Review of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) by Bob V — 07 Nov 2010

Another stellar theatre adaptation, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in their fourth collaboration out of eleven. Inspired casting of Hollywood's most notoriously explosive yet loving couple (Taylor married a lot of people, but she only married one of them twice!).

This was the first movie to have its entire cast nominated for Oscars, and the only one since with more than 2 credited actors. Taylor won deservedly, the role is universally agreed to be her best, and Dennis took home the statue as well, but inexplicably, Burton didn't. To date, this movie also remains the only Best Picture nominee that was nominated for every single eligible category, something that is highly unlikely to ever happen again.

While the beginning still has you laughing at the abuse drunk and drunker George & Martha hurl at each other, the gibing, game-playing & provoking quickly turns from being amusing ("And I'll bet your wife has the broadest, most inviting avenue of the whole damn campus.") to downright vicious and cringe-worthy. As "The End" appeared on screen, I couldn't help but wonder whether all four characters wouldn't have simply hung themselves by the next day. Powerful stuff.