Virginia Wolf is my favorite film of all time. I understand that Elizabeth Taylor was a lot younger than Martha and that they wanted Bette Davis for the role but when you watch the film it’s very clear that it belonged to Liz and Dick.
I've always thought the film version far too soft compared with the 3 or 4 theatre productions I've seen over the years in the West End(London).I remember hearing this radio production on Radio 3 when it was 1st broadcast..utterly delighted to be hearing it again.Elaine Stritch is MAGNIFICENT.
What a treat! Stritch succeeded Kate Reid as Martha in the matinee company of the original production of VIRGINIA WOOLF -fresh from her London triumph in Noel Coward's SAIL AWAY. Also worth noting: during one summer in stock, Stritch played BOTH Martha in VIRGINIA WOOLF and Anna in THE KING & I - talk about versatility!
They've recently released the OBC of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf with Uta Hagen on CD. Quality is excellent. If they could do the same with this gem I'd be in heaven. There's also a BBC version out on the net with Juliet Stephenson and Alex Jennings. It's rather good. For some reason, I have a love affair with this play.
Just now I heard part of an interview with Albee, rebroadcast because of his death. Albee expressed bitterness about what was done with the film version of his play. He felt that George and Martha were totally miscast. He had been promised James Mason and Bette Davis would play the lead roles. Elizabeth Taylor he considered 20 years too young for the part. (She was just 33/34 at the time, Davis around 58.) Davis certainly would have been the obvious choice to play Martha, but I personally would have preferred to see a mature actress who wasn't already so famous for playing abrasive types. Albee also felt that under Mike Nichols' direction his work lost much of its humor and was turned into a much darker, more serious piece. The desire to experience his play in its original form led me to this video.Still seemed pretty dark to me. C:
Mr. Albee was not above accepting an enormous sum for selling the rights to the play, and he was upset that he was not asked to work on the screenplay. Bette Davis would have been more campy than Martha should be and I'm surprised Albee thought she would be a good choice. Patricia Neal had just won best-actress Oscar for "Hud" so she was the first real consideration for the role (with Henry Fonda) but she had a stroke and the project fell apart. Geraldine Page didn't like Albee's works and refused to play Martha on stage and on screen, though she'd have been tremendous. As it stands, the movie turned out to be the best movie adaptation of any play I've seen. Elizabeth Taylor served the material very well, Mike Nichols knew what he was doing, and the black-and-white cinematography was powerful and perfect. Albee pouted about it for years. Oddly, when he was consulted about the casting and adapting of "A Delicate Balance" it was just awful. Finally, isn't Elaine Stritch magnificent here? There is a story I read about how Henry Fonda's manager was sent the play in hopes that Fonda would play George on stage for the Broadway opening. Fonda's manager turned it down saying his client would never consider that role. They cast the so-so Arthur Hill, and when Henry Fonda found out what his manager did he almost broke his neck.
Elaine Stritch is perfect. Dark? I'll say. From what I gather Albee grew upset with Nichols shortly after filming began because Nichols rebuked Albee's sexual advances in spite of them both being married men. He did not want to be perceived as gay and was afraid he exposed his own personal vulnerabilities via his ability to create such highly emotional female characters. #writeyourowngayhistory
Albee has cut this play. The lines about "the bit" and references to their son right before Nick and Honey enter have been eliminated by Albee, and, worse, at the end of the second act George and Honey's wonderfully strange scene is cut.
It's to strengthen the blow of the ending. He wanted to really nail down the idea that the audience is not supposed to be able to tell truth from illusion (a refrain used multiple times in the 3rd act), he also changed some of the exclamations (eg "screw you" in act 1 changed to "fuck you" for the more contemporary audience, the revisions were made for the 2005 revival).
Perhaps its the fact that it is a broadcast performance; but, the lines are just to 'rushed', like the cast is doing a quick read-through. Just on the basis of the vocal, Taylor, IS the better Martha.
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Virginia Wolf is my favorite film of all time. I understand that Elizabeth Taylor was a lot younger than Martha and that they wanted Bette Davis for the role but when you watch the film it’s very clear that it belonged to Liz and Dick.
Always thought Stritch should play this role. Thank you for sharing.
And -- Godalmighty, just from this -- how RIGHT she is! Wow.
she did actually on the tour of the play and she replaced uta hagen (who originated it) on broadway
I've always thought the film version far too soft compared with the 3 or 4 theatre productions I've seen over the years in the West End(London).I remember hearing this radio production on Radio 3 when it was 1st broadcast..utterly delighted to be hearing it again.Elaine Stritch is MAGNIFICENT.
