Playing at Power

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BBC Radio 4 - Playing at Power

Matthew Sweet investigates the relationship between Richard Burton and President Tito.

In 1971, actor Richard Burton was invited by Josip Broz Tito, Former President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to play him in the partisan film, Battle of Sutjeska (1973). 

The film, Battle of Sutjeska, tells the story of the greatest engagement of the Yugoslav Partisan War. 

The potential for this relationship between actor and politician, both interested in each other’s roles in life, to become fast friends seemed a surety. Yet, the realities of running a country and being a leading man meant the relationship was doomed from the start.  

Through interviews, film archive and extracts from Burton’s diary, Matthew Sweet explores how celebrity and politics, art and power collided on a film set. 

With contributions from Professor Chris Williams, Professor Gethin Matthews, Slavko Stimac, Filmmaker Mila Turalijic and Journalist Jurica Pavicic.

Richard Burton’s Diary extracts are read by Johnny Flynn

Archive from Filmski Centar Sarajevo, BBC Photo Archive, Richard Burton Archives at Swansea University.

Special thanks to Sally Burton.

Presenter: Matthew Sweet
Producer: Mollie Davidson 
Executive Producer: Richard Power

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