Episode
68: The Medusa Touch (1978) – ITC Entertainment – Dir. Jack Gold – Richard Burton, Lino Ventura & Lee Remick
- Published
- Apr 5, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 8040
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Summary
The Medusa Touch (1978): Richard Burton and the Power of Catastrophe In this episode, we investigate the 1978 supernatural horror thriller The Medusa Touch . Directed by Jack Gold and adapted from the Peter Van Greenaway novel, The Medusa Touch is a quintessential piece of seventies British cinema that sits at the dark intersection of the disaster movie and the occult thriller. The film follows the investigation into the apparent murder of John Morlar , played with volcanic intensity by Richard Burton . Richard Burton is the undeniable gravitational centre of The Medusa Touch . Despite Richard Burton only filming for three weeks and demanding a massive upfront fee, his presence as the telekinetic John Morlar defines the movie’s grim atmosphere. We discuss how Richard Burton portrayed a man who believed his thoughts could cause jumbo jets to crash and cathedrals to crumble. Interestingly, because of Richard Burton’s high cost, his character is often seen heavily bandaged in a hospital bed, allowing a stand-in to do the heavy lifting while Richard Burton provided the piercing close-ups and that legendary voice. Fans of 90s rock will know that a specific line from Richard Burton in The Medusa Touch – ‘I will bring the whole edifice down on their unworthy heads’ – was famously sampled by the Manic Street Preachers . This misanthropic energy is what makes John Morlar such a compelling antagonist. Throughout our review of The Medusa Touch , we explore how Richard Burton channeled his own real-life disillusionment into the role of John Morlar , creating a performance that feels both radioactive and world-weary. The supporting cast of The Medusa Touch is equally impressive. We look at Lino Ventura as Detective-Inspector Brunel, the man tasked with solving the mystery of John M…