History Film / AllAboutEve

Featuring what is perhaps Creator/BetteDavis's most memorable performance, '''''All About Eve''''' is a 1950 TwentiethCenturyFox film, written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, recounting the tale of Margo Channing, a seasoned veteran of the stage and the darling of Broadway, taking under her wing Eve Harrington, a young acolyte with nowhere else to go, whose motives are not what they seem. Other important characters include Addison [=DeWitt=], a jaded, cynical, and frighteningly influential drama critic; Bill Samson, Margo's director boyfriend; Lloyd Richards, Margo's playwright; and Karen, Lloyd's wife and Margo's [[TheConfidant closest friend and confidant]]. The costumes were by famed Hollywood designer Edith Head and the film score was by Music/AlfredNewman. MarilynMonroe also appears in a small role.

Featuring what is perhaps BetteDavis's most memorable performance, '''''All About Eve''''' is a 1950 TwentiethCenturyFox film, written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, recounting the tale of Margo Channing, a seasoned veteran of the stage and the darling of Broadway, taking under her wing Eve Harrington, a young acolyte with nowhere else to go, whose motives are not what they seem. Other important characters include Addison [=DeWitt=], a jaded, cynical, and frighteningly influential drama critic; Bill Samson, Margo's director boyfriend; Lloyd Richards, Margo's playwright; and Karen, Lloyd's wife and Margo's [[TheConfidant closest friend and confidant]]. The costumes were by famed Hollywood designer Edith Head and the film score was by Music/AlfredNewman. MarilynMonroe also appears in a small role.

Featuring what is perhaps BetteDavis's most memorable performance, '''''All About Eve''''' is a 1950 TwentiethCenturyFox film, written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, recounting the tale of Margo Channing, a seasoned veteran of the stage and the darling of Broadway, taking under her wing Eve Harrington, a young acolyte with nowhere else to go, whose motives are not what they seem. Other important characters include Addison [=DeWitt=], a jaded, cynical, and frighteningly influential drama critic; Bill Samson, Margo's director boyfriend; Lloyd Richards, Margo's playwright; and Karen, Lloyd's wife and Margo's [[TheConfidant closest friend and confidant]]. The costumes were by famed Hollywood designer Edith Head and the film score was by Music/AlfredNewman.

* GreenEyedMonster: Margo. Bill calls her a "hysterical screaming harpy".

* {{Blackmail}}

* GeniusDitz: Loyd Richards and Bill Sampson.
* GenreSavvy: Birdie. Played for laughs at first ("What a story! Everything but the bloodhounds snapping at her rear end!"), but she's the first one to suspect that [[spoiler:Eve's devotion to Margo]] might not be all it seems to be.

* SpitTake

* HereWeGoAgain: At the end, it's rather heavily intimated that Phoebe may be planning to [[spoiler:do the same thing to Eve that Eve has done to Margo]].

* UnusualEuphemism: Margo introduces Miss Casswell to Eve as [[BlatantLies "and old friend of Mr [=DeWitt=]'s mother", in mockery of Eve's youth and perceived naïveté.

* MeaningfulName; More than a few. Eve is named after the first woman while her surname, Harrington could be taken as a reference to "Red Herring", Margo is to Bill Sampson what Delilah was to Samson in that she robs him off his power, Addison [=DeWitt=]'s name is both a reference to the adder that offered Eve the apple in the garden and of course his wit: Addison The Wit.

--> '''Addison''': Take a good look at me [[spoiler:Eve]], it's about time you did. I am Addison [=DeWitt=] and I am nobody's fool, least of all yours.

--->'''Lloyd''': [Eve] apologized, didn't she?

[[spoiler:-->'''Phoebe:''' I call myself Phoebe.
-->'''Addison:''' And why not? Tell me, Phoebe, do you want someday to have an award like that of your own?
-->'''Phoebe:''' More than anything else in the world.
-->'''Addison:''' Then you must ask Miss Harrington how to get one. Miss Harrington knows all about it.]]

* AffablyEvil: Eve and Addison.

* AmbiguouslyGay: At least to modern viewers, Addison comes off as more than a little [[CampGay camp]], which is odd considering he blackmails Eve into having sex with with him.
** There are a few (very subtle) instances in the film where you can also argue that Eve shows some PsychoLesbian tendencies as well.
* AmbitionIsEvil: Eve knows exactly what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it.
** Lampshaded by Addison. "''You're an improbable person Eve and so am I, [[NotSoDifferent we have that in common]]. Also [[MisanthropeSupreme a contempt for humanity]], an inability to love or be loved, insatiable ambition and talent. We deserve each other.''"

