Richard Burton was born 100 years ago this year. Poisoned Chalice studies the manner in which his rise to movie fame from the world of the theater impacted negatively on his talent. They also made many movies together which made a fortune at the box office, many of them forgettable. The twelfth of thirteen children born to a poverty-stricken family in Wales, Burton was saved from a life down the mines, the fate of many of his ancestors and siblings, by the fame that came his way on stage due to his great presence and wonderful voice. Poisoned Chalice analyses the manner in which he was his own worst enemy for much of his career but still managed to deliver at least a half dozen classic roles in a life that was as controversial offscreen as on it.