All about Eve
Welcome to Screen Gems, our weekend delves into adjacent queer and queer headlines from the past that deserve a watch or re-watch.
The Diva Duel Part II: All About Eve
Our historic diva fall continues with the other megawatt performance of 1950, one of the greatest performances of all time that begs the question: Who did it better?
All About Eve also lands on just about every list of the greatest movies ever made, without ever ranking as high as Sunset Blvd. The plot follows the story of a drama critic named Addison DeWitt (George Sanders, who won an Oscar for his role) as he observes the insecurities of aging stage star Margot Channing (Bette Davis). Margot has spent years at the top, but knows she hasn’t forever. One night, she meets a superfan named Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) outside the stage door. Hearing the bloody story of poor Eve, Margot hires her as secretary. Everything seems so perfect, but DeWitt recognizes something else: Eve’s ravenous ambition. Margot becomes suspicious of Eve and sparks fly, especially after Eve landed Margot’s position as understudy.
By the way, if the plot sounds familiar to you, it probably has something to do with the dozens of movies that have borrowed it over the years, perhaps most notoriously Showgirls.
But we move away. All About Eve presents a roster of outstanding performances, led by Bette Davis in one of her greatest on-screen roles. These folks are saying something: Davis isn’t afraid to lean into Margot’s diva’s spoiled antics or her insecurities. His is one of the most fleshed out and fascinating characters in the movies. Baxter, meanwhile, shows off his lineup, playing Eve as both an innocent girl and a woman hungry for success. As DeWitt, Sanders seems both amused and excited by it all, dropping sour lines and recounting every detail with relish.
Like Sunset Blvd., All About Eve enjoys exceptional writing and performance. And, like Sunset Blvd., it also acts as a sort of showbiz referendum, asking questions about the types of personalities and actions it takes to be successful in such a fierce world. Both films also feature a great actor playing a great diva. We’re not sure who would win in a wrestling match between Gloria Swanson’s Norma and Bette Davis’ Margot, but we’re pretty sure the top three rows would be covered in blood. We’re also not sure who performs the best, and our opinion on the matter seems to vary depending on our mood.
Bitchy, cynical, and featuring a great performance for the ages, we can never get enough of All About Eve. It’s the kind of classic movie that never gets old, with a story that always feels fresh.
Streamed on Hulu, Amazon, YouTube, and VUDU.
