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All About Eve (1950)

Director: Joseph L Mankiewicz

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From Time Out London

In 1950, the movies recognised stardom as a pathological disorder. Exhibit A was ‘Sunset Blvd’, exhibit B ‘All About Eve’. Set in the Broadway jungle rather than among the ‘sun-burnt eager beavers’ of Hollywood, Joseph L Mankiewicz’s film dissects the narcissism and hypocrisy of the spotlight as sharply as Wilder’s, but pays equal attention to the challenges of enacting womanhood. ‘All About My Mother’ (not to mention ‘Showgirls’) would be unimaginable without it. Anne Baxter is Eve Harrington, the wide-eyed stage-door hanger-on who insinuates her way into the world of Bette Davis’ sacred monster, Margo Channing; butter-might-just-melt meets gin-hold-the-tonic. The fan who makes an audience of the stars, Eve is soon attracting her own admirers, as well as barbs worthy of Mankiewicz’s ’30s newsroom pedigree. Edith Head’s costumes stress the antagonism: Eve enters in a sexy-modest trenchcoat-and-trilby combo, and could anyone but Davis pull off a ball gown with pockets? Meanwhile, the real threat – Marilyn Monroe – sits at the party’s edge, shining, angling for another drink.

Author: Ben Walters

Time Out London Issue 1945: November 27-December 4 2007

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User reviews of this film

Joe Hoare said...

Posted on Sep 23 2008 09:48 Probably the best script ever to come out of Hollywood, the dialogue crackles and the actors obviously are relishing it. All About Eve increases our understanding of human nature (particularly many people's narcissistic preoccupation with 'stardom' and 'celebrity'). Not many fims unveil layers of truth like this one...still great after all these years....

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Rob Keeling said...

Posted on Dec 01 2007 22:58 quite possibly the best film i've seen this year. stands head and shoulders above current releases

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