All About Eve

Genre: psychological drama (in black and white)

With: Bette Davis (Margo Channing), Anne Baxter (Eve Harrington), George Sanders (Addison DeWitt), Celeste Holm (Karen Richards), Gary Merrill (Bill Simpson), Hugh Marlowe (Lloyd Richards), Gregory Ratoff (Max Fabian), Barbara Bates (Phoebe), Marilyn Monroe (Miss Casswell), Thelma Ritter (Birdie Coonan)

Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Screenplay: Joseph L. Mankiewicz (based on a story by Mary Orr)

Release: 1950

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Rating: PG

MBiS score: 8.7/10

 

‟Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!” 

 

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Story-line: on this glamorous evening, the Sarah Siddons Society, arbiter of the theatrical world, has chosen to bestow its Award for Distinguished Achievement to-o-o-o… Eve Harrington! The announcement draws admiration and applause from almost all in attendance, but not from those closest to Eve on a personal or professional basis. If you don’t understand their hostility, just ask Addison DeWitt, the well-known critic. He will tell you all about Eve…     

Pluses: fabulous acting by a star-studded cast (it would be unfair to single out one actor or another, so indispensable is everyone’s contribution), an astute and airtight screenplay steeped in character psychology and rich in humorous and gloriously sarcastic dialogues, masterful direction by a top helmer, appropriate production values, fine musical accompaniment and a tremendous denouement.  

Minuses: none. It’s an easy task for me to review pictures as great as this one.

Comments: considering its world-class acting, brilliant story told with panache, ambiguous characters who need to be needed and unanimous acclaim in filmdom (Best Movie Oscar; Jury Prize and Best Actress [Bette Davis] in Cannes), ALL ABOUT EVE is indeed a classic and a must-see for movie buffs. How wicked is it? Try to imagine the theatre as a fancier form of roller derby.    

 

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Big Knife (The)

Genre: psychological drama (in black and white)

With: Jack Palance (Charles Castle), Ida Lupino (his wife Marion), Rod Steiger (Stanley Shriner Hoff), Wendell Corey (Smiley Coy), Jean Hagen (Connie Bliss), Ilka Chase (Patty Benedict), Everett Sloane (Nat Danziger), Wesley Addy (Horatio ‟Hank” Teagle), Nick Cravat (Nick), Shelley Winters (Dixie Evans)

Director: Robert Aldrich

Screenplay: James Poe (based on a play by Clifford Odets)

Release: 1955

Studio: The Associates & Aldrich Company

Rating: -

MBiS score: 8.1/10

 

 

Treachery in Tinseltown

 

 

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Story-line: the movie business has been bountiful for actor Charlie Castle but, at this juncture, he finds himself in an intractable position. Should he defend his ideals for the love of his wife or hang on to fame whatever the cost may be?   

Pluses: strong performances by an anguished Jack Palance (why do I connect him with Clint Eastwood?), Ida Lupino (for her outstanding presence and radiance), Rod Steiger (the epitome of ruthlessness) and a fine cast, a bitter screenplay by Clifford Odets that oozes with scandal, Sirk-style melodrama and scathing dialogues, diligent direction that ramps up the pressure systematically, quality cinematography and production values, a superb musical score by Frank De Vol that goes hand in glove with the story’s main issues.

Minuses: pay close attention to the first 15 minutes because they set the table for what’s to come. Towards the end, the screenplay may feel heavy-handed and overly insistent (that’s my opinion) as it strives to cover every angle of the story.  

Comments: THE BIG KNIFE is a revolting and terrifying mixture of corruption, misery and desperate love that casts such a critical eye on Hollywood and the movie business that you may feel dirty just watching it. Sleaze aside, it deserves to be seen not only as a gut-wrenching drama but also as a showcase for actors that today’s movie buffs should get to know and appreciate.   

MBiS 

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