Review of All About Eve (1950) by Charles E — 03 Dec 2011

My favourite movie ever, which just happens to star my fave actress. Bette is in scintillating, caustic form here but even though it's her best performance she has plenty of competition. This is due in no small part to the a witty script with bitchy one liners galore, and the deft direction by Joe Manciewicz who gives the actors their head & they all respond superbly to the challenge. George Sanders almost steals the film from Bette but not quite. Just the scenes he appears in. Celeste Holm is touching & matter of fact as the friend, Anne Baxter is as unlikeable as she should be (love the denouement when she reaches the top and wins her award) and Marilyn Monroe has a small but showy role which put her on the path to much bigger & better things. She saw her chance her & grabbed it.

But despite all this talent, it's Bette who'll give you a bumpy ride so fasten your seatbelts.