All About Eve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All About Eve |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Joseph L. Mankiewicz |
| Produced by | Darryl F. Zanuck |
| Screenplay by | Joseph L. Mankiewicz |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Alfred Newman |
| Cinematography | Milton R. Krasner |
| Editing by | Barbara McLean |
| Studio | 20th Century-Fox |
| Distributed by | 20th Century-Fox |
| Release date(s) | October 13, 1950 (New York City) |
| Running time | 138 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.4 million |
| Money made | $8.4 million |
All About Eve is a famous American drama film from 1950. It was written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. The movie is based on a short story called "The Wisdom of Eve" by Mary Orr, which was published in 1946.
The film stars Bette Davis as Margo Channing, a well-known but older Broadway actress. Anne Baxter plays Eve Harrington, a very ambitious young fan. Eve cleverly works her way into Margo's life, eventually trying to take over Margo's career and even her friendships. The movie also features George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Gary Merrill, Hugh Marlowe, Thelma Ritter, and Marilyn Monroe in one of her first movie roles.
All About Eve first showed in New York City on October 13, 1950. Critics loved it, and it received a record 14 nominations at the 23rd Academy Awards. It's the only film in Oscar history to have four female actors nominated for awards. The movie won six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Many people consider All About Eve to be one of the greatest films of all time. In 1990, it was chosen for preservation in the United States Library of Congress's National Film Registry. This means it was seen as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." The AFI also ranked it as the 16th best American film ever made in 1998.
Contents
Exploring the Story of All About Eve
The movie begins at an awards ceremony where a rising actress named Eve Harrington is being honored. A sharp theater critic, Addison DeWitt, tells us that there's much more to Eve's story than meets the eye.
The story then goes back in time, told by Karen Richards, the wife of a playwright. She remembers when she introduced Eve to Margo Channing, a big Broadway star. Eve tells everyone a sad story about her difficult childhood and losing her husband in World War II. Margo feels sorry for Eve and invites her to live in her home as her assistant. Eve quickly becomes a big part of Margo's life, acting as her secretary and a devoted fan.
Margo is also worried about her relationship with Bill Simpson, a film director who is younger than her. Eve secretly tries to cause problems between Margo and Bill. She even arranges a phone call that makes it seem like Margo forgot Bill's birthday. Margo realizes Eve's tricks and tries to get her a job elsewhere. However, Eve manages to become Margo's understudy (someone who learns the role and can perform if the main actor can't).
Margo becomes more and more annoyed with Eve. Karen, feeling sorry for Eve, helps her get a chance to perform. Karen secretly arranges for Margo to miss a show, so Eve can take her place. Eve also secretly invites important theater critics, including Addison, to watch her performance. Eve's performance is a huge success! Later that night, Eve tries to win Bill's affection in a dishonest way, but he rejects her.
Addison writes an article about Eve that criticizes Margo for not making way for younger talent. Eve pretends to be sorry to Lloyd, the playwright, and subtly convinces him to consider her for the main role in his next play instead of Margo.
Margo and Bill announce they are getting married. Eve, who is at the same restaurant with Addison, calls Karen to the ladies' room. Eve then threatens Karen: if Karen doesn't recommend her for the role, Eve will have Addison reveal Karen's part in Margo missing her performance. When Karen returns to the table, Margo surprisingly announces that she doesn't want to play the role. Margo admits she's too old for the young character and that her upcoming marriage means the theater doesn't have to be her whole life anymore.
Eve gets the role. Before the play opens, Eve tells Addison that she tricked Lloyd into believing she loved him and planned to marry him so he would write plays just for her.
Addison is angry at Eve's boldness. He reveals that he knows Eve's sad story is a lie. Her real name is Gertrude Slescynski, she was never married, and she had caused trouble for her married boss, leading her to leave town. Addison blackmails Eve, telling her she cannot marry Lloyd and that she now "belongs" to him.
The story returns to the awards ceremony. Months later, Eve is a Broadway star and is heading to Hollywood. As she accepts her award, she thanks Margo, Bill, Lloyd, and Karen, who show no emotion. Eve skips the after-party and goes home. There, she finds Phoebe, a teenage fan who claims to have snuck into her apartment. Eve is annoyed but softens when Phoebe expresses her admiration. Eve considers letting Phoebe stay. The doorbell rings, and Phoebe answers it, recognizing Addison. He has brought Eve's award, which she left in a taxi. Addison quickly realizes that Phoebe, like Eve, is also ambitious and has her sights set on stardom. Phoebe lies to Eve about how the award was returned. When alone, Phoebe puts on Eve's fancy cloak, holds the award, and bows in front of a mirror, dreaming of her own future fame.
