Review of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) by Ricardo O — 27 Mar 2011

Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, Mike Nichols' fantastic directorial debut, is a study of a bitter aging couple played by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in a turbulent marriage who invite a young couple played by George Segal and Sandy Dennis over for some drinks and "games". Burton's character, George, is an alcoholic college professor and Taylor's character Martha is a shrew woman with a vulgar mouth. The older couple uses the young couple as a way to fuel anguish and emotional pain towards each other. They know exactly how to push each other's buttons, George having a very special advantage on Martha, as one mention of their son will make them go at it on each other. They continue playing their sadistic games until they finally reveal the awful truth about their son.

Like the Broadway play, Ernest Lehman's screen adaptation of Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? was a major box office hit thanks to the clout that the two leading actors brought as well as the fact that this was first time one could ever hear an actor use the expletive "goddamn" as well as many other controversial statements. It was also the first ever film to have each of the main actors nominated for an Oscar; very fitting considering each of them give what may be their best performances in their respective careers. Both Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor are absolutely brilliant as the husband wife. Richard Burton delivers his witty lines with such ferocity and Elizabeth Taylor gives one of the greatest performances by any actress. Mike Nichols shows off his assured directing talents in his first film by using long takes to draw out the performances of the actors. Legendary cinematographer Haskell Wexler's Oscar winning camerawork is lends these long takes some rather interesting visuals thanks to the extraordinary use of b&w photography. Lehman takes none of the power that the original stage play had by keeping all of the vulgar lines and became a bit of a trail blazer of increasing how much could be allowed to be shown or heard in a movie as the Hays Code was nearly coming to the end of its reign.

Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? would go on to be nominated for 13 nominations and win 5 Oscars for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best B&W Art Direction, Best B&W Cinematography and Best B&W Costumes but lose Best Picture to A Man For All Seasons as well as paving the way for Nichols' follow-up to this already astounding directorial debut with a film that would not only reach out to the counterculture of the era but also win him an Oscar. That film was The Graduate. But before The Graduate came this film, one that is long and exhausting but incredibly powerful thanks to Lehman's faithful script, Nichols' direction, and the incredible performances by its actors. This is an essential viewing. 10/10.