| This is my favorite
play. It was written by Edward Albee. Many thousands of years ago, I directed the
opening scene from the play in a class. I enjoyed reading
the play so much, I looked for the film. The fact that Mike
Nichols is one of my favorite directors was a bonus.
The film adaptation is very close
to the play and that's rare. The entire play takes place in
one room, adding to the suffocation felt by the characters.
Mr. Nichols moved some scenes out of that room but the illusion
of small space is almost always maintained, mostly as a result of
the black and white cinematography of Haskell
Wexler (which won an Academy Award), and the art direction and
set design of Richard
Sylbert and George
James Hopkins. Elizabeth
Taylor won her second Academy Award for this performance.
Richard Burton and George Segal were both nominated, as was Mike
Nichols. |
