Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

97% of critics liked it
(32 reviews)
90% of users liked it
(19,466 ratings)

"You are cordially invited to George and Martha's for an evening of fun and games." Thus read the ad copy for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, which in 1966 went farther than any previous big-studio film in its use of profanity and sexual implication. George (Richard Burton) is an alcoholic college… More "You are cordially invited to George and Martha's for an evening of fun and games." Thus read the ad copy for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, which in 1966 went farther than any previous big-studio film in its use of profanity and sexual implication. George (Richard Burton) is an alcoholic college professor; Martha (Oscar-winner Elizabeth Taylor) is his virago of a wife. George and Martha know just how to push each other's buttons, with George having a special advantage: he need only mention the couple's son to send Martha into orbit. This evening, the couple's guests are Nick (George Segal), a junior professor, and Honey (Sandy Dennis), Nick's child-like wife. After an evening of sadistic (and sometimes perversely hilarious) "fun and games," the truth about George and Martha's son comes to light. First staged on Broadway in 1962 with Uta Hagen and Arthur Hill, Edward Albee's play was adapted for the screen by Ernest Lehman, who managed to retain virtually all of Albee's scatological epithets (this was the first American film to feature the expletive "goddamn"). Lehman opened up the play by staging one of George's speeches in the backyard, and by relocating the film's second act to a roadside inn (he also added four lines--"all bad," according to Albee). Thanks to the box-office clout of stars Taylor and Burton, not to mention the titilation factor of hearing all those naughty words on the big screen, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf was a hit, and it won 5 Oscars, including awards for Taylor and Dennis, though it lost Best Picture to A Man for All Seasons. First-time director Mike Nichols lost the Oscar, but this movie gave him a perfect transition from his stage work and established him as a hot young Hollywood director, leading to his acclaimed (and Oscar-winning) work on his next movie, The Graduate. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 7 min.
Directed By: Mike Nichols
Written By: Ernest Lehman
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Jun 22, 1966 Wide
On DVD: May 18, 1999
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
When Nichols finally settles down, it's almost too late.
Stanley Kauffmann, New York Times
And in its forthright dealing with the play, this becomes one of the most scathingly honest American films ever made.
, Variety
Keen adaptation and handsome production by Ernest Lehman, outstanding direction by Mike Nichols in his feature debut, and four topflight performances score an artistic bullseye.
Dwight Garner, Salon.com
'You have ugly talents,' George says, almost admiringly, to Martha. So does this movie.
Dan Callahan, House Next Door
"I am the earth mother, and you are all flops," Martha proclaims toward the end, and Taylor never had a line of dialogue that better suited her fighting maternal spirit.
David Parkinson, Empire Magazine
A time capsule now of all that was considered controversial and gutsy in 1966.
, Film4
A painful and compelling masterpiece.
Tony Macklin, tonymacklin.net
If one examines Albee's The Zoo Story, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Tiny Alice as three views of the struggle for faith and the Christ myth and its nuances, the plays, on a particular level, gain a substantial meaning.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Scathing scream of a black comedy that's based on a play by Edward Albee.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Director Nichols, in his auspicious Hollywood debut, and scripter Ernest Lehman smartly keep Albee's corrosively witty black comedy intact, allowing their ensmeble, including Liz Taylor, to dig deep and turn intensely entertaining performances.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Strong stuff, intensely watchable, but definitely not for children.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
A merciless dissection of the intellectual's disease of ennui and gamesmanship.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Edward Albee's vitriolic stage portrayal of domestic blisslessness translated grainily and effectively to the screen.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Perfect.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
One of the great directorial debuts in film history...
Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
Great cast plus great script equals great movie! Liz and Dick at their best.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bob S

mthebee haven't seen 4 ever
Matheus C

The Texas Chainsaw Masssacre with the incredible Liz Taylor and Richard Burton in the roles of the Leatherface family, destroying and entraping a young-faced wholesome American couple. One of the all-time greats
Reid V

