SummaryAn ingenue insinuates herself into the company of an established but aging stage actress and her circle of theater friends.
Directed By:Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Written By:Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Mary Orr
All About Eve
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
98
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.5
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Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
98
100% Positive
15 Reviews
15 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
Ersatz art of a very high grade, and one of the most enjoyable movies ever made.
100
All About Eve is one of the greatest movies about theatre—an idea that, in itself, opens an ironic abyss into which Mankiewicz spelunks with an impish, riotous aplomb.
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.5
92% Positive
132 Ratings
132 Ratings
6% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
3% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
Mar 18, 2022
10
All About Eve is my idea of a perfect film,(and I am 17) beautiful and brooding at the same time. People consider this as one of the finest films ever made, and I cannot disagree. This and Shawshank Redemption are actually films that deserve to be in the top 250. The black and white cinematography is gorgeous, and the script is sharp and focused with great lines such as "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night". The direction is excellent, and this is further advantaged by a terrific cast, a very good subject matter and sumptuous costumes. I couldn't help being captivated by Bette Davis's performance as Margo Channing, her presence in the film is actually the film's main merit. Davis was an incredible actress, and while not exactly pretty compared to Maaureen O'Hara and Rita Hayworth and not very easy to work with at times, she always brought a sense of command to all her roles, especially in this film. I still think that All About Eve is her best film, I honestly do, and she is well supported by a terrific supporting cast with the likes of the idealistic Anne Baxter and the suave George Sanders. All in all, a beautiful film, that is a must-see, if you haven't seen it already. It is quite long, but it is well worth watching for Davis's performance. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Aug 23, 2019
10
The best, GREATEST movie ever made! With the best movie character ever portrayed: Anne Baxter as Eve Harrington! Plus the best movie quote ever spoken: "Fasten your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy night." And the best movie score ever composed!
100
Set in the Broadway jungle rather than among the ‘sun-burnt eager beavers’ of Hollywood, Joseph L Mankiewicz’s film dissects the narcissism and hypocrisy of the spotlight as sharply as Wilder’s, but pays equal attention to the challenges of enacting womanhood.
100
If you're not interested in all the backstage tittle-tattle, just settle back and enjoy a film whose script is studded with barbed and quotable bons mots, the finest ever part by suave cad George Sanders and a memorable cameo by Marilyn Monroe as an aspiring starlet (practically everyone was playing variations of themselves).
100
The stinging bon mots occasionally sound handcrafted rather than raspingly spontaneous, but aspiring actress Anne Baxter’s rise to the top over the corpse of her supposed idol, Bette Davis, remains rousing and endlessly amusing.
90
What makes the picture seem so good (what makes it eminently worth seeing) is the satirical touches in its detail and the performance of Bette Davis.
80
The dialogue is sharp and justly famous, though writer-director Joseph L. Mankiewicz has trouble putting it into the mouths of his actors: nothing sounds remotely natural, and the film is pervaded by the out-of-sync sense of staircase wit—this is a movie about what people wished they'd said. The hoped-for tone of Restoration comedy never quite materializes, perhaps because Mankiewicz's cynicism is only skin-deep, but the film's tinny brilliance still pleases.
Jun 18, 2019
10
A rare classic in the history of cinema. A must watch film for all movie lovers.
Aug 23, 2019
9
Intelligent, almost intellectual with all the literary references yet very emotional, erudite and totally accessible at the same time, bursting with life while filmed almost exclusively in stuffy enclosed locations, this film is a testament to the humanistic genius of mainstream American cinema (Better years of our lives, Night of the hunter) when cinema was still tethered to theatre. Maybe the cinematography isn't avant-garde but it doesn't count: This is acting at its finest. It's filmed theatre, and that is fantastic in itself.
This movie should be watched in classrooms along the ones mentioned above.
Jun 17, 2024
6
Long heralded as a classic, upon closer viewing, All About Eve reveals significant shortcomings that make it challenging to watch for modern audiences. At over two hours, the film feels overlong and struggles to maintain a gripping pace. The plot twists, which might have been more surprising at its release, are now glaringly predictable, stripping the story of much-needed suspense and intrigue. A critical flaw in “All About Eve” is the lack of genuine jeopardy or consequence for its characters. This absence creates a dull atmosphere where the stakes never feel exceptionally high, diminishing the impact of what should be dramatic moments. The characters, from Margo Channing to Eve Harrington, are difficult to sympathise with. Their motivations and actions often come across as self-serving or manipulative, making it hard for viewers to connect with them on any meaningful level. In summary, while All About Eve may have historical significance, taking a spot on the AFI 100 list, its drawn-out narrative, predictable plot twists, and unrelatable characters make it a rather tedious experience.
Aug 24, 2019
6
The classic backstage Broadway diva witch fest soap opera. Nastiness done to a hoot. Landmark performances by Bette Davis and Anne Baxter sell this wackiness. And Marilyn Monroe shows up for a few minutes of eye candy. Yay. A little more editing and tightening of the more draggy scenes, would've boosted my rating higher
May 3, 2018
6
that happens to be your practical abnormality.. All About Eve Despite of being termed "All About Eve", its barely about Eve and I mean it in as an undercooked character way that never reaches its destination until the last act and when it does it seems like makers jumped or skipped some beats. Joseph L. Mankiewicz; the screen writer and director has done some appreciative work but his sheer effort to create this character driven feature with a wafer thin script **** the feature into bits and pieces of some good material that fails to make a definite point or even bind it all. Bette Davis is the actual winner in here that is supported amazingly by George Sanders but unfortunately one of the lead actors Anne Baxter's performance is what itches all the way through. All About Eve is your slow pill that is definitely effective in its own way but when it does, the question starts to beg whether all of it was worth or not.
Production Company:
- 20th Century Fox
Release Date:Oct 27, 1950
Duration:2 h 18 m
Rating:TV-PG
Tagline:It's all about women---and their men!
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 6 Wins & 14 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Win & 6 Nominations
Photoplay Awards
• 3 Wins & 5 Nominations
