with Lawtey acting rather than trying to mimic the original, is worth a watch.

We did not know what to expect with this film. We watched it in a little cinema in South Wales to set the scene.

The casting was spot on. Lesley Toby and Harry are superb, there is no over acting, everyone's accents are just right.

The directing and atmosphere is all you ever want. Such a lovely experience. Would honestly have been a score of 10/10 if the distant scenery and Port Talbot cgi was of a much higher standard. But all in all a very big Thank You.

Did I say Lesley Toby and Harry are superb, no over acting, accents are just right. The directing and atmosphere is all you ever want. Such a lovely experience. Would have been 10/10 if scenery and Port Talbot cgi was a higher standard. But Thank You.

This is a very good film of the early life of Richard Burton describing the mentoring of the youngster from schoolboy to debutant actor at Stratford.

All the acting performances are excellent. Toby Jones and Leslie Manville are especially good as his surrogate parents. Harry Lawtey achieves a tremendous transformation from awkward schoolboy to the young actor with the distinctive voice and remarkable power. If anything the final transformation of this emergent ego is rather sudden. It would be interesting to know whether the dramatic fall out and reconciliation was true.

Richard Burton was one of the great actors who possessed a barely suppressed anger and rage. The Spy who came in from the Cold is my favourite of his films. This superbly crafted bio-pic makes me want to watch more.

Mr. Burton quite simply is a biopic of the early life of Richard Jenkins, later to become Richard Burton as the film goes at great lengths to explain.

The cast are excellent be it Toby Jones as English teacher/thespian Philip Burton who becomes a guiding light to son of a (drunk) Welsh miner Dic Jenkins.

However the best performance is from young actor Harry Lawtey who plays the Richard Jenkins cum Burton role. From a raw poor Welsh schoolboy he becomes one of the biggest actors in the world and this film shows how Mr. Philip Burton moulded him to do so. Not just in name but Anglicizing his diction to become the great orator he is remembered for being.

Toby Jones is a mainstay of British cinema and television and his portrayal is non-scandalous when surely some tongues wagged at his close relationship with Richard Jenkins.

British, low budget but intriguing indeed. I have watched Burton's filmography vehemently over several months and now after watching this film I may explore some Burton biographies in book form. This film is definitely better than even I expected.

Very slow but also very much a typical British period biopic.

You hear the voice of Richard Burton, the one we're all familiar with, in the last half hour, when he is shown to have become a promising, albeit very self-destructive actor.

There is also something about the cheeks, if you squint hard enough. But I doubt Richard Burton was ever that skinny. But anyway the voice work of the actors is incredible.

Interesting story, I had no idea about this aspect of his life, I first found out about it when Toby Jones was invited on Graham Norton Show.

Poor Richie had a huge chip on his shoulder as a result of his family situation. I was not expecting him to reject and abuse Mr. Burton so violently and for the reason he did. I also would not have forgiven him. Richard Burton was impossible to live with for most of his life. His delivery was memorable, but I must say I was not particularly impressed by what he showed here as Henry V. Sure, it's different, but I don't know, maybe I was put off by his impressive a-holery here. I have little patience for a-holes, even those with generational trauma.

I guess Richard Burton is another one of those artists where you need to separate the person from the art. And then you can enjoy the art.

This is genuinely the slowest most boring paced movie to ever exist. The whole premise of helping this young fella with becoming an actor and the consequences brought from it is cool and all but it is paced soo damn slow. This could have been an hour and a half long and been a bit better as a result. Bad start for the trio of movies today. 2/10 I walked out with 10 mins left. Couldn't take it anymore...

Classy but long & slow Brit drama "Mr Burton" is the true origin story of Welsh '60s-'70s film megastar Richard Burton (Harry Lawtey - excellent), son of deabeat dad Staffan Rhodri, raised by sister Aimee-Ffion Edwards, and nutured into a theatrical force by titular teacher Toby Jones (quietly strong) who took the teen under his wing, had him lodge at his same lodging house (under Lesley Manville), and eventually even adopted him to give him the shot he'd never otherwise have had. The debut screenplay of Tom Bullough & Josh Hyams covers a lot (over 2hrs+) which experienced director Marc Evans brings home well. It's not adenaline fuelled, but is a worthy & interesting film.

Philip Burton (Toby Jones) is a teacher in a Walsh mining town. He finds his former student Rich Jenkin (Harry Lawtey) working instead of going to school. Pa Jenkin is a drunk and threw Rich out of the house. Nobody from the family has ever completed school. Philip sees the untapped potential in Rich and invites the teenager to his Shakespeare group. Rich would become world famous actor Richard Burton.

It's a bitter-sweet telling of Richard Burton's early biography. It's a bit slow at the start and I wasn't quite sure about Lawtey's Richard Burton. He eventually gets to the Burton that I am familiar with as an older performer. Toby Jones is never in doubt. The family drama is slightly interesting. I did not expect some of the story around his stage name. It's all somewhat poignant, but it doesn't manage to get a tear. It's good, but maybe a little too precious.

Mr. Burton is a beautifully crafted film that lingers long after the credits roll. Anchored by a standout performance from its lead, the story weaves heart, humor, and a quiet intensity into a truly unforgettable experience. The direction is assured, allowing small moments to breathe while never losing narrative momentum. Every frame feels intentional, with gorgeous cinematography and a haunting score that elevates the emotional depth. Mr. Burton is that rare kind of film-intimate yet expansive, personal yet universally resonant. It's a moving, masterfully told story that deserves to be seen, felt, and celebrated.

Watched> Wednesday, 2nd July, 2025 @ The Backlot Cinema, Blackpool. Rated 5 * * * * * EXCELLENT < Cert. 12A > This True Story of the early life of Richard Burton, played by the talented Harry Lawtey, as Rich Jenkins, the young Richard Burton, acting opposite the wonderfully talented Toby Jones, as Philip Burton, both putting in BAFTA winning performances (Toby as Best Actor and Harry as Best Supporting Actor). This atmospheric picture with its smoke filled gritty mining town of Port Talbot in Wales were they lived back in the day. Well done to the production teams who made this - BBC Wales, Brookstreet Pictures and Ffilm Cymru Wales, in bringing us this wonderful Film/Movie. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Footnote> Richard Burton, was the most famous star to come from Wales. RB died on Sunday, 5th August, 1984, age 58, due to a bleed on the brain. His lifestyle of partying, heavy smoking and drinking, can't have helped, adding to his early death of 58. The American equivalent to RB was Humphrey Bogart, who was also partying most of the time after filming, with his heavy smoking and drinking, dying at the age of 57, one year difference between both top actors. The opposite in lifestyle to RB & HB was James Cagney, who acted alongside HB in many movies, but instead of partying with the smoking and drinking, JC went straight home, after filming to his family living on their farm. JC died age 86 - not 57 & 58. I think their is something to learn from that. (ps)