Classic Movie Mondays: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was one of the seminal films of the 1960s that took home five Academy Awards out of an astounding 13 nominations.
Both Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor gave the performances of their careers in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?and silenced any critics who felt that their substantial talents were too often eclipsed by their off-screen movie star personas and constant presence in the tabloids.
Elizabeth Taylor surprised everyone–including herself–with her knockout performance as Martha. The role earned her a second Best Actress Academy Award and established her credibility as a serious actress who was more than just a glamorous movie star.
Virginia Woolf marked the film directing debut for Mike Nichols, one of cinema’s greatest Academy Award-winning talents. Nichols, who had already made a substantial career for himself in comedy and the theater, went on to direct such notable films as The Graduate(1967), Carnal Knowledge (1971), Silkwood (1983) and Charlie Wilson’s War(2007).
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was one of the key films of the 1960s that helped abolish Hollywood’s antiquated Production Code and usher in a more modern movie ratings system. Its controversial language and content caused an uproar, and it became the first film to be released with a warning about its adult content.
The film is considered to be one the best and most faithful film adaptations of a stage play in modern cinema.
Of all the films that famous off-screen couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor made together, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is widely considered to be their very best collaboration.
When Elizabeth Taylor’s character Martha opens the film with her Bette Davis impression saying, “What a dump!” it is a reference to Davis’ 1949 film Beyond the Forest.
The title and song sung in the film is a play on the Walt Disney song “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” from the animated 1933 short film The Three Little Pigs. However, the actors sing it throughout the film to the tune of “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush” because the rights to the Disney song were too expensive, and “Mulberry Bush” was public domain.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was the first film in which the entire credited cast received Academy Award nominations for their performances.
This film was the last to be nominated in the Black and White categories of Cinematography, Art Direction and Costume Design. The following year, both color and black and white films were combined into single categories.
According to cinematographer Haskell Wexler, even though Elizabeth Taylor had intentionally gained weight for the role and de-glamorized herself, she still didn’t want to have to eat too much in the opening scene when she is noshing on a chicken leg.
According to Editor Sam O’Steen, there was an argument about the glasses that Richard Burton wore for his character George. “In the beginning when we were shooting wardrobe tests,” said O’Steen in the 2001 book Cut to the Chase, “Mike [Nichols] had Burton try on glasses but [Ernest Lehman] was whining, ‘I don’t like his glasses.’ Mike said he did, that they fit Burton’s character. So Ernie said, ‘Well, what if it comes down to the last day and we have to go one way and I don’t want him to wear glasses.’ ‘Well,’ said Mike, ‘I’ll kill you.’ End of conversation.”
According to cinematographer Haskell Wexler, after the Warner Bros. crew left the New England location used for the exteriors of George and Martha’s house, the studio was sued by a group of nearby farmers who claimed that all the bright lighting had “upset” their cows to where they no longer gave as much milk as before.
In the scene in which George and Martha drunkenly leave the roadhouse and wrestle by the car, Elizabeth Taylor accidentally hit her head hard in one of the takes and started to pass out.
Director Mike Nichols and his former comedy partner Elaine May co-starred as George and Martha in a stage production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Long Wharf Theatre in 1980.
Elizabeth Taylor told 60 Minutes in an interview that she thought Richard Burton had deserved to win the Best Actor Academy Award for his role as George in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.
When Haskell Wexler accepted his Academy Award for Best Black and White Cinematography for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? he said at the podium, “I hope we can use our art for peace and love.”
Elizabeth Taylor did not attend the Academy Awards ceremony when she won Best Actress for Virginia Woolf. Actress Anne Bancroft accepted the award on her behalf from presenter Lee Marvin.
Sandy Dennis was also not present at the Academy Awards ceremony when she won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Honey. Mike Nichols accepted the award on her behalf from presenter Sidney Poitier.
When Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor separated for the first time, Taylor famously said that she was “tired of playing Martha.” The two were often referred to in the press as the “Battling Burtons” and were known for having a dramatic, passionate and volatile relationship.