VHS : Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video:
A word of advice: If George (Richard Burton) and Martha (Elizabeth Taylor) ever ask you over for late-night cocktails--pass. On the other hand, if you have the opportunity to see Mike Nichols's scorching film version of Edward Albee's sensational play, don't miss it! Elegantly photographed in crisp black and white by the great Haskell Wexler, the play has been 'opened up' for the screen by director Nichols (The Graduate, Primary Colors) and producer-writer Ernest Lehman (North by Northwest) without diluting its concentrated, claustrophobic power. Taylor has never been better or brasher as Martha, letting loose with all the fury of a drunken, frustrated academic's wife on one crazy Walpurgisnacht bender. Burton plays her husband, George, the ineffectual history prof married to the college president's daughter. And George Segal and Sandy Dennis are young, callow Nick and Honey, who have no idea what sort of mind-warping psychological games they're being drawn into. Among the most successful theatrical adaptations (artistically and popularly) ever brought to the screen. The entire principal cast was nominated for Oscars--and Taylor, Dennis, and cinematographer Wexler won. --Jim Emerson
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
I always have fun watching boozy George and Martha play "Get the Guest" throughout most of the two hours of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" New prof Nick and delicate waif-wife Honey accept a late, late nightcap invite from the dean's daughter, Martha, who happens to be married to has-been history professor George. You can't help feel sorry for Nick and Honey who have no idea what they are in for, as George and Martha hurl the most vicious insults at each other and replay the lowlights of their ... Read More
Rating: - One of the best movies ever made
One of the best movies ever made. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor are outstanding. It has some very humorous lines even though the overall movie is rather depressing. I've watched it over and over.
Rating: - Virginia Woolf Review
I enjoyed this movie. I like how the directors of the movie move the fear of Virginia to the humbling of Virginia. I like how Burton comes up with his plan to overcome Woolf in the movie. I even wrote a thesis on the movie. My professor loves the article and praises me in her letter that she wrote back to me. The movie shows a side of Taylor that beginning Theatre students are exposed to. All in all, I enjoyed being exposed to an old movie that still has relevance to today. Eric Davis
Rating:  - Of its time and place
So many great reviews here that I think my expectations were too high. The performances were amazing, but the action and dialog seemed too theatrical at times (not surprising as this was originally a stage play. I agree with another viewer that it felt overlong. And the denoument (no spoiler here) seemed quite contrived. Still, a classic for its time and place, and undoubtedly a breakthrough in film.
Rating:  - Improved WOOLF
Very good remastering of the Albee classic, with great, insightful commentary by Mike Nichols, as well as the iffy one by cinematographer Haskell Welxer that was on the first pressing in the late 90s. A lot of specific information about how the play ended up pretty much whole in a still code-ridden era. Good new documentaries about the film and a minor one about Taylor's career round out the package.
The film itself is a definite classic, maybe a bit too serious in tone, whereas a good ... Read More
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