This weekend, E Street Cinema’s Capital Classics showcase will screen the classic film, All About Eve (1950). The screening of the film has been excellently timed, as the Oscars are being handed out this weekend. Joseph Mankiewicz’s feature still stands as the winner of more Academy Award nominations than any other film besides Titanic (1997). Capital Classics’ screenings take place on Fridays and Saturdays at Midnight, with a Sunday morning performance at 10:30 a.m.
It’s hard to imagine the cinematic landscape if this film were to have never been made. The younger actress usurping the thrown of the older, more established actress has been rehashed and copied so many times it’s impossible to name all the imitators. It’s a great feeling to sit and watch the derivation of an idea and find that the original still holds up. Not a lot of 1950s films do.
Whether it’s the story itself or Bette Davis’ smirky, steely-eyed line delivery, nothing here ages the film. At least not to a point where modern audiences would cringe and feel disconnected. Davis stars as Margo Channing, a celebrated but aging actress who takes a young ingénue named Eve (Anne Baxter) under her wing as an assistant. Eve is sweet and seems sincere. Slowly but surely, Eve lurks around in the background, positioning Margo’s friends and co-workers like chess pieces, until she finally makes her way onto the stage.
Eve becomes a success in her own right. But her actions, in any other movie, would make her the story’s villain. Eve’s success is won not only through determination and manipulation of others, but by her talents. It would be interesting to know more of the story that made Margo’s star rise. The film ends with a continuing of the cycle, as Eve takes on another young thing that is eyeing her career.
I suppose everyone and everything gets old and is replaced when the time comes. The very thought of such messy business makes people feel chewed up and spat out. It abbreviates their entire life’s work into a short epilogue. It is inevitable. This is what makes the film’s treatment of Eve’s character so truthful. She is not a villain, but an inevitability. Her path, like all out paths, is inexorable. And her future, like that of Margo’s, is certain. The film’s theme could be about anyone being replaced in the work force, but the adage of fame amplifies Margo’s finality.
This film has been permanently linked in my mind to Pedro Almodóvar’s Film All About My Mother (1999), which borrows, parodies and honors so many aspects of Eve. It was a film that was dedicated to women (and actresses). Eve is much the same, but with a wider scope. Eve is also slightly darker, employing themes that can be nothing but bleak if they are to truly make an impact and be believed. And here, we do believe them, as they are timeless and universal.
All About Eve will play E Street Cinema’s Capital Classics revue on February 24th and 25th at Midnight, with an additional screening at 10:30 a.m. on the 26th. To see more films in the theater’s upcoming Capital Classics screenings (many have recently been added), visit their site here. The film is available on DVD and Blu-Ray. A Blu-Ray book of the film is also available. Taking place on the same first two times as Capital Classics is the theater’s Midnight Madness showcase, which will be showing The Room (2003).
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