Sadly, there are very few films that are capable of eliciting a visceral reaction out of me. However, Mike Nichol's 1966 debut film, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, is such a powerful film on so many levels that I cannot imagine anybody watching it without being… More
Sadly, there are very few films that are capable of eliciting a visceral reaction out of me. However, Mike Nichol's 1966 debut film, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, is such a powerful film on so many levels that I cannot imagine anybody watching it without being significantly moved. The film is based on Edward Albee's Tony Award winning play and covers the events of one very long and alcohol induced night. It follows the plight of an aging couple George (Richard Burton) and Martha (Elizabeth Taylor). When friends Nick (George Segal) and Honey (Sandy Dennis) come over for a nightcap, they become caught in the middle of a series of games in which George and Martha take their pain and attempt to push each other to the breaking point. Albee's dialogue is explosive, both in terms of being emotionally charged and how it is projected, and is adeptly handled by the entire cast.. There is a brilliant mix of temperamental humor and anguish which includes one of my favorite lines, "There isn't an abomination award going that you haven't won." While Albee's superb script provides a well-built chassis for the film, it is Nichol's direction mixed with Haskell Wexler's brilliant cinematography that makes this film really take off. Often times the camera will capture the scene as if it were merely a fly on the wall. However, Nichols really knows the material and will zoom in to the point of intrusion when a character feels emotionally isolated or verbally backed into a corner. In one particularly distinguished scene that deviates from the play, Nichols captures George walking into the back of the house when the Martha and the guests are still conversing in the living room. Even though George is out of ear shot of the others, Nichols keeps the audio of their conversation going while he follows George. This illuminates the extent of Martha's deviance as George can still knows that Martha will be speaking ill of him even when he is not in her company. Also, in the same vein as a noir, Nichols uses mirrors to show how these characters never take a good hard look at themselves and what they have become. One is even shoved in the face of George at one point, yet he is too steeped in his own misery to even see the man on the other side. The performances here are simply astounding by all players involved. Although Taylor would nab the Oscar for best actress, I really feel as though Burton was snubbed. While his character could have just been watered down to nothing more than a dispensary of caustic wit, Burton injects a sense of humanity into the character that is present in the smallest of gestures. Historically, this film is bold as it was produced in some of the most impassioned years of the civil rights movement. These years saw a mass movement to finally put an end to the anti-miscegenation laws that had previously prevented interracial marriages in America. This film shows that even white upper-middleclass marriages, which were seen as a bulwark against the decay of the human race, had their blemishes. In the end, it is a beautiful film about a volatile relationship. It is about pain and the fiction that we manufacture in order to deal with it. The film isn't easy to watch, but if you do you will find that this is an absolutely astounding film.
Fernando Rafael Q

Mike Nichols's (Closer) film debut, adapted from Edward Albee's play, is an intriguing mazelike mess of marital troubles. In this tense movie, George (Richard Burton) and Martha (Elizabeth Taylor) compose the ultimate screwed-up relationship. Incisive, extraordinary script… More
Mike Nichols's (Closer) film debut, adapted from Edward Albee's play, is an intriguing mazelike mess of marital troubles. In this tense movie, George (Richard Burton) and Martha (Elizabeth Taylor) compose the ultimate screwed-up relationship. Incisive, extraordinary script by Ernest Lehman (West Side Story, North by Northwest) allows for some stunning performances to erupt. Taylor is at her scenery-chewing best, Burton is even better in a restrained, ice-cold turn. George Segal is certainly impressive as morally ambiguous Nick and Sandy Dennis is devastatingly perfect as naïve Honey. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf is like a dinner party thrown by a dysfunctional family: intermittently entertaining but ultimately uncomfortable and a little too long. Though unpleasant it may be, you cannot look away.
Alexis N

This whole movie is an awkward, drunken fight between two married people and their newly married guest hostages. I guess the acting was pretty good, I really did believe these people are awful.. but I still didn't like the movie and it was pretty long.
Alice S

It's an acting masterclass - that's for sure - but I've just never liked the play. I'm not a fan of Albee's. He's so damn good at loading a scene with cutting vitriol, but it's clear that the characters are on stage/screen because the playwright is… More
It's an acting masterclass - that's for sure - but I've just never liked the play. I'm not a fan of Albee's. He's so damn good at loading a scene with cutting vitriol, but it's clear that the characters are on stage/screen because the playwright is pulling the strings. The characters don't have any exigence. There's no character-based reason why Nick and Honey stay; they're only there to move George and Martha's story through the dramatic arc.
Dan S

