Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Warner Bros.) (1966)

AUDACIOUS ‘WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? COMES TO THE SCREEN THROUGH WARNER BROS. Nichols Directs Taylor, Burton, Segal, Dennis in Stunning Filmization Of Albee's Smash Hit . Vulnerable Wife The violet-eyed Venus of fact and fiction, known to all the world as Elizabeth Taylor, becomes this boozing, tired, greying virago in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’, Warner Bros.’ sensational film version of the famous Edward Albee stage play. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” opens ...... atthe 2 oo, Theatre, Miss Taylor stars together with her husband, Richard Burton; George Segal and Sandy Dennis, The film was directed by Mike Nichols. (Special Publicity Still) Mat 2-A_ Still No. 487/645 Actor Burton Finds Actors Much Too Much To Direct Richard Burton acknowledges he’d like to be a motion picture director, “except for the actors.” Himself one of the most important acting talents today, Burton more seriously admits he probably could not abide the demanding tedium of directing. Between scenes, while filming “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, which also stars his wife, Elizabeth Taylor, Burton reflected on the “easier” life of an actor. “Directors have to be very patient and painstaking,” he commented. “They spend a lot of time preparing scenes and their actors, and doing many things I would find boring.” In “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, the searing Warner Bros. drama which opens ......... at the Theatre, the Burtons explode into the screen’s most violently embattled couple under the direction of Mike Nichols. Embittered and self-destructive, they ruthlessly revel eeeresene Unsure Sandy Dennis, who scored a huge personal success on the Broadway stage, now makes a radiant screen debut in “‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf ?’’, the searing drama of destructive love and marriage which opens ...... atstnesaTheatre. Miss Dennis stars as an awkward young wife uncertain of her husband’s affections, Also starred in the new Warner Bros. release are Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and George Segal. The film was directed by Mike Nichols. Mat 1-D_ Still No. 487/626 (Special Publicity Still) PAGE 1 6 through a nightmarish brawl of bared souls and cannibalized emotions with a pair of unwilling guests, portrayed by co-stars George Segal and Sandy Dennis. Producer Ernest Lehman, who also wrote the screenplay, retained the corrosive quality of Edward Albee’s provocative stage success. The score for “Virginia Woolf” was composed by Alex North. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, the enormously successful Edward Albee play, has been filmed by Warner Bros. in an audacious contemporary document calculated to entertain and provoke motion picture audiences as never before. The film, which opens on crea at the Theatre, undoubtedly will be the most discussed of the decade, arousing passions and controversy while eliciting attention through both its shock potential and its artistic merit. An international stage hit, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” assumed screen form under the artistry of producer-writer Ernest Lehman and director Mike Nichols, and is animated by the magical starring presence of Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal and Sandy Dennis — fierce participants in an exercise in torment. The picture may claim several noteworthy “firsts”: Miss Taylor in her first true character role; the first motion picture to be directed by Mr. Nichols, the distinguished Broadway director and whilom entertainer; the first film to be produced by Mr. Lehman; and the first Hollywood screen appearance of Broadway’s Sandy Dennis. Ernest Lehman, for a dozen years one of Hollywood’s most successful and respected writers (“The King and I,” “West Side Story”), opened up the play “Virginia Woolf” to the larger scope of the screen, while keeping it a four-character vehicle basically, as always true to Albee as possible. So true that Jack L. Warner, president of Warner Bros., established an “adults only” policy Head Of Film Company Establishes ‘Adults Only’ Policy For ‘Woolf’ Theatres showing “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” must adhere to an “adults only” policy established by Jack L. Warner, head of Warner Bros., as “a firm demonstration of responsibility to the American moviegoing public.” Under the Warner Bros. policy, “Virginia Woolf” exhibitors are prohibited from admitting anyone “under the age of 18 unless accompanied by his parent.” SHG). wacom Theatre. Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal and Sandy Dennis star in the stunning drama of self-destructive marriage and hateful love. