Welcome to Screen Gems, our weekend dive into queer and queer-adjacent titles of the past that deserve a watch or a re-watch.
The Diva Duel Part II: All About Eve
Our historic diva throwdown 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, though never ranking quite 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 doesn’t have forever. One night she meets a superfan named Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) outside the stage door. Hearing poor Eve’s sob story, Margot hires her as a secretary. It all seems so perfect, but DeWitt recognizes something else: Eve’s ravenous ambition. Margot comes to distrust Eve and sparks fly, especially after Eve lands the job as Margot’s understudy.
Incidentally, if the plot sounds familiar, that probably has something to do with the scores of movies that have borrowed it over the years, perhaps most notoriously Showgirls.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
But we digress. All About Eve features a roster of outstanding performances, led by Bette Davis in one of her greatest screen roles. That folks, says something: Davis isn’t afraid to lean into Margot’s spoiled diva antics or her insecurities. Hers is one of the most fleshed-out and fascinating characters in the movies. Baxter, meanwhile, gets to show off her range, playing Eve as both a girlish innocent and a woman lusting for success. As DeWitt, Sanders seems both amused and turned on by it all, dropping acidic one-liners and recounting each detail with relish.
Like Sunset Blvd., All About Eve benefits from outstanding writing and performances. And, like Sunset Blvd., it also plays as something of a referendum on showbiz, begging questions about the types of personalities and actions it takes to succeed in such a cutthroat world. Both movies also feature a great actor playing a grand 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 first three rows would be covered in blood. We’re also not sure who gives the best performance, and our opinion on the matter seems to vary depending on our mood.
Bitchy, cynical, and featuring a grand 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 seems fresh.
Streams on Hulu, Amazon, YouTube and VUDU.
ptn2719
Bonus queer angle on this one: both Addison Dewitt and Eve Harrington are supposed to be gay (though I confess I never got that impression).
Ozzerino
It sounds like Anne Baxter may have cost herself (and more importantly Bette) the Oscar that year by refusing to be considered as supporting actress. She wouldn’t hear of it. Hence they were both nominated for Best Actress and probably cancelled each other out paving the way for the divine Miss Swanson. I love Sunset Boulevard but when all is said and done All About Eve is probably my favourite film of all time. Such magnificent butchery and quotable lines for days.
Funny how two great movies make for two rather meh musicals!
dhmonarch89
Swanson also lost- Judy Holliday in ‘Born Yesterday’ won, Swanson should have won and unfortunately, never won. If anything Davis and Swanson cancelled each other out allowing Holliday to win. Baxter’s part was actually more difficult than Davis’ (going from mouse to queen bitch while Bette was just a little more humble at the end) and she had as large a role in the film. Davis later said she probably would have demanded the same had she been the ingenue, though she always did blame Baxter… Baxter won for Supporting Actress and 2-3 years before this and she was looking to move up and be seen/accepted as a star/lead actress.
eeebee333
I’ve read that many times, but I think it’s a myth. The Academy decides which category to put an actor in, not the actors themselves.
dhmonarch89
back in the studio days, the studios pretty much ruled the Academy- if they said she’s lead, she was lead, but you could put yourself forward in supporting categories- a number of leading roles have been because the star in the role isn’t well known yet
dhmonarch89
All About Eve has the best script ever! Mankiewicz based the initial character of Margo on his good friend, Katharine Hepburn. He visited Kate back stage after a Broadway performance. Kate hated wearing make up and would take it off at the first chance, but she was covered with freckles, so she would disguise this by coating her face in cold cream… she would greet guests this way- in a robe, hair pulled back and face coated- just like Margo/Davis does in the scene where she meets Eve after the show. Mankiewicz offered the part to Hepburn but she turned it down thinking it was an invasion of her privacy and was ticked at Mankiewicz for years. (they did work together once after this- Suddenly Last Summer- Kate famously spat in his face when filming finished because he treated her and Monty Clift so poorly during filming- they never worked together again).
eeebee333
I concur. Best screenplay ever written. I’ve been quoting it for 50 years.
MacAdvisor
One might want to mention in the article the Tony-award winning musical Applause is based on the movie.
Cam
I like All About Steve.
Cam
The sad little right wing troll account can’t even remember to troll correctly because it’s so obsessed with me and stealing my screenname.
Now let’s talk about how bigoted and what criminals Ivanka, Melania, and the other Trump family members are.
cosmostephen
I know I’m going to get a lot of flack here but I think Davis’ portrayal of Margo is so on point as to be almost supernatural but I’ve always felt Anne Baxter’s Eve is completely amateur. I can always see her working. Hard. Trying out a throaty voice and becoming a harridan over night. It’s unbelievable to me that Margo would consider her a threat in any way. Margo (and Bette) could act the poor girl off the screen. The only problem for me with All About Eve is Baxter. Her performance has not aged well. Oh, for another brilliant young actress in that role! Maybe Kim Hunter?
Yooper
American cinema at its best. The amalgamation of story, script, actors, direction, cinematography, and production quality of this movie is just perfection. I’ve watched it multiple times over the years and find it as enjoyable a movie today as it was 70 years ago.
Derek Northcutt
Isn’t it great that there were two great pictures in 1950 (“Eve” & “Sunset”), 1951 (“Streetcar” & “Place in the Sun”) to compete for Best Picture and then there are years where something like “Dances With Wolves” wins (Pauline Kael: “Kevin Costner has feathers in his hair and feathers in his head….”)?
Preppy1000
With all due respect to Swanson and Holliday Davis deserved the Oscar.
Kangol2
It’s one of the masterpieces of the classic Hollywood era. Davis, Baxter, Holm, Sanders, Ritter, even Marilyn Monroe in her cameo, give stellar performances. And the script? Mankiewicz outdid himself! Sunset Boulevard is also a masterpiece, and Judy Holliday gives a show-stopping performance in Born Yesterday, but I’d have voted for Davis in All About Eve were I casting a vote that year.
Cato
I hope Queerty rounds out this Duel of the Divas with a piece on Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday. She also gave a stellar performance and in almost any other years there would be no debate about her win. All three movies have great female characters and performances by some of the best women to ever appear on the silver screen.
jcool
i agree completely. judy holliday was hysterical and brilliant. the oscars have rarely given comedic performances the respect they deserve.
Tombear
Davis should have won for Baby Jane but you know that bitch Joan Craford ruined it for Bette!