Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton Star in Surreal 1968 Adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ Boom!

Boom! is a 1968 cinematic adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ play The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, directed by Joseph Losey and starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The film follows Flora ‘Sissy’ Goforth, a wealthy widow on the brink of death, living in isolation on her private island. Her life takes a turn with the arrival of Christopher Flanders, a mysterious visitor nicknamed ‘the Angel of Death’. The movie blends surrealism and melodrama, with eccentric costumes, stylised dialogue, and the distinctive chemistry of its lead actors. Taylor embodies a glamorous yet viperous character, hurling insults and throwing objects off cliffs, while Burton’s Flanders assumes the role of a death doula in a samurai kimono. Though initially ridiculed, Boom! has since gained acclaim for its audacious style and the intense performances of its leads. Set against the dramatic landscapes of Sardinia, the film is a fever dream of beauty, madness, and theatrical excess, echoing the extremes of Taylor and Burton’s personal and professional lives. It is now available for streaming on YouTube.