Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1969)

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1969)

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1969) Movie Info

FieldDetails
Movie NameWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
DirectorMike Nichols
Screenplay WriterErnest Lehman
Based on Novel byEdward Albee (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – stage play)
Lead ActorsElizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton
CastElizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal, Sandy Dennis
GenreDrama
Release DateJune 22, 1966 (United States)
Duration2h 11m (131 minutes)
Budget~$7.5 million
LanguageEnglish
CountryUnited States
Box Office (Worldwide)~$33.5 million (U.S. gross approx.)

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Summary

George and Martha are an aging married couple with a tumultous relationship and a pretend son. Nick and Honey are a young married couple having problems conceiving. After an academic cocktail party, they all get together at George and Martha’s and as both relationships unravel the vulnerabilities of every individual surface.

Review

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf is one of the most honest, raw movies I have ever seen about relationships. Based on Edward Albee’s brilliant play, this movie truly grasps the complicated nature of relationships. I think that the most touching part of the movie is that, despite spending much of the night being hateful to each other, it is clear at the end of the evening that both couples love each other.

This is somewhat difficult to stomach after Martha and Nick have an affair essentially right in front of their spouses. The problems with childbearing are used to show the inner sickness of each relationship. Martha and George are unable to have children and always wanted one and so made up a son. This pretend son is supposed to be between just the two of them, but when they tell their secret to Nick and Honey, the illusion soon becomes a weapon against each other. Nick and Honey keep getting pregnant and losing the baby, which it becomes clear is because Honey, unable to emotionally deal with pregnancy, keeps having secret abortions.

As the movie progresses, you learn a lot about each of the characters as individuals. The movie highlights the nuances of relationships to a disturbing degree, especially George and Martha’s. They need each other, but it is clear that each individual loses something of themselves while existing in a relationship. The acting is great by all four actors. One of the best movies I have ever seen.

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