# All About Eve (1950)

### reviewed by
Heather Picker

    "All About Eve"

    Reviewed by Heather Picker

Written and Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Starring Bette Davis and Anne Baxter, with George Sanders, Celeste Holm, and Gary Merrill. 1950, 138 min., Not Rated.

In 1950, two movies about show business and the lives of aging stars were released: Billy Wilder's "Sunset Boulevard" and Joseph L. Mankiewicz's "All About Eve." Both were big successes, the latter being nominated for a record fourteen Academy Awards (the record has been tied but never surpassed), and winning six, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing. Widely considered to be the film best capturing the world of theatre, it is thoroughly entertaining, and is one of the best written, directed, and acted of all American movies.

The movie begins with a prestigious stage-acting award being presented to young Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter). As an elderly man makes a speech prior to handing her the award, we hear the commentary of theater critic Addison DeWitt (George Sanders). He introduces us to the world he observes, and we are taken back a few months in time, to before Eve was a star. Karen Richards (Celeste Holm), wife of famous playwright Lloyd Richards (Hugh Marlowe), is making her way to the theater one night as she begins thinking of the young woman she sees waiting near the door every night.

She is introduced to the woman, Eve Harrington, and learns that Eve has watched every single performance of her husband's current success, the play "Aged in Wood," because she is a great fan of it's star, Margo Channing (Bette Davis). Karen decides to introduce Eve to Margo, who initially objects to meeting the girl. Once Eve begins talking with Margo, Margo's suspicious assistant, Birdie (Thelma Ritter), Lloyd and Karen, they become captivated with her. She tells them of how she went to work at a beer company to help her poor parents, and how depressing her existence was until she met a man named Eddie. They married, and he went to fight in the war, and when he was killed she was devastated. Seeing Margo perform the play in San Francisco lifted her spirits. Since then, she has been a devoted supporter, and credits Margo and the magic of the theater for giving her something to live for.

Birdie quips, "What a story. Everything but the bloodhounds snapping at her rear end." Margo admonishes her and the friends are humbled at the eager kindness and sad past of Eve. Margo's boyfriend, theater director Bill Sampson (Gary Merrill), arrives to take Margo to the airport with him, as he must board a plane for Hollywood, where he is going to direct his first motion picture; and Margo asks Eve to accompany them. Shortly thereafter, Eve becomes a fixture in the lives of Margo, Birdie, Bill, and the Richards'. Birdie, who cleans up after Margo, never seems to warm up to Eve, who begins assuming the responsibilities of helping with Margo's career and relationship with Bill.

Margo grows tired of Eve's attentiveness, and asks Birdie why she seems to distrust Eve. Birdie explains that Eve seems to be studying Margo, as if she were a blueprint. Margo notices the same thing, and, when Bill comes back and a party is thrown at Margo's house in honor of his return and of his birthday, she cannot stand it anymore. Before he comes up to say hello to her, he greets and talks with Eve for twenty minutes. Margo, none too pleased, announces, in one of the film's most famous quotes, "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night."

This is when the famous plot of "All About Eve" is realized. As the night wears on, and much attention is paid to Eve, Margo gets drunk and acts rude. Marilyn Monroe has a small part as Miss Claudia Caswell, the wannabe actress that DeWitt brings as his date (with the ulterior motive of her getting to know stage producer Max, played by Gregory Ratoff, as DeWitt finds out more about Eve), and has several funny lines. When Margo gets Max alone, they begin talking about a play he needs to cast, and she says that she will audition for him if he can give Eve a job, as she no longer wants her around.

As usual, Margo is late for the audition, and arrives to find DeWitt (with Miss Caswell, who was there for the audition, also), who tells her that it is over. Eve gave a terrific audition, and Lloyd, who had written the role specifically with Margo in mind, thinks that Eve is perfect for the part. Margo barges into the theater and confronts Lloyd, Max, and Bill. Eve disappears as Margo begins shouting, and Lloyd and Max both eventually leave. Bill stays, and Margo confesses that she is afraid of losing him, citing their age difference (she is eight years older), and the ever-growing presence of Eve in their lives, as her reasons. In a heated scene skillfully guided by Merrill and Davis, Bill tells her that if that is how she feels, it is over, and leaves.

