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Bette Davis plays the classic Margo Channing, a Broadway actress at the top of her game, who befriends a shy, sympathetic Eve Harrington, played by Ann Baxter, who supposedly just lost her husband in World War II. Eve lives to see Margo perform in her latest play. And isn't it convenient that she has memorized all the lines! Unknowingly, Margo hires Eve as her assistant. And soon, she becomes her understudy. This is a classic case of deception, where a little kindness backfires into a complete nuclear bomb. There are other characters to watch for. Gary Merrill plays Bill Sampson, her director in the plays, and plays her boyfriend in the movie. (Gary eventually married Bette in real life, and they had a tumultuous marriage.) Watch out! Eve steals him too. George Sanders plays New York critic Addison De Witt, who also falls for Eve but is wise to her deception. Even Margo's best friend Ann Richards played by Celeste Holm is deceived as well as Lloyd Richards, the author of many of the plays that Margo is in. Only Thelma Ritter, who plays Margo's maid, is onto her. Look for a debutante Marilyn Monroe in one of her first films. She does not have a big role but is Addison De Witt's escort at a cast party. A famous quote also comes from this movie: "Fasten your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy night!" This movie saw Bette Davis and Ann Baxter both get nominated for Best Actress. There was a lot of controversy about the nominations because Bette felt that Ann Baxter should have been a Supporting Actress nominee. It seems that there was a real life feud as well as the one in the movie. But somehow, they both were put in the Best Actress category. Neither one won. The movie, however, did win Best Picture, Best Costume Design, Best Director for Joseph Mankiewicz, Best Sound Recording, and Best Writing. Celeste Holm and Thelma Ritter were both nominated for Best Supporting Actress. George Sanders was nominated as Best Supporting Actor. Obviously, it is well worth viewing.Read full review
All About Eve is a movie classic. The movie holds the record for most academy award nominations. The characters in the movie imitated the stars personal life. One of Bette Davis's best performances, along with Thelma Ritter, George Sanders, Gary Merrill & Celeste Holm. I gave this DVD as a gift, but still continue to watch in whenever I am in the mood for good theatre.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Fourteen Oscar Nominations were earned by participants in this film. Two were Joseph Mankiewicz'. It was the Best Picture of 1950. The leading lady was just about the only major participant who didn't win an Oscar. The AFI votes were divided between Davis & her co-lead junior, Anne Baxter. That's the reason Bette Davis didn't win the Oscar she deserved more than any other. Davis did receive every other coveted award, such as the NYFCC & Cannes awards (typically considered more objective than AFI choices). Davis, who'd been nominated for 11 Best Actress Oscars, 5 in a row, was coming into her 2nd acting prime: during middle age. While the bulk of her female peers of age were going by the way side, or were content to walk away from acting, Davis was bent upon maintaining her career intensity. This film was called her "come back." In actuality, Davis hadn't gone away! "Payment on Demand" was already made before "Eve;" but, there were hurdles to overcome before that film was released. It's 1 of Davis' mid-career great performances. The beauty of Bette Davis' acting career was shaped by how much she valued it & being gifted for knowing a great script when she read it. Davis noticed Meryl Streep before others did, who has 16 Oscar nominations now!). Davis was a keen show business woman like Lucille Ball. Neither of them used sleazy ways to do social climbing stunts via sex w/producers like many of their star-struck, or power-hungry, peers. "All About Eve" has stood in for the Hollywood that Bette Davis helped to create as the 4th largest industry during the turbulent periods in the US. The film dares to turn its gaze back upon the flaws of that industry. Known as the 5th Warner Brother, Davis had already finished her contract with the Warners becoming a free agent to do the roles she wanted. The role of Margo Channing, for which she'll likely always be most remembered, fell in her lap when Claudette Colbert injured herself out of the part. Davis lept at the opportunity. Today, I could paint 100 of Davis' films on a globe, spin it & point my finger at any 1 of them, saying it's her best. That's true because the "Yankee Lady" went to work with a primary goal of making the best film possible. It didn't matter an iota when she sacrificed bits of her part for another performers' if it improved the film. Davis always wanted to be involved in making great films. One such time came while making "Great Lie." Davis & Mary Astor were to play lead & supporting roles, respectively; when Davis took Astor aside to chat about how the script stunk. Davis worked rewriting it. By so doing beefed up Astor's part to such a degree that she earned an Oscar for her supporting performance. Davis created the quality of the script which gave Astor the better part. Astor gave the performance & Davis the credit. It was perfect team work. That's why Davis' peers loved her & working with her. She brought out the best in them, the film & gave the utmost of herself. Davis did this on the set of "All About Eve." With the leading role in her capable veteran hands, she & Joseph Mankiewicz collaborated so well with his script that they inspired the entire crew to earn a staggering 14 Oscar nominations & thereby made filmmaking history. Among all the great filmmakers of the 1st 3/4ths of the 20th century, Bette Davis was chosen by her peers to become the 1st woman Oscar Life Achiever; 5th among men; like being known as the 5th Warner brother. A high 5!Read full review
this film about the backstage goings-on in the theatre world has got to be one of the most interesting well-written films ever.the dialogue is priceless,some of the best ever written performed to the hilt by an all-star cast headed by Bette Davis and Anne Baxter.Marilyn Monroe shines in one of her first small roles and one can see why she became the superstar of later years
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
"Eve" was bound to happen. Bette Davis had reigned supreme actor in Hollywood on the silver screen and in made for television shows for so long and so well that when, in 1950, this classic wowed us it was like a relief because we knew it would inevitably come. Breaking all the records for the most Oscar nominations, and all the records for the most awards around the globe given to the lead actor (Bette Davis), Joseph Mankiewicz script and direction easily rose to the top of the charts and remains there to date. Time will be kind to this beaut of a classic because it doesn't depend upon one facet standing out. This film is so perfect an example of great team work. Both Davis and Mankiewicz are due everlasting credit for setting up that kind of great collaborative efforts in every department of the making of this film.Read full review
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