Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

A bitter aging couple with the help of alcohol, use a young couple to fuel anguish and emotional pain towards each other.

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writer:

Ernest Lehman (screenplay)

Stars:

Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal

Top 250 #194 | Won 5 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Martha
Richard Burton	...	George
George Segal	...	Nick
Sandy Dennis	...	Honey

Storyline

George and Martha are a middle aged married couple, whose charged relationship is defined by vitriolic verbal battles, which underlies what seems like an emotional dependence upon each other. This verbal abuse is fueled by an excessive consumption of alcohol. George being an associate History professor in a New Carthage university where Martha's father is the President adds an extra dimension to their relationship. Late one Saturday evening after a faculty mixer, Martha invites Nick and Honey, an ambitious young Biology professor new to the university and his mousy wife, over for a nightcap. As the evening progresses, Nick and Honey, plied with more alcohol, get caught up in George and Martha's games of needing to hurt each other and everyone around them. The ultimate abuse comes in the form of talk of George and Martha's unseen sixteen year old son, whose birthday is the following day.

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Plot Keywords:

professor | alcohol | evening | guest | saturday | 

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Taglines:

You are cordially invited to George and Martha's for an evening of fun and games.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Latin Spanish

Release Date:

22 June 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Filming Locations:

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Chenault Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In addition to Sleuth and Give 'em Hell, Harry!, only one of three films in which entire on-screen billed cast received acting Oscar nominations. (Although Sleuth's credits did contain a number of nonexistent phony cast members to mislead audiences into thinking it was more than a two-character thriller and Virginia Woolf did feature two unbilled bit players as roadhouse employees.)

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Goofs

When George goes to pour his and Martha's first drink, there is a copy of Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse on the bookshelf above the bottles. It is missing in subsequent scenes.

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Quotes

Martha: I disgust me. You know, there's only been one man in my whole life who's ever made me happy. Do you know that?
[pause]
Martha: George, my husband... George, who is out somewhere there in the dark, who is good to me - whom I revile, who can keep learning the games we play as quickly as I can change them. Who can make me happy and I do not wish to be happy. Yes, I do wish to be happy. George and Martha: Sad, sad, sad. Whom I will not forgive for having come to rest; for having seen me and having said: yes...

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Connections

Version of Cui i-e frica de Virginia Woolf? (1995)

User Reviews

Don't be AFRAID to watch "Who's Afraid......"

ABSOLUTE TEN !! This is a masterpiece and it is mandatory that you watch it. If you are an adult (not for children) and have not seen this movie, please reward yourself and rent or buy the movie. Like Jonah and the great whale, you too will be swallowed, but into the overwhelming emotions of this very very great screenplay. The movie was shot in B&W with a small cast of actors, but who notices? Burton and Taylor at their absolute B-E-S-T. Like a bug-light draws moths, you will be dragged into this one.