Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (1966) Dir. Mike Nichols

This is the story of George and Martha.

Martha and George.

Husband and wife.

They're going to have a party and entertain the new couple in the neighborhood.

They're also going to take turns destroying each other and themselves.

This has to be one of my all time favorites in terms of playful dialogue and layered writing.

Based off the broadway play of the same name, this was the directorial feature film debut of Mike Nichols (The Graduate).

Plays often lose their punch when brought to the screen but I feel like Nichols did a masterful job of building on what was already there. Great use of close-up shots and movements accent this flawless script. The fact that he went with black and white really makes this film stand out for me. You have to understand this movie was made at a time when it was all TECHNICOLOR. Many films at that time had a real over-saturated, bright, soft focus look whereas this was dark, sharp, and unflattering. Filming it this way really pushed a tension I think would have otherwise been washed out had the film been made in color. Nichols actually fired the original cinematographer during the beginning of filming because he was attempting to "beautify" Elizabeth Taylor.

In the two leads we find one of my favorite off-screen, on-screen, off-again, on-again couples.

Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor(who gained 30 pounds for the role). Both really at the top of their game. Knowing that they were in fact a couple off-screen really adds to watching them here. You really do get the feeling they are constantly testing each other. Trying to see how far they can push.

George Segal and Sandy Dennis play the young couple who have no idea what they have been invited to. All four actors received oscar nods for their performance.

What really makes this one stand out for me is that although made over 40 years ago it still has as much relevance as any movie made now.

This movie is not happy.

It goes from being witty to uncomfortable to sad to funny to perplexing back to witty again. Then you realize there is still another 100 minutes to go.

Yeah.

Now yes, at the surface, it looks like a middle-aged drunk couple who hate each other.

But keep looking.

By the end, I feel we're seeing two people who understand each other better than any other two people alive. With that comes cost. Being honest with yourself and someone else in it's purity is not always pretty. It can be ugly. It can be hurtful. George and Martha know this. They brave all the good and bad from it. They share insults, lies, compliments, smiles, sneers, kisses, slaps, drinks, hugs, dirty looks, pet names and punches. They're miserable and content with the idea of knowing all is knowing more than can be bore.

Here is a clip. This scene comes about 30 or 40 minutes into the feature. We find all four of the players in the living room drinking. Martha(Liz Taylor) had recently changed into a more form fitting outfit to entice Nick(George Segal). Honey(Sandy Dennis) at this point has already drank too much and is having problems keeping up with the rapid pace of conversation. George(Richard Burton) sits at his desk, disgusted with Martha's flirting and pawing over Nick.

Watch how the camera and dialogue compliment each other. Not just by what is BEING said but what HAS been said.

Enjoy!