Review of All About Eve (1950) by Dillon L — 16 Aug 2012

A rather biting satire on the ruthless ambition of a young woman who wants to make it in the theatre world. Eve (a manipulative yet sweet as honey social climber played by Anne Baxter in an Oscar nod role) waits outside the show where Margo (Bette Davis, playing a star at the peak realizing she's getting to be at that age where it starts to go downhill [somewhat mirroring real-life where she was a fading star as well] in a similarly Oscar nominated role) stars as the most famous on the stages of Broadway.

To condense, it's no Sunset Boulevard, but has a number of similar comments to make about the nature of fame/age/fickleness/social status and so forth. This won Best Picture, Director and Screenplay in 1951, beating out Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard, in part because it was just a touch less cynical about fame/stardom, although both films rightly earn their place in the all-time best lists.

It was nominated for a then-record 14 Oscars. This film is just as relevant today as it was 60+ yrs ago. Ruthless aggression, deceit, backstabbing, the struggle to stay #1, all ring true in Hollywood/Broadway as much as they did back then.

A very fine classic of a film. Also features a young Marilyn Monroe in one of her first roles. Crucial.