Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

N.p. N.p., 1965. Archive of nine vintage on-the-set contact sheet photographs, a typed letter signed by director Mike Nichols, an autograph note from Nichols, and an invitation with directions to a wrap party from Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor—all from the archive of uncredited camera operator Al Myers.

The nine on-the-set contact sheet photographs are all cut from what were originally contact sheets, and consist of images of Burton and Taylor performing on set. These include

- a shot of Nichols lying on the floor watching Myers filming Burton

- three shots of Taylor and crew observing the shoot from behind Myers' camera

- cast and crew relaxing between scenes

- Nichols and Myers at the craft service table.

Six of the photographs with pencil annotations on the versos noting actors, locations, and dates.

The TLS from Nichols to Myers, dated December 14, 1965 and on Warner Brothers letterhead, is a friendly letter regarding a "billing problem," with the fond valediction "Much love," and signed "Mike." It includes the original Warner Brothers stationery envelope with "Mike Nichols" typed above the logo, addressed to Myers, and post-marked "Dec 14 '65." The letter includes a manuscript pencil annotation: "Mike Nichols - director of Who's Afraid of V. Woolf" below Nichols' signature.

The autograph note from Nichols to Myers reads "Al - Many Thanks / Mike," on a small card housed in a small envelope addressed to "Al Meyers" in Nichols' hand. On the verso of the bottom of the envelope is a penciled annotation: "Mike Nichols Dec '65."

The typed wrap party invitation to Meyers is on a "Mr. and Mrs. Richard Burton" bi-fold card for "Cocktails-Dinner-Dancing" at their home on 115 North Carolwood Drive in Los Angeles and is housed in its original typed addressed envelope post-marked "Dec 6 1965." Also found in the archive is the Xerographically duplicated typed directions to the party at "Mr. & Mrs. Richard Burton's" North Carolwood Drive address for "7:30 P.M. - - Tuesday, December 14, 1965." (According to IMDB the production ended on December 13, 1965.)

British born Albert Myers, usually credited as Al Myers, was a camera operator and camera crew member in Hollywood for over 50 years beginning in the late 1920s. He is credited in 30 films from 1927 to 1978, and assuredly worked on many more films uncredited during that time. His credits include "The Virginian" (1946), "Carmen Jones" (1954), "The Man with the Golden Arm" (1955), and "The Defiant Ones" (1958).

Based on the 1963 Tony Award-winning play by Edward Albee, which follows a bitter night of domestic unrest, when the hard-drinking wife (Taylor) of an emotionally scarred professor (Burton) invites a young unsuspecting professor and his wife (George Segal and Sandy Dennis) over for late night drinks following a party.

Nichols' directorial debut, and the first film to be given the MPAA tag "No one under 18 will be admitted unless accompanied by an adult," challenging the Production Code Office and essentially leading to its demise. Nominated for 13 Academy Awards, and winning five, including Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for Elizabeth Taylor and Sandy Dennis, respectively.

Set on the campus of a small New England college, and shot on location in Northampton, Southampton, and Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Contact Sheet Photographs: 2.5 x 2.5 inches to 3.5 x 4.5 inches. Very Good plus overall, irregularly cut, with some creasing and edgewear, and two with two small pieces of cello tape on the recto and verso in the margins of the top and bottom edge.

Correspondence, Note, Invitation, and Directions: 2.5 x 3.5 inches to 8.5 x 11 inches. Near Fine overall, with the wrap party directions folded twice horizontally and once vertically.

National Film Registry.

[Book #171034]