Meet the Cast of All About Eve
- Bette Davis as Margo Channing
- Anne Baxter as Gertrude Slojinski / Eve Harrington
- George Sanders as Addison DeWitt
- Celeste Holm as Karen Richards
- Gary Merrill as Bill Simpson
- Hugh Marlowe as Lloyd Richards
- Thelma Ritter as Birdie Coonan
- Gregory Ratoff as Max Fabian
- Marilyn Monroe as Claudia Casswell
- Barbara Bates as Phoebe
- Walter Hampden as Aged Actor (Sarah Siddons Award presenter)
- Randy Stuart as Girl
- Craig Hill as Leading Man
- Leland Harris as Doorman
- Barbara White as Autograph Seeker
- Eddie Fisher as Stage Manager
- William Pullen as Clerk
- Claude Stroud as Pianist (at party)
- Eugene Borden as Frenchman
- Helen Mowery as Reporter
- Steven Geray as Captain of Waiters
Making the Movie: All About Eve Production
How the Story Began
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The idea for All About Eve came from a short story called "The Wisdom of Eve" by Mary Orr. It was published in Cosmopolitan magazine in 1946. The story was inspired by a real event told by actress Elisabeth Bergner. Bergner shared how a young woman became her secretary and then her understudy, trying to take over her life.
In 1949, Mary Orr's story was made into a radio show. Soon after, the film studio Twentieth Century-Fox bought the rights to make it into a movie. Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who would later direct the film, was very interested in the story. He thought it would be a great movie with a strong main role.
Mankiewicz wrote the first version of the movie script, originally titled Best Performance. He changed some character names and added new characters like Addison DeWitt and Phoebe. The studio president, Darryl F. Zanuck, gave many suggestions to improve the script. Mankiewicz worked hard to make the story exciting and dramatic.
All About Eve was one of the first films to have its screenplay published as a book in 1951.
Choosing the Actors
Many actresses were considered for the role of Margo Channing. Initially, Claudette Colbert was chosen, but she had to drop out due to an injury. Other famous actresses were thought of, but director Mankiewicz and producer Zanuck eventually decided on Bette Davis. Davis, who had just left her previous studio, was thrilled with the script and quickly agreed to the part.
For the role of Eve Harrington, Jeanne Crain was first considered. However, Mankiewicz felt she wasn't quite right for the ambitious character. He suggested Anne Baxter, who was also working for Fox, and Zanuck approved.
Marilyn Monroe auditioned for the small but memorable role of Miss Casswell. Mankiewicz liked her unique charm, and she was cast. She appears in only two scenes in the film.
The character of Birdie Coonan was written specifically for actress Thelma Ritter. George Sanders was cast as the sharp critic Addison DeWitt.
Awards and Recognition for All About Eve
All About Eve received many honors and awards, showing how special it is.
- Academy Awards (Oscars): The film won six Academy Awards, including the highly prestigious Best Picture. Joseph L. Mankiewicz won for Best Director and Best Screenplay. George Sanders won Best Supporting Actor. The film was also recognized for its amazing costumes and sound.
- National Film Registry: In 1990, the film was chosen for the United States Library of Congress's National Film Registry. This means it's considered an important part of American culture and history.
- American Film Institute (AFI) Lists: The American Film Institute has included All About Eve on several of its "100 Years" lists:
- It was ranked #16 on AFI's 100 best American films in 1998.
- Eve Harrington was named #23 on AFI's list of top movie villains.
- A famous line from the movie, "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night," was ranked #9 on AFI's 100 best movie quotes.
- Other Awards: The film also won the Best Film from any Source at the British Academy Film Awards and the Best Film from the New York Film Critics Circle. At the 1951 Cannes Film Festival, it won a Special Jury Prize, and Bette Davis won Best Actress.
The Sarah Siddons Award
The movie features a fictional award called the Sarah Siddons Award, described as the highest honor in theater. This award trophy was inspired by a famous painting of actress Sarah Siddons. Interestingly, in 1952, a group of theater lovers in Chicago created a real Sarah Siddons Award that looks just like the one in the film! It's given out every year, and even Bette Davis and Celeste Holm, who starred in the movie, have received it.
Other Versions of All About Eve
The story of All About Eve has been adapted into other forms over the years.
- Radio Shows: The film's stars, Bette Davis, Gary Merrill, and Anne Baxter, reprised their roles for a radio broadcast on Lux Radio Theatre in 1951. Another radio version was presented in 1952, starring Tallulah Bankhead as Margo Channing. Bankhead had her own experiences with an ambitious understudy, which some believe might have inspired parts of the original story.
- Stage Musical: In 1970, All About Eve became a successful stage musical called Applause. It starred Lauren Bacall as Margo Channing and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. Later, Anne Baxter, who played Eve in the movie, even took on the role of Margo in the musical!
- Stage Play: A new stage adaptation of All About Eve premiered in London in 2019, starring Gillian Anderson as Margo Channing.
See also
In Spanish: All About Eve para niños
- List of cult films
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