A gripping, dialogue-driven smash a movie featuring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton at the top of their games as a husband and wife who involve a young, innocent-seeming couple in a torrid, bitter conversation. Although initially slow-moving, it picks up a head of steam once the… More
A gripping, dialogue-driven smash a movie featuring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton at the top of their games as a husband and wife who involve a young, innocent-seeming couple in a torrid, bitter conversation. Although initially slow-moving, it picks up a head of steam once the young couple (George Segal and Sandy Dennis, who also give outstanding turns) enters into a household full of turmoil and anger - one which they are eventually affected by drastically. The dialogue is simply incredible, with Burton and Taylor possessing an on-screen chemistry like few other, capped off by a devastating twist at the film's end which sears into your memory forever. Although it does miss perfection (the slow-moving beginning and the restaurant scene felt forced) by ever so little, this is without a doubt one of the most arresting dialogue-fueled movies I've seen in quite some time (the last movie to come to mind would be Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds").
Nicki M

While I agree the acting is pretty good in this one, I actually did have a problem with bits of this not ringing true. I could buy the married couple with issues, it was when the younger couple were introduced into it that this film suffers.... ..........SPOILERS........... To me,… More
While I agree the acting is pretty good in this one, I actually did have a problem with bits of this not ringing true. I could buy the married couple with issues, it was when the younger couple were introduced into it that this film suffers.... ..........SPOILERS........... To me, realistically, that evening would have been over after the younger woman threw up. Surely at that time of morning, you've been sick, it's late, you do not hang around and then start up drinking again, let alone stop off at a late night bar to go dancing (and don't even get me started on that bar, not a customer or staff member in sight for quite some time. Very realistic. Not). Let alone after she finds out her husband told the older guy about her phantom pregnancy - there would have been no coming back from that one! I discussed this one with someone who has not seen it, and an interesting theory, (given how screwed up this couple was with bitterness and disappointments in life), perhaps the younger couple was all in their mind and "made up" just like the son, as there was parallels such as childlessness. If that was the intention, I like this movie a little more than I did, however, I think it was more likely meant to be taken literally.
First L

Real life (at the time) couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor star in this cynical send-up of not just marriage, but the human race in general. Burton plays George, an aging history professor who's married to the daughter of the university president, Martha. George, at… More
Real life (at the time) couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor star in this cynical send-up of not just marriage, but the human race in general. Burton plays George, an aging history professor who's married to the daughter of the university president, Martha. George, at first glance, appears to be a henpecked and harried husband, whereas Martha is loud and "braying" as he describes her. They both seem to be (somewhat) functioning alcholics, and they both seem to loathe one another on some deeply fundamental level. It's not only that they loathe one another, they can't even be bothered to pretend at the pleasantries of marriage anymore. The film begins as George and Martha arrive home (at approximately 2am) drunk from a party and begin to bicker. Martha then tells George she's invited the new professor and his wife over for drinks and they should be there at any moment. When the young couple arrives, it's clear to George exactly what the new professor's motivations are, especially when he begins to butter up Martha. From then on, it's an escalating war of words and painful diatribes as everyone's weaknesses are brought to the fore. It's not the twist at the end that's so shocking when compared to the other twist that it's really George and Martha who truly love one another, and the young couple whose marriage seems more out of convenience than genuine affection. The viciously well-written play by Edward Albee is excellently adapted to the big screen by Mike Nichols ("The Graduate"). Taylor and Burton seem to delight in ripping into each other, and even when the second half begins to meander along (including the unsatisfying and bizarre ending), it doesn't really dull the blistering impact of the first. Modern sensibilities might be more shocked by the venom than the taboo subject matter, which I'm sure was ground-breaking at the time.
Conner R

Essentially a story about two people who hate each others guts, yet can't live without one another. It has knockout performances from Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who play against their usual roles. It also works as an extremely dark comedy because nearly every argument… More
Essentially a story about two people who hate each others guts, yet can't live without one another. It has knockout performances from Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who play against their usual roles. It also works as an extremely dark comedy because nearly every argument is started by the most ridiculous things.
Tim S

