When Elizabeth Taylor's character Martha opens the film with her Bette Davis impression saying, "What a dump!" it is a reference to Davis' 1949 film Beyond the Forest.

The title and song sung in the film is a play on the Walt Disney song "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" from the animated 1933 short film The Three Little Pigs. However, the actors sing it throughout the film to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush" because the rights to the Disney song were too expensive, and "Mulberry Bush" was public domain.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was the first film in which the entire credited cast received Academy Award nominations for their performances.

This film was the last to be nominated in the Black and White categories of Cinematography, Art Direction and Costume Design. The following year, both color and black and white films were combined into single categories.

According to cinematographer Haskell Wexler, even though Elizabeth Taylor had intentionally gained weight for the role and de-glamorized herself, she still didn't want to have to eat too much in the opening scene when she is noshing on a chicken leg.

According to Editor Sam O'Steen, there was an argument about the glasses that Richard Burton wore for his character George. "In the beginning when we were shooting wardrobe tests," said O'Steen in the 2001 book Cut to the Chase, "Mike [Nichols] had Burton try on glasses but [Ernest Lehman] was whining, 'I don't like his glasses.' Mike said he did, that they fit Burton's character. So Ernie said, 'Well, what if it comes down to the last day and we have to go one way and I don't want him to wear glasses.' 'Well,' said Mike, 'I'll kill you.' End of conversation."

According to cinematographer Haskell Wexler, after the Warner Bros. crew left the New England location used for the exteriors of George and Martha's house, the studio was sued by a group of nearby farmers who claimed that all the bright lighting had "upset" their cows to where they no longer gave as much milk as before.

In the scene in which George and Martha drunkenly leave the roadhouse and wrestle by the car, Elizabeth Taylor accidentally hit her head hard in one of the takes and started to pass out.

Director Mike Nichols and his former comedy partner Elaine May co-starred as George and Martha in a stage production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Long Wharf Theatre in 1980.

Elizabeth Taylor told 60 Minutes in an interview that she thought Richard Burton had deserved to win the Best Actor Academy Award for his role as George in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.

When Haskell Wexler accepted his Academy Award for Best Black and White Cinematography for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? he said at the podium, "I hope we can use our art for peace and love."

Elizabeth Taylor did not attend the Academy Awards ceremony when she won Best Actress for Virginia Woolf. Actress Anne Bancroft accepted the award on her behalf from presenter Lee Marvin.

Sandy Dennis was also not present at the Academy Awards ceremony when she won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Honey. Mike Nichols accepted the award on her behalf from presenter Sidney Poitier.

When Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor separated for the first time, Taylor famously said that she was "tired of playing Martha." The two were often referred to in the press as the "Battling Burtons" and were known for having a dramatic, passionate and volatile relationship.

Famous Quotes from WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?

"Poor Georgie Porgie put-upon pie."

--Martha (Elizabeth Taylor), to George (Richard Burton)

"My God, you can swill it down, can't you?"

"Well, I'm thirsty."

"Oh, Jesus."

"Look, Sweetheart, I can drink you under any goddamned table you want, so don't worry about me."

--George and Martha

"I swear, if you existed, I'd divorce you."

--Martha, to George

"There are easier things in this world if you happen to be teaching in a university, there are easier things than being married to the daughter of the president of that university. There are easier things in the world."

"It should be an extraordinary opportunity. For some men, it would be the chance of a lifetime."

"There are, believe me, easier things in this world."

"Some men would give their right arm for the chance."

"Alas, in reality, it works out that the sacrifice is of a somewhat more private portion of the anatomy."

--George and Martha

"Martha, will you show her where we keep the...euphemism?"

--George, to Martha in reference to Honey's (Sandy Dennis) need to find the bathroom

"You've been here for quite a long time, haven't you?"

"Oh, yes. Ever since I married what's-her-name, Martha. Even before that. Forever. Dashed hopes and good intentions. Good, better, best, bested."

--Nick (George Segal) and George

"It's just that I don't like to become involved in other people's affairs."

"Oh, you'll get over that. Small college. Musical beds is the faculty sport around here."

--Nick and George

"Martha is 108...years old. She weighs somewhat more than that."

-- George, to Nick

"Hey, Swamp! Hey, Swampy!"

"Yes, Martha? Can I get you something?"

"Well, sure. You can light my cigarette, if you're of a mind to."

"No. There are limits. I mean, a man can put up with only so much; without, he descends a rung or two on the old evolutionary ladder, which is up your line. Now, I will hold your hand when it's dark, and you're afraid of the bogeyman, and then I will tote your gin bottles out after midnight so no one can see, but I will not light your cigarette, and that, as they say, is that."

--Martha and George

"Martha, in my mind you are buried in cement right up to the neck. No, up to the nose. It's much quieter."

--George, to Martha

"I hope that was an empty bottle, George. You can't afford to waste good liquor. Not on your salary. Not on an Associate Professor's salary!"

--Martha, to George

"The way to a man's heart, the wide, inviting avenue to his job, is through his wife, and don't you forget it."

"And I'll bet your wife's got the widest most inviting avenue on the whole campus."

--George and Nick

"You have really screwed up, George."

"Oh, come on, Martha."

"I mean it, you really have."

"You can sit around with the gin running out of your mouth. You can humiliate me. You can tear me to pieces all night. That's perfectly okay. That's alright."

"You can stand it."

"I cannot stand it."

"You can stand it. You married me for it!"

"That's a desperately sick lie."

"Don't you know it even yet?"

--Martha and George

"You're a monster. You are."

"I'm loud, and I'm vulgar, and I wear the pants in the house because somebody's got to. But I'm not a monster. I'm not!"

--George and Martha

"George and Martha. Sad, sad, sad."

--Martha

Compiled by Andrea Passafiume