Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writer:

Ernest Lehman (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

22 June 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Professor | Alcohol | Evening | Guest | Saturday

Awards:

Won 5 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Elizabeth Taylor	...	Martha
Richard Burton	...	George
George Segal	...	Nick
Sandy Dennis	...	Honey
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Agnes Flanagan	...	Roadhouse Waitress (uncredited)
Frank Flanagan	...	Roadhouse Manager (uncredited)

Directed by
Mike Nichols

Writing credits
Ernest Lehman		(screenplay)
Edward Albee		(play) uncredited

Produced by
Ernest Lehman	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Alex North		(music composed by)

Cinematography by
Haskell Wexler		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Sam O'Steen		(film editor)

Production Design by
Richard Sylbert

Set Decoration by
George James Hopkins

Costume Design by
Irene Sharaff		(costumes designed by)

Makeup Department
Gordon Bau	....	makeup: Miss Taylor's
Ron Berkeley	....	makeup: Mr. Burton's (as Ronnie Berkeley)
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair styles creator: Miss Taylor
Jean Burt Reilly	....	supervising hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bud Grace	....	assistant director

Art Department
Craig Binkley	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Harold Michelson	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Joseph Musso	....	production illustrator (uncredited)

Sound Department
M.A. Merrick	....	sound
George Groves	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Frank Flanagan	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Ralph Gerling	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Robert Jason	....	electrician (uncredited)
Michael A. Jones	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Robert Willoughby	....	special still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Alex North	....	music conductor
Bob Bain	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Henry Brant	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Frank Khoury	....	driver: cast (uncredited)

Other crew
Richard Barr	....	produced on the stage by
Doane Harrison	....	production advisor
Hal W. Polaire	....	assistant to the producer (as Hal Polaire)
Meta Rebner	....	script supervisor
Clinton Wilder	....	produced on the stage by
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer (uncredited)
T.J. Healy II	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Herbert Ross	....	choreographer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents: Ernest Lehman's production of Edward Albee's)
• Chenault Productions (uncredited)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1966) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Finland (1966) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1966) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner-Tonefilm (1966) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1973) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1976) (Finland) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Canada) (DVD) (4 film set)
• Warner Home Video (19??) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1966) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (4 film set)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (two-disc special edition)

Also Known As:

"Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" - USA (complete title)

Runtime:

131 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Czech Republic:12 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:X (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) (1988) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Portugal:17 (original rating) | Singapore:PG | West Germany:16 (f) (re-rated) | West Germany:18 (f) (original rating) | USA:Approved (cut) (Suggested for Mature Audiences) (certificate #21074) | South Korea:12 | Netherlands:12 (2007) | UK:12 (video rating) (2009) | Argentina:16 | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

The movie was one of a series of films in the 1960s, beginning with the The Pawnbroker (1964), to successfully challenge the Production Code Office. In addition to the compromise on language described below, WB studio head, Jack L. Warner, undercut the Code's usefulness by arranging to have the film released with the "For Adults Only" and required theaters to prohibit selling tickets to unaccompanied minors, which in effect unofficially created the Restricted rating years before the Motion Picture Association of America abandoned the Production Code for a classification system (G-GP-M-X) in 1968.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: As George and Nick are coming back into the house from their scene in the garden, Nick's shadow on the porch is seen to suddenly disappear just before George enters the shot.

Quotes:

Martha:[derogatorily, to George] Hey, swamp! Hey swampy!
George:Yes, Martha? Can I get you something?
Martha:Ah, well, sure. You can, um, light my cigarette, if you're of a mind to.
George:No. There are limits. I mean, a man can put up with only so much without he descends a rung or two on the old evolutionary ladder, which is up your line. Now, I will hold your hand when it's dark and you're afraid of the boogeyman and I will tote your gin bottles out after midnight so no one can see but I will not light your cigarette. And that, as they say, is that.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: Episode #22.82" (2006)

One of the greatest

Simply put, this is one of my favourite films of all time. Great acting, great writing and great camerawork make this close to cinematic perfection. Liz Taylor and Richard Burton give the performances of their lives. Sandy Dennis also shines in an early-ish role. It's a dramatic film, but the wicked humour that permeates the film is absolutely devastating, and I mean that in the best possible way. Many moments in the film I find myself laughing only to think, "Should I be laughing at this." Certainly the film is loaded with uncomfortable moments, enhanced by the camerawork replete with uneasy close-ups. Most of all, this film shows how a lot can be accomplished with just a little: a cast of four and minimal scenery changes. "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf" has become an absolute icon of American cinema. If you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for?