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all+about+eve | Year: 1950 Directed: - Joseph L.Mankiewicz Actors/Actresses: - Bette Davis - Anne Baxter A masterpiece of dramatic filmmaking Among the greatest dramas ever written, this brilliant film elevates an outstanding script with extraordinary acting. It received 14 Oscar Nominations in 12 categories and won 6 including Best Picture and Director. However, it is much better than that. Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) is a waif that is constantly seen waiting outside the theater for her idol Margo Channing (Bette Davis). When Margo's best friend Karen Richards (Celeste Holm) invites her in to meet Margo it begins a relationship that is destined to turn into a typhoon. Margo is taken in by Eve's hard luck story and her obsequious deference, and she decides employ her as her personal secretary. With duplicitous and cunning ambition, Eve maneuvers her way into becoming Margo's understudy. Just turning 40, Margo begins to become self conscious about her age and sees Eve as a threat to her career and her relationship with Bill, who is eight years her junior. The resulting tension between Margo and Eve is electric, with power plays, blackmail and conniving at every turn. John Mankiewicz was one of the most prolific and gifted auteurs of the studio era. He won back-to-back double Oscars for directing and screenplay in 1949 and 1950 for "Letters to Three Wives" and "All About Eve". His accomplishment in this film is gargantuan, with a powerful script and forceful direction of a talented cast. The dialogue is fantastic, with snide humor and barbed innuendo that cuts like a stiletto. The scene between Eve and pompous theater critic Addison Dewitt (George Sanders) where he confronts her about her past is like a mating of snakes. The acting is stupendous. Bette Davis appeared in over 100 films in her 58 year career, nominated for 11 Best Acting Oscars and winning two. This was one of her very best performances and it escapes me why she did not win the award that year. Davis is a whirlwind of dramatic power in a riveting portrayal of the tempestuous Margo. She imbues Margo with a gigantic ego and equally enormous insecurity, which yields some of the best and most bitter tantrum spewing ever been put on celluloid. Anne Baxter is deliciously evil as Eve. Her sweet helplessness veils a cold, calculating serpent waiting for her opportunity to strike. The supporting actors were also superb. George Sanders won a best supporting Oscar for his haughty performance as Addison De Witt. Celeste Holm was nominated for a supporting Oscar and was terrific as Margo's well meaning, but meddling friend. One of my favorites was Thelma Ritter (also nominated for Best Supporting Actress) as Birdie, an unrefined and blunt woman with extraordinary perceptiveness about Eve's true nature. There is even an early look at Marilyn Monroe in a small part as Addison De Witts ditzy date. This is one of the best dramas ever made and among my favorite films of all time. It was rated number 16 on AFI's top 100 of the century. I rated it a 10/10. They don't make them like this any more. It is required viewing for classic film buffs. "That's all this film is, dear--just brilliant!" Even if the plot is basically incredible, (if Eve was capable of such "fire and wind" even at her first audition, why bother with such an elaborate plan as her chance at fame?) movies rarely come as entertaining as this one. The script is rather lengthy, and some of the exchanges are a little too sophisticated to be convincing; but with all the savage wit, sparkling dialogue, and compelling narrative line, it certainly doesn't seem so. Add to this, rip-roaring performances by Bette Davis and George Sanders, (who conspire to steal the show), and solid support by Celeste Holm, the always superb Thelma Ritter, and the scheming, irresistable Anne Baxter, and you've got an exciting tale of power struggle, treachery, and love. Two of the players--Merrill and Marlowe--are here really out of their element (both were well cast in "Twelve O'Clock High"); and you'll see Marylin Monroe engage in what amounts to self-parody. But the script's the thing; and Mankiewicz (if never able to match his brilliance for biting repartee with a deft visual sense, "Sleuth" excepted), here pens one that wins out over all, a deserved classic. "Everything but the Bloodhounds Snappin' at Her Rear End" That might be how maid Thelma Ritter responds to the sob story told by theatre groupie Anne Baxter to Broadway star Bette Davis, but Davis and her friends Celeste Holm, Gary Merrill, and Hugh Marlowe are quite touched. In fact, Bette is so touched that she takes Eve (Baxter) under her wing as a kind of protege. But it's not long before Bette begins to feel uncomfortable about Eve, and that's when the fur begins to fly, especially at a party attended by acerbic George Sanders and very young Marilyn Monroe. One of the real classics of American cinema, "All About Eve" showcases Bette Davis in her best role, Margo Channing, a star's star. The other most memorable performance is by Oscar-winning George Sanders, who simply gloats divinely as theatre critic Addison DeWitt. While the other men are good in their parts, I always wish they had been bigger name players. This is one of Joseph Mankiewicz's best movies--and he's the man who brought us "The Best Years of Our Lives". If you have yet to see this tribute to NY theatre life, drop everything and run to the video store. Buy All About Eve at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  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