1950 Best Picture:
All About Eve

Competition:  Born Yesterday, Father of the Bride, King Solomon's Mines, Sunset Blvd. 

Other Winners:
Best Actor: Jose Ferrer, Cyrano de Bergerac
Best Actress: Judy Holliday, Born Yesterday
Best Supporting Actor: George Sanders, All About Eve
Best Supporting Actress: Josephine Hull, Harvey
Best Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz, All About Eve

Joseph L. Mankewicz, Darryl F. Zannuk and George Sanders collect their Oscars.

Cast: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Celeste Holme, Gary Merrill, Hugh Marlowe, Gregory Ratoff, Barbara Bates, Marylin Monroe 

Storyline: The classic bitchy tale of an older, fading actress who takes in a younger, aspiring one, and is used as a stepping stone to get to the top.

Did it deserve to win: You're damn right it did!  This is one of the best films ever -- and it isn't like it didn't have any competition!  

The Gloria Swanson-comeback, Sunset Boulevard was brilliantly eerie.  Born Yesterday was a hit at the time that garnered its star, Judy Holliday, an Oscar.  

Critique: All About Eve is a perfect example of tight writing, a solid story, and excellent acting.  It's bitchy!  It's bold!  It's brilliant.  

Bette Davis has been good in several movies, but never is she this great.  I can't recall a part that she has played where she has gotten so personal.  Her tough-as-nails persona is shattered when she reveals her fears about aging.  

Meanwhile, George Sanders plays the part he was born to play, as the snippy theatre critic, who seems to be controlling the drama around him.

Best Scene:  "Fasten your seatbelts!  It's going to be a bumpy night!"  Margo throws a party at a time when she has just about had enough of Eve's sneaky little ways.  Margo doesn't intend to go down without a good fight.

Behind the Scenes:  All About Eve garnered 14 nominations, the record to this day.  Four of its actresses were nominated, but lost, leading to the assumption that their votes were split. 

All About Eve was based on a short story written by Mary Orr, for Cosmopolitan magazine.  The fledgling writer based it on gossip that she became aware of over real life stage actress, Elisabeth Bergner, who, herself, was trumped by a would-be actress.  Joe Mankiewicz, who had just won two Oscars for directing and writing A Letter to Three Wives, picked up on the story and developed it for his movie.

The role of Margo Channing was originally offered to Claudette Colbert, but she hurt her back while filming Three Came Home, and had to bow out at the last minute.  As the story goes, other actresses, including Marlene Dietrich and Norma Shearer, were considered, however, in the end, Mankiewicz, and Paramount chief, Darryl Zanuck, settled on Bette Davis.  

Choosing Davis was a risky move, as her career was already faltering.  Many considered her best work to be behind her, and her difficult behavior on movie sets had already become legendary.   Many of her former colleagues had even sent warnings out not to hire her.

When the film was completed, the crew opted against the customary chore of previewing the film to audiences, and went straight to the critics.  It seemed that they knew what a masterpiece they had, and didn't feel that any changes would be necessary.  Their hunch was correct, and critics everywhere raved about All About Eve, with some calling it the best film ever. 

With Bette Davis still chasing her third Oscar, many felt that this was going to be her year.  The part of Margo Channing seemed like the best work she had ever done.  Meanwhile, Anne Baxter was campaigning in the same race, and despite suggestions to run for the Best Supporting Actress nomination, she was insistent that she be promoted for Best Actress.  

As they no doubt cancelled each other out, Davis and Baxter lost the Best Actress award, in what was a tight race.  They were competing against long shot, Eleanor Parker for Caged, silent movie Queen, Gloria Swanson, for Sunset Blvd.(a big comeback role for her), and the ultimate winner, Judy Holliday for Born Yesterday.  

It's rumored that when Judy Holiday's name was called, Davis, who was in Yorkshire, filming got up from the table she was seated at and said, "Good.  A newcomer got it.  I couldn't be more pleased."  Apparently she then left the party she was attending and advised the hotel front desk that she was not be disturbed under any circumstances. 

All About Eve is available on DVD and VHS!

    

Addison de Witt gets involved with the career of the rising star.

Sam Staggs has written a wonderful behind-the-scenes account of the making of All About Eve.  In keeping with the theme of the movie, All About 'All About Eve' is full of bitchy gossip and detailed information about the players who worked before and behind the camera.  The narrative is told in a style that is befitting the movie.  This is a must read for fans of the movie!