What a treat! Stritch succeeded Kate Reid as Martha in the matinee
company of the original production of VIRGINIA WOOLF -fresh from
her London triumph in Noel Coward's SAIL AWAY. Also worth noting:
during one summer in stock, Stritch played BOTH Martha in VIRGINIA
WOOLF and Anna in THE KING & I - talk about versatility!
This is a slice of theatrical heaven!
Fenton Glide
Whoa! Stritch's Martha is razor aggressive.
They've recently released the OBC of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf with Uta Hagen on CD. Quality is excellent. If they could do the same with this gem I'd be in heaven. There's also a BBC version out on the net with Juliet Stephenson and Alex Jennings. It's rather good. For some reason, I have a love affair with this play.
Echo that. Since 1966.
Ichabod Crane the Laurie Metcalf revival got put on hold last long bc of covid19
I love A Delicate Balance as well. The two versions you named are very good. Never saw the Kathleen Turner version.
I saw Colleen Dewhurst and Ben Gazzarra do this in the 70s. Directed by Albee. It was terrific.
Strich as Martha...a no-brainer. But George sounds like a schoolboy. Sure wouldn't be my choice... What a treat to hear her though. Many thanks.
+bodder777 George totally sounds his age, to me he sounds like George Carlin, which I think would be perfect for this character lol
She sounds like a tornado! I would have LOVED to have seen her in this.
I think George Carlin or even Christopher walken would be perfect for Georges character lol
Unusual to hear Stritch in a non-singing role.
Thank fucking god this is on yourube
THANK YOU!
Thank you
YES
Thank you so much for this....
I would guess Elaine was much like Martha in real life, prior to sobriety.
Just now I heard part of an interview with Albee, rebroadcast because of his death. Albee expressed bitterness about what was done with the film version of his play. He felt that George and Martha were totally miscast. He had been promised James Mason and Bette Davis would play the lead roles. Elizabeth Taylor he considered 20 years too young for the part. (She was just 33/34 at the time, Davis around 58.) Davis certainly would have been the obvious choice to play Martha, but I personally would have preferred to see a mature actress who wasn't already so famous for playing abrasive types. Albee also felt that under Mike Nichols' direction his work lost much of its humor and was turned into a much darker, more serious piece. The desire to experience his play in its original form led me to this video.Still seemed pretty dark to me. C:
Mr. Albee was not above accepting an enormous sum for selling the rights to the play, and he was upset that he was not asked to work on the screenplay. Bette Davis would have been more campy than Martha should be and I'm surprised Albee thought she would be a good choice. Patricia Neal had just won best-actress Oscar for "Hud" so she was the first real consideration for the role (with Henry Fonda) but she had a stroke and the project fell apart. Geraldine Page didn't like Albee's works and refused to play Martha on stage and on screen, though she'd have been tremendous. As it stands, the movie turned out to be the best movie adaptation of any play I've seen. Elizabeth Taylor served the material very well, Mike Nichols knew what he was doing, and the black-and-white cinematography was powerful and perfect. Albee pouted about it for years. Oddly, when he was consulted about the casting and adapting of "A Delicate Balance" it was just awful. Finally, isn't Elaine Stritch magnificent here? There is a story I read about how Henry Fonda's manager was sent the play in hopes that Fonda would play George on stage for the Broadway opening. Fonda's manager turned it down saying his client would never consider that role. They cast the so-so Arthur Hill, and when Henry Fonda found out what his manager did he almost broke his neck.
Elaine Stritch is perfect. Dark? I'll say. From what I gather Albee grew upset with Nichols shortly after filming began because Nichols rebuked Albee's sexual advances in spite of them both being married men. He did not want to be perceived as gay and was afraid he exposed his own personal vulnerabilities via his ability to create such highly emotional female characters. #writeyourowngayhistory
Albee has cut this play. The lines about "the bit" and references to their son right before Nick and Honey enter have been eliminated by Albee, and, worse, at the end of the second act George and Honey's wonderfully strange scene is cut.
It's to strengthen the blow of the ending. He wanted to really nail down the idea that the audience is not supposed to be able to tell truth from illusion (a refrain used multiple times in the 3rd act), he also changed some of the exclamations (eg "screw you" in act 1 changed to "fuck you" for the more contemporary audience, the revisions were made for the 2005 revival).
This is not a cut. This is the play. The scenes you are describing were added for the film.
@@jakegoldstein4919 100% FALSE. "The bit about the kid" and the other scene described are from the original text of the play.
Very different from Liz Taylor.
Decent reading
Who is the actor who plays George?
Is this a live performance?
stritch is queen of every role she inhabits
taylor was dreadfully miscast, albee dearly regretted it
Perhaps its the fact that it is a broadcast performance; but, the lines are just to 'rushed', like the cast is doing a quick read-through. Just on the basis of the vocal, Taylor, IS the better Martha.