All About Eve (A or 4/4 stars)
'All About Eve' (1950's classic backstage melodrama written/directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz) contains one of the most famous film quotes of all-time, Bette Davis' directive: "Fasten your seatbelts ... it's going to be a bumpy night!". In fact, this cynical, cinematic ode to the theater world is quotable for days; chock-full of tongue-lashings & bitchy one-liners directed at actresses, directors, playwrights, & even critics. In what's regarded as one of her best roles, Davis unleashes her talents as Margo Channing, a veteran Broadway thespian who is afraid that her 40+ age is starting to infringe on her stardom. In fact, one of the largest themes of this film IS age. The clock never stops; and there is almost always an expiration date for popularity of female performers on both the stage & screen.
Scared of an inevitable decline, brassy Margo wisely relies on a sturdy support system to hold her star status/ego in place: her fiancee & director, Bill Sampson (Gary Merrill); her best friend, Karen (lovely Celeste Holm), wife of playwright, Lloyd Richards (Hugh Marlowe); her loyal dresser/confidante, Birdie (wisecracking Thelma Ritter); & sarcastic theatre critic, Addison DeWitt (George Sanders). But one fateful 'eve', Margo lets the wrong person into her circle: super fan, Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter). Eve's creepy, stalker-like devotion initially flatters Margo & Margo even makes Eve her personal assistant. But Eve attaches to Margo like a leech & we discover that she's actually a master conniver who is eager to kick her diva idol to the curb; planning to do anything to achieve her dream of becoming a Broadway stahhhr. One person catches on to Eve's "innocent" act early on, yet keeps curiously quiet about it. And melodrama of the highest order ensues.
Joseph L. Mankiewicz's keen inside knowledge of show business & the people who inhabit said business gives this film real authenticity & verisimilitude. Life imitates art in much of this screenplay. And Mankiewicz' script is jam-packed with the kind of devastating, poisonous wit that flies from the lips of these show business-types. Said wit is best personified by Addison DeWitt, who also serves as the movie's contrite narrator. One great line of dialogue simultaneously pokes fun at ditzy bombshells (Marilyn Monroe, great in a small part), as well as big producers. Priceless dialogue aside, this biting script, based on a short story, also provides quite the template for a gripping backstage melodrama. That template: young, hungry ingenue threatens to supplant aging diva. Mankiewicz embraces the theatricality of the proceedings, letting loose with lengthy speeches, edgy asides, & emotional histrionics when necessary. And his cast takes full advantage of the meaty screenplay.
Bette Davis is astoundingly good as Margo. Her forceful, fire-breathing performance earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Oscars & many people felt she was robbed (Judy Holliday won. I may have given it to Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd., but that is apples & oranges). Anne Baxter earned her Best Actress nomination as the unsettling, bitchy Eve. George Sanders' humorous, bone-dry line deliveries earned him the Oscar for Supporting Actor. Both Celeste Holm & Thelma Ritter earn supporting nods with indelible performances. Ritter & Davis rivet in a bedroom scene where nary a word is spoken to convey a wellspring of emotion. In all, this superb film was nominated for 13(!) awards & also won Best Picture, Directing, Writing, Costumes & Sound. 'All About Eve' is a great movie; and as you can see, it's also one of the most successful ones in Academy Awards history.
Scared of an inevitable decline, brassy Margo wisely relies on a sturdy support system to hold her star status/ego in place: her fiancee & director, Bill Sampson (Gary Merrill); her best friend, Karen (lovely Celeste Holm), wife of playwright, Lloyd Richards (Hugh Marlowe); her loyal dresser/confidante, Birdie (wisecracking Thelma Ritter); & sarcastic theatre critic, Addison DeWitt (George Sanders). But one fateful 'eve', Margo lets the wrong person into her circle: super fan, Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter). Eve's creepy, stalker-like devotion initially flatters Margo & Margo even makes Eve her personal assistant. But Eve attaches to Margo like a leech & we discover that she's actually a master conniver who is eager to kick her diva idol to the curb; planning to do anything to achieve her dream of becoming a Broadway stahhhr. One person catches on to Eve's "innocent" act early on, yet keeps curiously quiet about it. And melodrama of the highest order ensues.
Joseph L. Mankiewicz's keen inside knowledge of show business & the people who inhabit said business gives this film real authenticity & verisimilitude. Life imitates art in much of this screenplay. And Mankiewicz' script is jam-packed with the kind of devastating, poisonous wit that flies from the lips of these show business-types. Said wit is best personified by Addison DeWitt, who also serves as the movie's contrite narrator. One great line of dialogue simultaneously pokes fun at ditzy bombshells (Marilyn Monroe, great in a small part), as well as big producers. Priceless dialogue aside, this biting script, based on a short story, also provides quite the template for a gripping backstage melodrama. That template: young, hungry ingenue threatens to supplant aging diva. Mankiewicz embraces the theatricality of the proceedings, letting loose with lengthy speeches, edgy asides, & emotional histrionics when necessary. And his cast takes full advantage of the meaty screenplay.
Bette Davis is astoundingly good as Margo. Her forceful, fire-breathing performance earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Oscars & many people felt she was robbed (Judy Holliday won. I may have given it to Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd., but that is apples & oranges). Anne Baxter earned her Best Actress nomination as the unsettling, bitchy Eve. George Sanders' humorous, bone-dry line deliveries earned him the Oscar for Supporting Actor. Both Celeste Holm & Thelma Ritter earn supporting nods with indelible performances. Ritter & Davis rivet in a bedroom scene where nary a word is spoken to convey a wellspring of emotion. In all, this superb film was nominated for 13(!) awards & also won Best Picture, Directing, Writing, Costumes & Sound. 'All About Eve' is a great movie; and as you can see, it's also one of the most successful ones in Academy Awards history.