WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?

Well, for any of you still hanging around (or to new visitors) we recently celebrated what sounds a bit muddled when I mentioned this---the fourth season and the 3rd Anniversary of a feature seen here every Thursday at 12:00 AM (Eastern Time) called "Friday Movie Suggestion Night". The feature was launched September 15, 2005 (thus, the reference to an incomplete 4th season and why I refer to THE "3rd (FULL) season"). We have had one hell of a run if you back up and take a look at approximately 170 films I've personally selected and (dare I say it?) okay, "suggested". There. Now you have the title. Let's go "pedal to the metal".

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The last time Elizabeth Taylor made an appearance here on FMSN was in the film "Butterfield 8". Some background: My late buddy Andre" (See my Blog "A Character Named Andre") actually knew both Liz Taylor and Richard Burton; they were regular clients of his limo service in Geneva, Switzerland. Andre' hated Richard Burton and told me of several occasions where he had to restrain himself from pulling the sedan to a stop and literally beating Richard Burton to a pulp whenever it was apparent that he had been beating Liz (she wore very large sunglasses and Andre' was amply convinced this was to conceal bruises from numerous batterings reported in the press). But Andre' loved Liz: "Michael, class all the way", said Andre'. With the recent death of Paul Newman, I have to remind myself that the 1950's brought forward a group similar to the 1990's version of "FRIENDS", albeit, with different characters. They were of course, Liz Taylor, Natalie Wood, James Dean, Rock Hudson, Sal Mineo, Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper and others too numerous to mention here. With the exception of Richard Burton (1925-1984) the remaining three characters of this film masterpiece are still very much alive and well. Liz has led a fascinating, intriguing and very complicated life. So much so that we often forget that she isn't just a persona who propels the sale of "White Diamonds" perfume; Liz Taylor the Actress sadly seems to have escaped us thanks to the emergence of deplorable television programs such as "TMZ" and it's incessant focus on the shock value of Hollywood's notorious and unhealthy persoalities (no names are required here). So, for tonight, I have selected Liz's Oscar-Winning performance (Nominated for 13 Academy Awards in 1967) in a very brazen and intense film that will raise the hair on your neck in horror, while simultaneously allowing a look at just how great an actress Liz Taylor is. She is a treasure. And there is no film role more demanding than hers in "WHOS'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?"--our selection for tonight. Let me just add (Andre's shared sentiments about Richard Burton notwithstanding) that the emotional dynamic at play so transparent in the teaming of Taylor and Burton is in and of itself the subtext for their real-life turbulent love affair (through two marriages--both of which ended in divorce). Still, there is so much depth here to explore in this film.

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Director Mike Nichol's debut with Edward Lehman's screenplay is an adaptation of Edward Albee's one-set play. Liz Taylor is cast as the psychologically tormented Martha, and her performance in this film is considered one of the greatest in the history of cinema. Martha's father is president of a university where Marth's husband George (Richard Burton) has tenure as a troubled middle-aged professor. The couple is encouraged to by Martha's father to invite a younger couple, Nick (George Segal) and Honey (Sandy Dennis) over for a nice visit. The Taylor and Burton characters arrive home drunk from a party they have just attended. What follows after the young couple arrives is an exasperating sparring between Burton and Taylor who deliver emotional blows that turns the claustrophobic set into a scene from hell. Segal's acting work as a reactive study and Dennis as the "fourth wheel"--left without any control in witnessing the torrent of rage Taylor's character unleashes is a must-see. As a bitter, aging woman bent on detroying a weak-willed and flawed husband in the Burton character, there is but no doubt this film should be required viewing for any serious acting student. At the beginning, there is a seemingly hilarious shock the audience experiences through the Segal and Dennis characters who, initially, are not sure what they have walked into. Taylor and Burton become virtual pit-bulls who evolve only to tear deep into each other with abusive insults that reveal two deeply complex characters, a suspenseful storyline, dark humor and a drama that manages to carry excellent cinematography and a fine musical score by Alex North. To be certain, this is a horrifying film about the dangers of the lies we tell ourselves (along with the caustic mix of alcoholism with marriage).

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At the 1967 Academy Awards ceremony, this film lost out to "Born Free" and "A Man for All Seasons". WINNER: "Best Actress in a Leading Role": Elizabeth Taylor; "Best Actress in a Supporting Role": Sandy Dennis (Neither appeared to accept their awards; Anne Bancroft accepted the Oscar statue for Liz. Sandy Dennis was on-location shooting the film "Sweet November"); "Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White": Richard Sylbert and George James Hopkins; "Best Cinematography, Black-and-White": Haskell Wexler; "Best Costume Design, Black-and-White": Irene Sharaff.

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The Cast: Elizabeth Taylor as Martha; Richard Burton is George; George Segal is Nick and Sandy Dennis is Honey.

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I did mention "intense" with respect to our final selections of films as we slowly wrap up our 2008 season. This is a towering film not to be missed. Straight up or on the rocks?

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