This film is an emotional kicker. One moment it will have you laughing with its dark humor and in a split second a mean jab by one of the characters will have your stomach turning in knots.
Martha (Elizabeth Taylor, FATHER OF THE BRIDE) and George (Richard Burton, THE LONGEST DAY) have been married for too long you could say. Their marriage is in no way stable. They bicker and fight from the moment we meet them. But it starts off in a playful way and gets more ugly as time goes by. As the film opens, they are arriving home from a party. George is a history professor at the college where Martha’s father is the president. Martha has invited a young new biology professor named Nick (George Segal, FUN WITH DICK AND JANE) and his bubbly wife Honey (Sandy Dennis, THE INDIAN RUNNER) over for drinks.
The whole meeting is layered and not what it seems as the genial get-together – fueled by lots of booze – turns into an ugly and vicious war of words. The film is first and foremost a brilliantly observed character study. Taylor is simply amazing as the loud-mouthed, spoiled and emotional troubled alcoholic Martha. Burton is equally amazing as the ineffectual, emotionally stunted and sharp-tongued George. Dennis is perfect as the dimwitted wife, who drinks too much, and Segal is solid as the sly, seemingly reserved and ambitious young teacher.
Taylor and Dennis deserved their Oscars. For best actor, Burton lost to Paul Scofield from A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, which seems to be a vote for the more conventional role. Walter Matthau for FORTUNE COOKIE beat out Segal for best supporting actor.
Mike Nichols made an impressive directorial debut with this film. His choice of black and white photography and an active camera style brings equal amounts of stylish mood and realism to the picture. Transforming stage plays to the screen is often difficult, but Nichols along with this stellar cast never make the proceeding boring or stagy.
The play and film were very provocative when they came out and it still holds that edge even today. It’s not what the characters say that is so coarse, but how and why they say it. The secrets of the film I will keep intact, but the ending opens up a clearer picture of Martha and George than what could be imagined. Their relationship ends up being more disturbing than it seems to be. This film has characters that are mind-bogglingly nuanced and intriguing. It’s so filled to the brim with detail that I’m sure new and fascinating things will emerge on future viewings. It is a classic example of great acting and great writing colliding on the screen with explosive effects.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
