#67 - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

What a devilishly good time. Essentially the story of a foursome getting drunk and yelling at each other, this movie was condemned for having very profane language and adult themes (the movie was the first to use the word "screw" in a suggestive way), but its fame is deserved by more than just its pushing of the envelope.

The story has only four characters, only two locations seen for more than five minutes, and a timeframe of only 4-5 hours (the movie itself is just over two hours). History professor George and his wife, the college president's daughter Martha, come home at about 2 a.m. from a party put on by the president. George thinks the rest of the night will consist of a little more drinking and some sleep. But Martha springs on him that she has invited a couple over for more drinks. The young couple consists of a new biology professor at the college and his doting, somewhat dim wife.

What becomes of their visit lasts until dawn, when the movie finally ends. Family secrets are fleshed out by both couples, leaving open wounds. Violent words turn into violent actions. With each refreshed drink, everyone gets drunker, until they reach their limits and the inevitable denouement/hangover sets in.

With only four characters, each actor has to be strong. Elizabeth Taylor plays Martha, a woman with a vicious tongue and an attraction to the young professor. Richard Burton, Taylor's fifth husband in real life, plays her husband George, who is not afraid to say what he really thinks at any time. Their conversations are so bitter and real, it's hard to believe that they are acting.

Rounding out the cast is the younger couple, Nick (played by a young George Segal) and Honey (played by Sandy Dennis, who won an Oscar for her performance and then was basically never heard from again). All of them were nominated for Oscars, and rightly so. All of the characters push the plot and the exploration of modern gender and family roles with words and actions that are subtle when they need to be and in-your-face when the scene requires them.

Overall, I love the claustrophobic timeframe and locations. The film's cast is pitch-perfect and the story is enthralling, scandalous, and darkly hilarious.