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

A map of Martha's Vineyard can be seen above George and Martha's fireplace. Director Mike Nichols has summered on the Vineyard for many years.

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Goofs

In the bedroom scene near the beginning, when Burton lies on the bed, the books behind his head are fully visible, but when Taylor lies down next to him a minute later, the books are half-obscured by the pillows.

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Quotes

George: Did you really think I was going to kill you, Martha?
Martha: You, kill me? That's a laugh.
George: Well now, I might some day.
Martha: Fat chance.

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Connections

Referenced in One Angry Dwarf (2001)

User Reviews

Still powerful, harrowing view of the "Anti-Ozzie and Harriet"

This is still an exceptional film from the 1960s. Though some of the epithets are obviously softening much stronger words, the language is frank and brutal, Martha's bludgeoning body-blows balanced by George's icepick thrusts. Edward Lehman's respectful screenplay gently opens up Edward Albee's one-set play while keeping a certain claustrophobic atmosphere. Mike Nichols' first directing effort is stunning in its lack of artifice; rarely do you feel that the director has done much more than turn on the camera and watch four actors, all at the top of their game, tear into their roles. George Segal's work in this movie is criminally underrated, but his reactive work as studly, ultimately disappointing Nick should be mandatory study by all young actors. Sandy Dennis' fluttery turn as mousy, wifey Honey is powerful also; a lot more is going on than you might think. Richard Burton is staggering as George ("Georgie Porgie Put-upon Pie"), and his performance demonstrates the magic that he could bring to a worthy role. Elizabeth Taylor's work here still astounds. The physical transformation she undertook to become aging harpy Martha is amazing enough, but her performance seems to channel a hurricane's force and fury. By turns hilarious, maddening and then, at the end, exhausted and defeated yet again, Taylor demonstrates acting, particularly film acting, at its best. The film is by no means easy or "Hollywood" in feel-- the audience is as exhausted as the characters at the end. But this was a bracing, necessary antidote to the impossible ideal of marriage usually portrayed in the movies. A towering film.