Review of All About Eve (1950) by Citizen J — 13 Jul 2010

Considered forever as an icon of cinema, "All About Eve" is an ironic piece, with characters handlers, and a director faces marked consecrated. A great film about rivalry, greed and lies.

You know all about Eve What could possibly be that you still do not know?

Although this is a speech addressed to the public that Addison DeWitt, the moment Eve Harrington to pick up his award statuette at the Sarah Siddons, the viewer knows nothing about the fact that Eve and would like to know? Everything that is displayed on the screen is an infallible speech and a tribute to that one soon realizes that to be the most important award ceremony of the American theater, and a humble face of the actress whose meteoric career revelation plunged the great divas of the eyes of the media, and the same, they merely stare in disgust at the success that the young and talented performer enjoys the moment. Among the many quotes in that story off of DeWitt has a normal manner and solemnity, are Karen Richards, her husband and playwright Lloyd Richards, director Bill Sampson, the producer Max Fabian and big star, or rather, "the star of truth "Margot Channing, theatrical actress. Until that moment all that the viewer really know about the actress to be given that night is that his career peaked faster than anyone could imagine. The story of Eve, shown from a flash-black, will surprise, shock and growing anger of the spectator, who in the end, have seen a masterpiece as few, and only as much as the script says otherwise , where frankly the decline, the price for fame, lies, greed and intrigue await the triumphant final revelation.

The original title of the long directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz was chosen by producer Darryl F.Zanuck, highlights from the sentence just above. Previously, the script signed by the same man who would direct the film gave its name to the production of "Best Performance" ('Best Practices', in free translation), since it was based on a short story published in Cosmopolitan magazine. Its content brought to light the history of the Austro-Hungarian actress Elisabeth Bergner reported that according to the writer Mary Orr, had hired a big fan as her personal assistant, in the 40s. According to the actual European actress, the young girl who loved the boycott ended his career, becoming a star overnight. Without wanting to say the name of "undermining" Orr was forced to call it Eve, baptizing the story with the title The Wisdom of Eve Mankiewicz, in order to adapt the story, changed the names of the characters, created otherand new situations, and as its initial project would relate the plot of an actress in stage of decay, deepened the character who would replace the name of Bergner, calling her Margo Channing. After many changes made by the director and screenwriter, some at the request of the producer Zanuck, many actors and actresses of great renown were rated for movie roles.

Indeed, one of the few performers who have been with the project from the beginning was Thelma Ritter, veteran actress of film and one of four women nominated for Oscar for his work on long. Bette Davis has emerged as an option after actresses like Barbara Stanwyck, Susan Hayward and Marlene Dietrich and Claudette Colbert refused to have suffered an accident and hurt his back even before the start of the recordings. Monday to own Davis, nominated for an Academy Award for the character Margo Channing, the work in the film offered to her by Mankiewicz saved his career in limbo, as he said in an interview dated 1983. Before Anne Baxter emerge as an alternative for the role of Eve Harrington, Jeanne Craine had chosen, but got pregnant and lost the chance, giving opportunity for Baxter, who received the Oscar Award nomination. Bill Sampson, Ronald Reagan and John Garfield were options, but who got the role was Gary Merrill and Nancy Oliver was quoted to act as Karen Richards, a character who would later with Celeste Holm, another previously nominated as Best Supporting Actress in Oscar ceremony. Before the award-winning actor George Sanders was the cast as Addison DeWitt in the movie, Jose Ferrer was one of the options failed. Who did not participate in the film, not for the resistance Mankiewicz would Marilyn Monroe, who claimed to producer Zanuck, she would only be able to do comedy. In the end it was left to do Miss. Caswell in 'The Wicked'.

Perhaps because of the record that the film won the Oscar ceremony in 1950, beating the masterpiece up to Billy Wilder, Sunset Boulevard in the category of Best Picture and Director, snapping up six awards of the fourteen who disputed, which would be achieved only 47 years after Titanic, or the success it did with the public, the prize fictional from the beginning (and end) of 'The Wicked' became reality in 1952 when Joseph L. Mankiewicz and a group of theater lovers to set up a similar prize, including the statuettes delivered. The very Bette Davis, Anne Baxter and Celeste Holm already left the prized award.

The movie became very popular with the media and the public until years after its release in theaters. Although in the same year as the award's inception in Mankiewicz, a version of the film had been adapted for radio in 1970 debuted the musical Applause Broadway, winning Tony, where Anne Baxter would be the interpreter of Margo Channing.

Anyway, after I get too attached to the backstage preparations and "All About Eve," it is time to examine the cast. And what a cast! Poor Claudette Colbert, but until his accident and helped a lot for the image after the film, since Bette Davis is considered one of best actresses in film history and her Margo Channing, an eternal character. Let's start with her, then:

Bette Davis.