Amazing film. Had the feeling and awkwardness of a Cassavettes film with outstanding performances by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Emotionally draining at times, but proves once again that Mike Nichols is one of the best actors' directors of all time. I was also really… More
Amazing film. Had the feeling and awkwardness of a Cassavettes film with outstanding performances by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Emotionally draining at times, but proves once again that Mike Nichols is one of the best actors' directors of all time. I was also really impressed with George Segal and Sandy Dennis who play off of Burton and Taylor really well. There is also the camera work of Haskell Wexler who is legendary and makes you feel like you in the room watching this train wreck of a marriage collide with their younger counter parts. Beautiful ending.
Jennifer D

Reminds me of my parents. Probably not a good thing.
Jon L

Okay, if I was part of the younger couple in this movie, I would have gotten out of the house a long time ago! This film does an unbelievable job of creating awkward tension and an unnerving feeling, which eventually boils down to downright hostility towards the end. As awkward as… More
Okay, if I was part of the younger couple in this movie, I would have gotten out of the house a long time ago! This film does an unbelievable job of creating awkward tension and an unnerving feeling, which eventually boils down to downright hostility towards the end. As awkward as this film makes you feel, itâ??s also helps adds a lot to the overall tone of the film. Itâ??s hard to say I â??enjoyedâ?? watching this film, but I did love to watch the great characters and actors who played them. As well, it kept me wanting to know, until the last second how it was all going to end.
Saskia D

Wow, I didn't even recognize Liz Taylor! I'm glad I saw it, because her role in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (which I saw a couple of days before) doesn't do her justice! She was phenomenal! Martha (Taylor) and George (Richard Burton) have a venomous chemistry between them,… More
Wow, I didn't even recognize Liz Taylor! I'm glad I saw it, because her role in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (which I saw a couple of days before) doesn't do her justice! She was phenomenal! Martha (Taylor) and George (Richard Burton) have a venomous chemistry between them, it was a feast! George Segal (as Nick) didn't really leave an impression on me, but his goody-goody role left more room for Sandy Dennis to excel, I loved her. I love it how a movie can surprise you if you don't read to much about it beforehand. It was the same with this one, I can't wait to watch it again. (And the dialogue throughout the movie is ffing brilliant..) <div style="width:266px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/movie/whos-afraid-of-virginia-woolf/photos?p=10580308"><img src="http://content6.flixster.com/photo/10/58/03/10580308_gal.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com">
Jeremy S

A simply incredible film. Elizabeth Taylor gives the performance of her life an one of the greatest dramatic performances ever comitted to celluloid. A classic drama.
Jennifer X

Some thoughts running through my mind as I was watching this movie: 1. This is intense. 2. I feel so bad for Richard Burton who has to put up with this bitch. 3. Wow...Richard Burton is tormenting the guests and I kinda like it. 4. I feel so bad for Elizabeth Taylor who has to put up… More
Some thoughts running through my mind as I was watching this movie: 1. This is intense. 2. I feel so bad for Richard Burton who has to put up with this bitch. 3. Wow...Richard Burton is tormenting the guests and I kinda like it. 4. I feel so bad for Elizabeth Taylor who has to put up with this bastard. 5. This is so messed up; I'm rooting for a pair of lovers I deeply, deeply dislike. Brings out the sadist in us. It's such a cruel, cat-in-the-mouse game and it's the hosts that inevitably win out in the end no matter how twisted it gets. And we love it. Exhaustive, but memorable enough for a lifetime.
Pierluigi P

An unforgettable night of fun and wickedness with the grand couple Liz Taylor- Richard Burton playing a bitter, shattered marriage. great directorial debut for Mike Nichols and superb screenwriting by Ernest Lehman.
Mister C

Elizabeth Taylor's performance here is shattering. It's no wonder her Oscar winning performance was the main success for this picture. And it shows in all of its grand detail. Richard Burton,George Segal,and Sandy Dennis co-star in a tour-de-force film from director Mike… More
Elizabeth Taylor's performance here is shattering. It's no wonder her Oscar winning performance was the main success for this picture. And it shows in all of its grand detail. Richard Burton,George Segal,and Sandy Dennis co-star in a tour-de-force film from director Mike Nichols.
Drew S

I love this movie to death. "You're a swamp, a bog, a goddamn fen!"
Michael G

Best if viewed while consuming alcohol but amazing even if you're sober.