Review All About Eve (1950)

All About Eve is a 1950 American drama film written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. It was based on the 1946 short story "The Wisdom of Eve" by Mary Orr, although screen credit was not given for it.

The film stars Bette Davis as Margo Channing, a highly regarded but aging Broadway star. Anne Baxter plays Eve Harrington, an ambitious young fan who insinuates herself into Channing's life, ultimately threatening Channing's career and her personal relationships. George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Hugh Marlowe, Barbara Bates, Gary Merrill, and Thelma Ritter also appear, and the film provided one of Marilyn Monroe's earliest important roles.

Praised by critics at the time of its release, All About Eve received 14 Academy Awards nominations (a feat only matched by the 1997 film Titanic and the 2016 film La La Land) and won six, including Best Picture. All About Eve is the only film in Oscar history to receive four female acting nominations (Davis and Baxter as Best Actress, Holm and Ritter as Best Supporting Actress). All About Eve was selected in 1990 for preservation in the United States National Film Registry and was among the first 50 films to be registered. All About Eve appeared at #16 on AFI's 1998 list of the 100 best American films.

I love that movie. I have it on DVD with commentary by someone - I forgot who. The director based Margo's paranoia about Bill on his own wife, except she was right because he was frequently unfaithful.

Also, Karen's trick making Margo miss her performance so Eve could replace her? That's something you wouldn't do to your worst enemy in the theater. Makes her look like a great friend, huh?

Superbly sophisticated, savagely witty film of backstage betrayal and behind-the-scenes high-end theatre. Davis has rarely been better (how did she not win the Oscar that year!) and Sanders is excellent as an acerbic critic full of barbed witticisms.

Lots of great interesting dialogue.