This is a drama film that
takes aim at the Broadway theater culture and “personality” in a way that will
let you see deeply into the heart of live performance art. “All About
Eve” is a drama film sure, but just giving it a category falls short of the
real depth of how one art form can describe another in such a moving manner.
The industry critics loved it as much as the industry that produced it. “All
About Eve” (1950) is the only film in Oscar history that received four actress
nominations in the 14 total gained and ended up winning six. A great
story of a young star (played by Anne Baxter) eclipsing the career and life of
an older establish one (played by Bette Davis). This one will make you think
and consider how well the Hollywood film
industry did in dissecting its East Coast sister industry the live Broadway
industry. This January Movie Classic will be shown on the big screen of
the Edge in Bigfork by Jack Nachbar. It will be accompanied by Jack’s
presentation providing a better understanding of the time period of the
movie. Date: Thursday, January 11th . Time: 6:30PM.
Price: free of charge
The movie made almost $3
millions dollars in its U.S. release
and has as many twists and turns in its themes and sub-plots as imaginable. To
some it was a straight-forward story about ambition and show business comparing
one industry segment to another. To some it has a love triangle story between
the characters. We do know it was related to an
actual situation between and aging actress and young protégé fan she gave a
job to in her house which she later regretted. The movie was very popular
in the gay community possibly because Bette Davis was one of its early heroes.
All of these things make for great movies and audiences then and now have lot
of angles to think about and make up their own minds. Today’s viewers are even
treated to an early performance by Marilyn Monroe, so you can ponder how much
of the audience comprehended what this “new” star of the industry might become.
Whatever reasons prevailed in the audiences and industry in that earlier era, it
was a great success.
Bette Davis (1908-1989) was one
of Hollywood ’s
greatest actresses. Willing to play virtually any kind of character and
personality, she found work wherever and whenever she wanted. As with
many early Hollywood stars, she started out on Broadway before moving to Hollywood in 1930.
So this movie certainly fit her perfectly. With her willingness to play
any kind of character, her range of films spanned the spectrum of Hollywood movies. She was a hardcore
businesswomen and often at odds with studio management. You could say her off
stage personality matched her on-stage persona clashing with management, fellow
actors, and writers. In general a great actor and person.
Bette was the co-founder of the Hollywood Canteen. She was the first woman to be president of the Academy of Motion
Pictures Hollywood .
Concerning this movie Bette once admitted that her casting in this movie, “saved her career from oblivion after a series of unsuccessful movies….Joseph L. Mankiewics’s casting her in this movie resurrected me from the grave.”
Anne Baxter (May 7, 1923 – December 12, 1985) was an actress in films, stage and television. In her career she won an Oscar, Golden Globe and nominated for a prime time Emmy. Interestingly, her selection for “All About Eve” came about due to her resemblance to Claudette Colbert who was originally picked, but was replaced by Bette Davis. She said she played her character based on a “bitchy understudy” she had in a Broadway play when she was 13 and threatened to “finish her off”. Anne received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role in “All About Eve”.
In a odd example of life imitating art, Anne did replace Bette in a TV show when Betty became to sick to do it. This movie was the first time two actresses from one film were both nominated for the best Actress Oscar. They lobbied so hard to get the award that neither ended up getting it.
So come enjoy a great drama film on the big screen of the Edge Center from the golden years of Hollywood . Place: The Edge Center
