rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 1950
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz; produced by Darryl F. Zanuck; written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Starring Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Gary Merrill, Marilyn Monroe
Below you will find a temporary review for this film. The real (better, more complete) review will be online very soon.
From the same year as Billy Wilder his 'Sunset Blvd.' there was another
classic about stardom named 'All About Eve'. With 14 Academy Award
nominations this is still the most nominated film ever made ('Titanic' also
got 14) and it is exactly what it deserved. It won Best Picture and Best
Director and it is a shame it didn't won Best Actress for the great Bette
Davis (neither did Gloria Swanson win for 'Sunset Blvd.') as Margot
Channing.
I think 'Sunset Blvd.' is a little better than 'All About Eve', probably
because the first was directed by Billy Wilder, but Bette Davis her
performance alone makes this movie such a pleasure to watch. Of course there
is a lot more, but this is one of the best female performances I have ever
seen. Why she didn't win the Oscar has probably to do with Anne Baxter who
plays Eve. She was also nominated for the Best Actress category and therefor
their votes were devided. It is a little as in the movie where Eve was
stealing the great things from Margot.
First Eve works herself up. She becomes Margot her secretary, then her
understudy, and finally her rival. Then she even tries to steal the man in
Margots life, Bill (Gary Merrill), who is also the director of her plays.
When this doesn't work she tries to take the husband of Karen (Celeste Holm)
who helped her in the first place. Her husband is the writer of the plays
named Lloyd (Hugh Marlowe). This whole story is seen and followed by theater
critic Addison DeWitt who is played brilliantly by George Sanders. All
performances are perfect.
And then there is the party given by Margot. She has some very classic
lines, she gets drunk and Addison DeWitt appears on the party with the
beautiful Miss Caswell. She is played by Marilyn Monroe. Although her part
is so small you will remember it. All you are able to look at during this
scene is her.
With the great performances, the cinematography, a fine direction and the
very smart writing this is an all-time classic and one of the greatest
movies out there.