Richard Burton

Richard Burton 10 November 1925 - 5 August 1984

3 August 1975 Glorious day. ETB phoned. What will it be like seeing her again. I'm a little scared.

1 August 1975 National Holiday. Went shopping Geneva. Bought new typewriter.

Sunday 13 July 1975 ETB returned Leningrad. She sounds a harassed mess. Wonder if I can put up with all that again. Also she is beginning to sound like her mother at times. Frightening prospect.

1 July 1975 Tuesday. Biked and read am perfectly content when not boozing.

Friday 20 June 1975 Same.

18 June 1975 Wednesday. Boozed mildly. Weather dreadful.

June 10 1975 Lunched at La Reserve. Took MG to be overhauled. Read, but still no writing. All this stuff bursting to come out but no response from the body - writing I mean.

9 June 1975 Write letter to ETB but can't bring myself to send it.

Thursday 29 May 1975 Wrote E. Read and read.

Weds 28 May 75 Lunch and chat with one Goldman - potential producer of Dustman. Dread it. Turned out to be nice but callow. Too much so for a producer perhaps. We shall see. Saw Leeds beaten by Huns.

Tuesday 27 May 1975 Home from three day check-up in clinic. OK everywhere except for slightly enlarged liver. No wonder.

Monday 26 May 1975 More tests hate clinics

Saturday 24 May 1975 Went into clinic late afternoon.

Friday 23 May 1975. Booze.

Thursday 22 May 1975. Booze

Tues 20 May 1975 Booze.

Monday 19 May 1975 Booze.

Sunday 18 May 1975 Booze.

Friday 16 May 75 Read all day. Talked E in Leningrad. Sounded fine. Her film moving at last. No news of mine. Hope there never is.

15 May 75 Phew! Terence Young called Solowicz to tell me not to come. For this relief much thanks. Weather gorgeous.

14 May 75 Celigny. Had a shock when Solowicz (legal adviser) called and said they want me back in Nice tonight. Said NO! unless money actually in bank. Will await results today with trepidation. Wanna stay home and read and write!

About to watch Mr Burton plus a Q&A with producer & writer, Josh Hyams.

5 Sep 80 time to awaken Susan who is going to see The Empire Strikes Back a sequel to Star Wars. She goes with Bill Parry and two girls from the chorus Melanie and Laura. I may go with them. They guarantee me bad acting which I enjoy. #StarWarsDay #MayThe4thBeWithYou

Sat 3 May 75 (75.5 kg) Heard from Brook and Solowicz that I start work again on Monday in Nice. Mixed feelings but chiefly (a) money and (b) might as well get it over. Watched West Ham beat Fulham in English Cup Final. Soccer's very dull even on this occasion. Can't understand its popularity.

Fri 2 May 75 (76kg) Rode bike to Founex for milk for JB's breakfast. Couldn't carry other odd and ends on bike so biked back and drove back to pick up goods. Had one martini (vodka) All fuzzy. Wired Kate on acceptance in collleges. Am giving her car. Weather still miraculous. Very sunburned.

Thurs 1 May 75 (77kg) Had dinner with Strosses at Cully (Hotel de Raisin) good food and cosy room. Stross same as all producers. Full of rubblish. Offered me another script. Will read. JB drove both ways. Early to bed.

Weds 30 Apr 75 (77.5 kg) Bought JB (Jeannie Bell) watch bought myself Power Certina for deep sea diving. When I am going to do that nobody knows. Now watch stopped during night Furious. Coffee'd & bicycled break-neck speed around block. Read. Times crossword. Martini at lunch. Ugh! Read. Read. Read.

Tues 29 April 75 (77.5kg) Shopped in Nyon. Read Parkinson's book on footballer Best. Horribly common. Talked to E last night. Sounds very depressed. Her film like mine seems doomed.

Mon 28 Apr 75 (77.5kg) Yesterday sunned, read new biography of Coleridge by one Fruman. Fascinating. Rode on bike to Commugny and back. Non-stop. Don't feel going on 50 at all. More like 40. Had raclette at Village near Nyon.