Review of Equus (1977) by Stephen C — 23 Sep 2012

There are those who would say Richard Burton was a great actor who squandered his talents on drink and made some terrible movies.

While its hard to deny he did make some dogs, on occasion and with the right director he was still an outstanding actor who could command the screen .

Here working with master director Sidney Lumet he puts in a fantastic performance as Dr Martin Dysart who is called upon to investigate the case of Alan Strang a young boy accused of blinding six horses in a local stable.

At first Strang is unresponsive to Dysarts prying calling him a nosey parker and playing mind games with him.

But then he begins to respond as Dysart uncovers his past and his strong response to horses in general.

Lumet is a master wheni t comes to directing actors and here is no exception as Peter Firth excels as the manic Strang and Colin Blakeley and Joan Plowright are outstanding as the boys parents who are in turn repelled and intrigued by their sons brutal act.

The film gives the actors room to breathe and Burtons direct statements to camera are outstanding and profoundly moving at the same time.

One word of warning for animal lovers,we do get to see the blinding of the horses and its one of the most terryfying moments in the film for its raw stark brutality.