All About Eve (1950)

A truly masterpiece, perfect acting and breathtaking plot.

ALL ABOUT EVE is a dark and cynical look at the world of theatre and those at the very top in terms of fame and fortune. It's remembered today for being one of the films featuring an inimitable Bette Davis as an ageing star who finds herself waning and facing opposition from her younger rivals. The film offers a pretty bleak world view in which everyone seems to be out for personal gain and fortune. It's finely-judged indeed and boasts some strong performances, in particular from Anne Baxter who takes ruthlessness to a new level. Davis the real star here though, performing in a more sympathetic role than usual and making the role her own.

All About Eve (1950) **** (out of 4) Broadway star Margo Channing (Bette Davis) invites a woman named Eve (Anne Baxter) into her life because she's an adoring fan but before long the much older Margo begins to fear that the younger woman wants more than friendship. Soon Eve's plans of becoming a star herself come out and she's not going to let anything get into her way.ALL ABOUT EVE was, at the time, the film that captured the most Oscar-nominations with fourteen and it eventually won six including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for George Sanders. If you're a fan of movie stars, directors, producers or anyone in that profession then ALL ABOUT EVE is certainly a must see. Sure, perhaps it does run on a bit too long but there's no question that it contains one of the greatest ensemble acting classes that you'll ever see as well as some perfect direction by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and his screenplay is bitterly sharp and funny.So much has been said about this film over the years that I couldn't possibly add anything new. What I really respect about the film is the fact that it really could have gone over-dramatic but instead it plays out like a black comedy where we're dealing with some at times ugly people who get out done by a couple snakes in the grass. The way the mystery of this Eve character plays out is so flawlessly done that it's impossible to hate her because you see her game and her goal. You then start to see that she probably didn't do anything that others wouldn't have done also.Davis gets the majority of the credit in the acting department and there's no doubt that she's perfect and this helped rebuild the second stage of her career. As great as she is I think she sometimes overcrowds what others in the film do. Both Gary Merill and Hugh Marlow are terrific in the role of the supporting men. You've got Marilyn Monroe in an early bit and she's really funny here. Thelma Ritter is always fun to watch. Then you've got the three best performances in the film. Celeste Holm is simply divine on so many levels here as the woman who opens the gate for the snake to come in. Baxter is simply wonderful at playing so many different sides of this character. There are so many adjectives used about her character and the actress really delivers everything you could hope for. Then there's Sanders who is perfectly delightful as the rather crooked writer with his own game to play.ALL ABOUT EVE contains a really terrific script for these great actors to sink their teeth in. The film is brutally honest and funny about stardom and what one will do to capture their glory. The way the film plays out is wonderfully done and there's no doubt that the film deserves its reputation.

I first saw part of this film on TV when I was about 10...and I laughed out loud. Unfortunately it was lunch time and I had to go back to school. It was many years before I actually saw the entire film, on the big screen, at a revival house in Toronto. I have since seen it more times than I can count, and I still laugh continually throughout. Best movie line of all time: "You're too short for that gesture!" I have to admit that I had seen the film about 20 times before I finally figured out what Marilyn said while going off towards Max....it wasn't "Why do they always look like nappy rabbits?" (which made no sense)....but "Why do they always look like UNhappy rabbits?" Her diction or my hearing? Had it been a play it would have the same stature as "The Importance of Being Ernest". We're probably lucky it wasn't, and it should never never NEVER be re-made....it would be like re-painting the Mona Lisa. Frame for frame, word for word, perfection. It never ages and it never gets thin. "Ah men!"