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” was directed by Mike Nichols from a screenplay by Ernest Lehman, who also produced. The motion picture is based on Edward Albee’s international stage success. The score was composed by Alex North. In announcing his company’s policy, Mr. Warner stated, “The play is undoubtedly a play for adults, and we have gone ahead to make ‘Virginia Woolf’ a film for adults because it has something important to say to adults. We do not think it is a film for children, nor do we think that every film should be for all ages. “T don’t believe a controversial, mature subject should be watered down so that it is palatable for children. When that is done, you get a picture that is not palatable for children or for anyone else. “As responsible film-makers, we undertook to make ‘Virginia Woolf’ for the over-18 section of our audience. Everyone connected with the film has exercised the greatest responsibility and care in refusing to compromise with Albee’s play. Now . where we are ... ready to put our film before the public . .. we are determined to display the same responsibility and care in this phase of our work, by refraining from any suggestion of sensationalism in our advertising and by thoroughly enforcing the contractual obligation which every exhibitor will have to undertake if he wishes to show our picture. We at Warner Bros. are certain that theatre-owners throughout the country will join with us gladly in this demonstration of maturity, responsibility and community-mindedness.” Belt Enables Photog To Get Sharp Shots To obtain a sharp 360-degree shot of Richard Burton dancing, Haskell Wexler, cinematographer for Warner Bros... “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, used a hand-held camera and pivoted while Burton grasped the end of a belt wrapped around the photographer’s waist. The belt maintained a uniform four-foot distance between Burton and the lens and also allowed Wexler free hands for the camera. The same idea was repeated in a roadhouse scene with Sandy Dennis. Mike Nichols directed the sequence from a position on the floor out of camera view. Elizabeth Taylor and George Segal also star in the film produced by Ernest Lehman, which opens on ..... atthe. gaan Theatre. Lehman also wrote the screenplay from Edward Albee’s explosive stage drama of a disintegrating modern marriage. Lost Idealist Powerful in his command of language, and corrosive in his use of wit, this hag-ridden college professor has littke more except a sense of lost idealism and feelings of wounded manliness. Such is the character portrayed by Richard Burton in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, the stunning marital drama which opens Theatre. Burton stars, together with his wife, Elizabeth at the Taylor; George Segal and Sandy Dennis. The film, directed by Mike Nichols, is based on Edward Albee’s international stage hit. (Special Publicity Still) Mat 2-C_ Still No. 487/20 for the film, which prohibits theatres from admitting anyone “under the age of 18 unless accompanied by his parent.” The youthful Mike Nichols undertook his bow as a motion picture director following an incredible directorial triumph on Broadway. His hits include “Barefoot in the Park,” “The Knack,” “Luv” and “The Odd Couple.” He called his experience on “Virginia Woolf” harrowing but exciting and stimulating. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton play the roles of Martha and George, the self-destructive, omnivorous campus couple who share with their young visitors a Walpurgis Night of fun and games, ending in exorcism. George Segal, one of the screen’s most attractive and talented newcomers, enacts Nick, the blond biologist with hidden aggressions. Segal is fresh from performances in “King | Ambitious Despite the nice smile, this character in “‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” is aggressive, hostile and deviously ambitious, He is played by George Segal, one of Hollywood’s most exciting newcomers. Segal stars in the Warner Bros. drama, along with Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Sandy Dennis. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” opens at thes wees 2H: Theatre, film, directed by Mike Nichols, is based on Edward AIbee’s internationally-famous hit. Mat 1-E_ Still No. 487/604 (Special Publicity Still) o 0 ee ep Rat,” “Ship of Fools” and “The Centurions.” Sandy Dennis, winner of two Antoinette Perry Awards on the Broadway stage, in “Virginia Woolf” plays Honey, the midwestern type. She is touchingly awkward and unwittingly amusing. The five-month shooting schedule of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” was conducted on location at Northampton, Mass., and behind closed doors at Warner Bros. Studios. Miss Taylor, the Venus of fact and fiction, appears as a_ sloppy, graying, fading voluptuary, her eyes pouchy and her vulgarity loud. Burton, in his portrayal of the New England college history professor, has toned down his usual overwhelming strength, creating the character of a faded, bespectacled man whose sharp tongue and waspish humor conceal his feelings of bruised masculinity. Director of photography was Haskell Wexler, brilliant cinematographer for “America America” and “The Loved One.” Production designer Richard Sylvert decorated the sets with the aid of George James Hopkins. Miss Taylor’s and Miss Dennis’ wardrobes were designed by Irene Sharaff. Alex North composed the film’s music. Women ‘Immortal,’ Hence Always Late, Says ‘Woolf’ Star Richard Burton claims that his wife, Elizabeth Taylor, invented tardiness. “Along with a few other women, I presume,” he hastens to add. In order to assure Miss Taylor’s reasonably prompt presence on the Warner Bros. set for “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, the scorching marital drama which opens ...... at thessvtcces Theatre, Burton made it a point to personally accompany her to her 8:30 a.m. makeup call though his own call usually came one hour later. “It helps if I’m around to nag her,” he explained. The famous actor believes that most women are not as time-conscious as men. “Maybe they think they’re immortal, and never need worry about the passing hours,” he suggested. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, in which the Burtons star, together with George Segal and Sandy Dennis, is based on Edward Albee’s international stage success.