Why ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ is the ‘truest portrait of love in marriage’

On the Shelf Cocktails With George and Martha: Movies, Marriage, and the Making of 'Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' In “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” the 1966 movie based on Edward Albee’s incendiary play, a middle-aged married couple turns a late-night gathering for drinks at their home into a game of full-contact mixed doubles. And I think that’s another reason it’s such a poignant film.” Philip Gefter, author of the new book “Cocktails With George and Martha,” calls “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” “the truest portrait of love in marriage that I know.” Gefter’s book — subtitled “Movies, Marriage, and the Making of ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’” — has a great many characters and subjects. But the central theme is what it means to live as husband and wife, and how “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” kicked down the doors of previous and comparatively staid cultural depictions of marriage. Your Sunday chapel dress!” And Martha, fed up with her husband’s barbs: “I swear, if you existed, I’d divorce you.” Rewatching “Virginia Woolf,” one is struck by how flat-out funny the carnage gets.