ALL ABOUT EVE

I absolutely loved this film.

Within the first 15 mins, one of my favourite film quotes to date had been coined, when they are describing the intoxicating spirit of its lead starlet, Eve Harrington: "the times moves with her".
And then there's: "I'm Addison DeWitt. I'm nobody's fool, least of all yours. "


Eve Harrington, (Anne Baxter) plays a crafty, young thing who weaves and manoeuvres herself into a very impressive circle of Broadway actors and directors. Including her mentor, stage star Margo Channing, played by the brilliant Bette Davis.

Yes, yes, we've all heard of Bette Davis, a divine film inspiration, marvelled universally for her acting prowess, revered by actors world-wide for her unparalleled performance. But have you ever really watched her in an entire film? Admired for her reserve of complex facial expressions and emotions. Well, I hadn't, until All About Eve.

She's dead funny, cool, high strung and manic.
Oddly attractive which just makes her more interesting really.
But i guess that's besides the point.

From a modern day perspective, All About Eve, not dissimilar to Sunset Boulevard, deals directly with the consequences of fame and fortune. The starvation for success, the inexplicable obsession and willingness we have to say anything, be anything, do just about anything and in some cases, everything, to acquire some level of universal recognition.
Keep in mind, in 1950, you were expected to be somewhat capable in some field of entertainment to access that recognition, as opposed to now, where you merely have to lift a manicured finger....well....in some cases, that's all you really have to do to manage a crowd.

So, here we have a very familiar circumstance, a cute blonde playing her cards perfectly, moving into Margo Channing's well oiled world, maids, midday martinis and friends on call 24/7 to remind her of how successful she is. Increasingly, Ms. Harrington becomes a big threat to Margo, questioning her own self belief. She deals with some very contemporary issues, our obsession with youth, fame, worth, success. Margo drowns her concerns to the tune of a sorrowful melody, dragging her very loyal, adoring partner and friends down with her.

They try to their best ability to pick her up, drawing her attention instead to the achievements she's acquired thus far.
It's not an abstract sentiment really, Margo once was and desperately still wants to be. Although how can she when the star-lit arrival of her younger protege, Eve, plays as a perpetual reminder of this. She is surrounded by starlets, all of which are younger and more beautiful. Of course it doesn't help that Marilyn Monroe makes a cameo as a ditzy, young wannabe, she is gorgeous and desperate, it is insinuated not very talented either. But none of that matters in Margo's increasingly hazy universe, all she recognises is what she does not have control over anymore, her youth, aesthetic and demeanour.


Fast forward to the end scene, we have the original fated star, Eve Harrington , tired, seemingly regretful and alone in her hotel room, or so she thinks, until she discovers, Phoebe, a complete stranger poking around uninvited. Phoebe, another young starlet, fresh of the conveyor belt, wide eyed and hopeful. Another broad with the same air of desperation and eagerness Eve herself had not so long ago.

And so it begins all over again.