‘All About Eve’: The darker side of life in Broadway

Bette Davis brings out the shady side of theatre in the 1950 oscar-winning film.

ISLAMABAD:

The darker side of life in Broadway and New York theatre, which many view as the glamorous epitome of arts, is exposed in

this 1950 Hollywood film that was screened at the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) Media Centre
on Friday.

All About Eve is an American drama film written and directed by Joseph L Mankiewicz. It is based on the short story and radio play “The Wisdom of Eve” by Marry Orr. Backstage intrigues, ambitions, greed and deceit wrapped in devastatingly controvertible characters are the film’s main subjects. Egocentric actors have no scruples and feelings when they want a place under the sun.

The female characters have been beautifully sketched out. Bette Davis plays Margo Channing, an aging Broadway star, who serves as a role model for Eve Harrington, played by Anne Baxter.

Harrington manages to come close to Margo and ultimately disturbs her professional and personal life, while trying to push her aside and attempting to replace her on the stage. Her insinuations prove successful.

The plot is centred around the pushes and pulls of Margo Channing and Eve Harrington who spin playwright Loyd Richards (Hugh Marlow), Margo’s lover Bill Sampson (Garry Merril) and Margo’s maid Birdie (Thelma Ritter) for their own vested interests.

Critics endorsed the choice of Bette Davis as Margo, though before her Claudia Colbert, Gertrude Lawrence, Marlene Dietrich and Ingrid Bergman were also approached for the role. Bette’s role as Margo has generally been considered her greatest career performance and most memorable role. Her composure in the role of one of the greatest stars of theatre is unmatched.

As an actor, her performance was duly acknowledged in motion picture history. Bette was placed second after Katherine Hepburn on the American Film Institute list of the greatest film stars of all time.

The sneaky character of Eve Harrington was fully justified by Anne Baxter. She hides her deviousness underneath her sociability and unexposed malicious character and chicanery, which later comes into full force and allows her to climb to the top rung of the ladder. In the women’s quarters, there are overtones of lesbianism in some scenes. Though very skilfully presented by the director, they could not escape the keen eyes of cinemagoers and critics.

Only two films in motion picture history were nominated for 14 Oscars each. All About Eve stood alone in that category till 1997, when Titanic was nominated for the same number of awards. The film won six Academy Awards for best picture, best supporting actor, best costume design, best director, best screenplay and best sound recording. Moreover, the film was selected in 1990 for preservation in the United States National Film Registry and appeared at number 16 on the American Film Institute 1990 list of the 100 Best American Films.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2011.