--> '''Addison''': Take a good look at me Eve, it's about time you did. I am Addison [=DeWitt=] and I am nobody's fool, least of all yours.

* BerserkButton: Trying to take Bill away from her has this effect on Margo. [[HairtriggerTemper Among others]].

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Eve, oh so much.

* TheChessmaster: Eve, although she is OutGambitted by Addison.

* EveryoneHasStandards: Addison admonishes Eve for insulting the memory of dead heroes and the women who loved them.
* ExtremeDoormat: Eve towards Margo, initially.

* GenreSavvy: Addison. He's seen it all, that when a young actress who's interested in Eve meets him, he knows that "Phoebe" isn't her real name and the cycle is about to begin again.
-->'''Phoebe:''' I call myself Phoebe.

-->'''Addison:''' Then you must ask Miss Harrington how to get one. Miss Harrington knows all about it.

* GenreSavvy: Birdie. Played for laughs at first ("What a story! Everything but the bloodhounds snapping at her rear end!"), but she's the first one to pick up on how Eve's devotion to Margo might not be all it seems to be.

* GreenEyedMonster: Margot. Bill calls her a "hysterical screaming harpy".
** [[spoiler:Eve is also envious of Margot's success.]]

* HereWeGoAgain: At the end, it's rather heavily intimated that Phoebe may be planning to do the same thing to Eve that Eve has done to Margo.

* InformedAbility: We see a sliver of the incredible performance Eve gives that's supposed to kick-start her acting career... but considering her character is performing ''fabulously'' throughout the film, we can assume she's great.

* ItsAllAboutMe: Addison and Eve. Ironically, Margo is almost as self-centered as the woman who idolizes her.

** The ending shows that Eve may have gained a LoonyFan of her own.

** And Eve attempts one between her, Karen and Lloyd.

* NaiveNewcomer: How Eve portrays herself.

* NoGuyWantsToBeChased: Bill implies this to Eve when she tries to seduce him. The other reason, of course, is that he's already taken.

* TheOnlyWayTheyWillLearn: [[DoubleSubversion Doubly subverted]]. Karen deliberates on her plan to help Margo to get over herself. She finishes with "there's not even a reason why I shouldn't tell her," then, as she picks up the phone, adds, "in time." Subverted again, when it turns out ''Karen'' is the one without a clue.

* PimpedOutCape: Eve has one when she gets her award, that Phoebe tries on when she shows she has the same ambitions.

* ProperlyParanoid: [[spoiler:Margot]]
* PsychoLesbian: Whatever her feelings for Margo (or Phoebe), it's about as clear as the Hays code would allow that Eve leans toward women, one scene even closing with her and a female cohort ''retiring arm in arm to their boudoir''.

* SmugSnake: Eve
* TheSociopath: You could make a definite case for Addison and Eve.

* SpockSpeak: Bill describing the time to Margo in the car.

** In one scene, Eve is able to make him lose his temper, something no one else ever comes close to doing.

--> Eve...but more of Eve, later. All about Eve, in fact.
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Any of Eve's schemes couldn't have gotten started without Karen.

* VillainousBreakdown / VillainousBSOD: Eve, whilst Addison coldly and efficiently obliterates her entire facade in private. She still goes on to win the award we see her win at the start of the film and is clearly going to be successful, but she's a shadow of her former self.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse? - Birdie completely disappears without explanation halfway through the film
* WideEyedIdealist: Karen, which allows Eve to manipulate her with ease.

* SmugSnake: Eve

* DoubleEntendre:
-->'''Lloyd''': [Eve] apologized, didn't she?
-->'''Karen''': On her knees, I've no doubt!

* GreenEyedMonster: Eve isn't at all an example of this! She loves Margo! Really!

* FollowTheLeader: You can blame this film for an entire subgenre of films that includes ''GirlInGoldBoots'' and ''{{Showgirls}}''.

Featuring what is perhaps BetteDavis's most memorable performance, '''''All About Eve''''' is a 1950 TwentiethCenturyFox film, written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, recounting the tale of Margo Channing, a seasoned veteran of the stage and the darling of Broadway, taking under her wing Eve Harrington, a young acolyte with nowhere else to go, whose motives are not what they seem. Other important characters include Addison [=DeWitt=], a jaded, cynical, and frighteningly influential drama critic; Bill Samson, Margo's director boyfriend; Lloyd Richards, Margo's playwright; and Karen, Lloyd's wife and Margo's [[TheConfidant closest friend and confidant]]. The costumes were by famed Hollywood designer Edith Head and the film score was by AlfredNewman.