11-time Oscar nominee and winning twice. The characters of Bette Davis and his charisma, talent and glare entered the story and she devoted worldwide now and forever. Her performance in 'The Wicked' is considered by me, the best of the entire cast. Davis expresses well all the big star that represents Channing in the movie, with their correct positions and elegant gestures, the actress of the theater is both hateful, posing for bad, even if that is the role of another. The irony, self-centeredness and arrogance Margo are visible to the public and at the same time, a mixture of charity and compassion further increase the depth of character, the actress knows how to make one. When the film begins, is expected to see in action the great Bette Davis, and when she finally appears, you can hear cries of those who attend: "It's her! Look at her there. "Stunning in all respects, the eyes of Bette Davis once again flood the screen, albeit in black and white, silent and have an impact on the viewer, imagining the look focused and poison invading the movie set, where everyone actually , watched over a magnificent interpretation of the great star of the film, which never really ceased to be Bette Davis.

Anne Baxter.

Manipulative, and beautiful liar. She plays Eve Harrington, the ardent fan of Margo Channing. His ambition to one day become a great actress of theater, like his idol, the more his innocence and discretion lead the viewer to switch roles so that the true personality of Baxter is revealed. That the public thought was the "evil" becomes the victim of the story and vice versa. Anne Baxter make up your Eve perfectly, whose humility is transformed into arrogance of water pro wine, which according to logical coherence of the script undeniably well constructed. The amazing career of newcomer won that old aspiring actress to receive the top prize in the theater, which in solidification of the image, tells how she managed such a feat, eight months before she was a total unknown. It is noteworthy that Baxter does not exaggerate at any time, poor thing does not unbearable in the beginning and not a woman turns thick, his nose always prancing. She does everything right as far, but with brightness accuracy. A great little action.

Celeste Holm.

Another performance that shows how the direction of Mankiewicz manages to be accurate in all respects, including coordination of the cast. Holm is less than an actress Bette Davis and Anne Baxter, but his performance is convincing enough to keep the viewer satisfied with his performance. She, like all those rodi Eve, they feel cheated and outraged when the second face of the young fan is placed for exposure. Indeed, the shock that her character, Karen Richards, is composed largely due to the fact that it was she who led Eve into the room of Margo Channing, who did what he could to manipulate the wills of the target of his admiration. Celeste Holm, however, is good enough to make someone betrayed Karen opinion, elegant and helpful, with charisma. Excellent performance, even before the hidden brilliance of the protagonists.

Thelma Ritter.

A great little actress seized. Perhaps the best description of Thelma Ritter, actress laughs that guarantees the principal of "All About Eve." It does not make a major character, or stands for elegance or anything. His most interesting is the flamboyant way of speaking, unique, sincere and director, typical of Ritter. As he did in "Rear Window, she hides the great stars of the film in a few minutes in the air. In the Alfred Hitchcock movie was no different. The incessant glare of James Stewart and unique beauty of Grace Kelly gave way to the sarcasm of Thelma Ritter. In scenes from 'The Wicked' she gets to deposit all their expressions looks impatient, always focused than before or else Bette Davis, Anne Baxter. In quick and clever dialogue, hers are the most creative, with comic overtones that guarantee the best moments of relaxation of the film.Unfortunately, his talent had not been so well exploited by the directors, although they gave him opportunities of good performances, although the substance is practically all of it, the actress was almost always very well in the roles of maid, this time Birdie Coonan, who for some reason, his personality as an actress remembered.

George Sanders.

The elegance and charm of George Sanders certainly led the actor to receive the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Its performance is exceptional, either in dialogue or in their eyes pickups. The actor makes a character Addison DeWitt further that Mankiewicz had prepared for him. His narration is sure and correct off, with numerous quotations from ancient playwrights and actors and directors and producers and contractors, and concert halls and theaters, the visceral charm comes in imposing. Not by far the best performance of the film, whose brightness relates to the entire female cast of talent, but his interpretation was the one that won the Oscar for renowned cast, however, deserved more impossible. Operating with a principal value corresponds to the elegance and respect he needed, always comes into play.

I can summarize the work of other actors as excellent also, since I do not have much to talk about the rest of the cast. Featured only for the young and unknown Marilyn Monroe, who is the girl Caswell in an interesting and comical. The actress who would later commit suicide still have time to do well in other films, even more so with her stunning beauty. As for Lloyd Richards, played by Hugh Marlowe, does its job efficiently, but does not shine as much as others, and he highlighted some of the supporting cast, whose merit is only a good actor at times propitious.

Mankiewicz writes and directs this crisp perfection with his most charming. The Wicked is a great masterpiece in all respects. The costumes of noticeably beautiful and famous brands, the picture extremely dark and white in the light, besides the luxury art direction, with backstage scenes and shows good taste in choosing the objects that adorn the scenarios. In the end, Mankiewicz makes clear that the story looks like it will repeat itself when Phoebe appears inside the apartment of Eve Harrington, making the viewer relive the early moments of the film when the character Anne Baxter was still a "famous unknown".

Unique and timeless classic movie theaters with one of the most formidable and brilliant history, where the directing and writing go hand in hand to deliver the public an immortal work of Hollywood's golden era. Required, simply amazing.