Karen, who, at Eve's hesitant request, pulled some strings to get her a position as Margo's understudy in Aged in Wood, decides to give Margo a dose of her own medicine, and hatches a plan. Lloyd, Karen, and Margo go away for the weekend, and they run out of gas on the way back. Margo misses the performance, and Eve has the chance to flex her acting muscles. Of course, this was all arranged so that critics would know to see that night's performance, and she receives some nice press. Sort of.

Before the next morning's papers go to press, Addison is lurking outside of Eve's dressing room and hears her make a pass at Bill, who flatly turns her down. Addison engages Eve in conversation, and the next afternoon, they run into Karen, and tell her that Eve is about to meet with movie scouts. Addison hands Karen the newspaper, and tells her to read his column. In it, Eve sounds off, making references that she is better suited for the part than Margo, who is too old to be playing a twenty-something.

Karen goes to see Margo, who is furious and upset. Bill rushes in to comfort Margo. Later, a reunited and engaged Bill and Margo go to dinner with Karen and Lloyd, and Eve asks to see Karen in the ladies room. She tells her that Addison DeWitt twisted her words, and acts very upset. As Karen's sympathy for her grows, Eve asks for the role of Cora, which is supposed to belong to Margo, in Lloyd's new play. Karen says no, and Eve blackmails her, telling her that if she does not get the role, DeWitt will print a story revealing why Margo missed the performance that gave Eve her chance at stardom.

Luckily, Margo tells a nervous Karen, when she returns to the table, that now that she is going to be a married woman she can't accept the role of Cora. Eve is cast, and Bill is convinced to direct the play, although he does not want to work with Eve. He and Lloyd fight a lot during rehearsals, and it is clear that the production is taking its toll on everyone.

Eve talks with DeWitt a few hours before opening night, and tells him that Lloyd is leaving Karen for her. DeWitt is disgusted by her lie, and tells her that even if something was going on between her and Lloyd, nothing could ever come of it because she belongs to him. Naturally, he has dirt on her, and when she is faced with his knowledge of her deceit (i.e., the false stories she told everyone to gain their sympathy), she agrees to his terms. Finally, the movie picks up where it began, with Eve accepting an award for her performance in the play. After the ceremony, she goes back to her hotel room to find a young fan inside, eager to meet her.

The screenplay for "All About Eve," written by the film's director, Joseph L. Mankiewicz (adapted from the Mary Orr play, "The Wisdom of Eve") is filled with sparkling, snappy dialogue and the characters are richly developed. Clocking in at about two hours and eighteen minutes, the film, surprisingly, never seems to drag, moving from one situation to the next. The sophisticated screenplay is vividly brought to life by one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled.

Bette Davis is in top form as Margo, an insecure star very aware of the fact that her famous persona doesn't guarantee anything, and who sees her popularity and career fading. Anne Baxter shines as Eve, Celeste Holm and Hugh Marlowe are great as Karen and Lloyd, and Thelma Ritter is amusing as Birdie. Gary Merrill and Davis (who were married that year) are excellent together, and George Sanders gives a brilliant turn as the diabolical, omniscient DeWitt (for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor).

An interesting thing about this movie is that, though it is about the theater, it mostly occurs off-stage. The story, about the conniving protégé, has been imitated numerous times, but none have come close to capturing the atmosphere of this script. Mankiewicz, besides penning an immortal screenplay filled with many clever, sharp-witted lines (Margo tells Lloyd, "All playwrights should be dead for three-hundred years"), has crafted a timeless story and classic movie.

          Notes: This film has not yet been released on DVD.

The Verdict: "All About Eve" has all of the elements of a classic film in spades. Terrific acting, direction, and a knowledgeable and fascinating script add up to a movie experience that all film buffs should have. mailto: Ahber16@aol.com Review courtesy of http://www.thatmoviesite.8m.com

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