All About Eve (1950)
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Writing Credits: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Starring: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Gary Merril, Hugh Marlowe, Thelma Ritter, Marilyn Monroe.

    All About Eve, one of the standout movies of the 1950Õs, is a slick and insightful look at the times, in both showbusiness and the real world. The movie starts off with young Eve Harrington, and her worshipful idolatry of theater legend Margo Channing. All who meet Eve are charmed by her and her sad life story, except MargoÕs aide, who suspects something is off about Eve. Margo slowly begins to be wary of Eve too, as Eve insinuates herself into every aspect of MargoÕs life, from her clothes to career. Eve becomes MargoÕs understudy in a major drama, and eventually proves herself to be a stunning actress. She manipulates and deceives nearly everyone around her. She suceeds in gaining the starring role in the newest play (originally intened for Margo), and nearly runs off with the top playwright, MargoÕs friends husband. She is finally sytmied by a theater critic who has discovered what is beneath EveÕs facade? Gertrude, whose parents havenÕt seen her in years. He tells her he will expose the truth unless she does as he wishes. She appears to reluctantly agree, resigning herself to fate. That same night, Eve does, however, win an award for her role in the play ÒFootsteps on the CeilingÓ, and announces her intention to go to Hollywood to be in a movie. She rejects the criticÕs offer to go to a party afterward, refusing to ÒbelongÓ to him, even if she does know her real past. Eve returns to her room, only to find loyal fan Phoebe waiting for her. Phoebe eerily echoes EveÕs early behavior towards Margo. Phoebe offers to help Margo pack, and the movie ends with Phoebe prancing in front of a three-way mirror wearing EveÕs robe.
    Writer and director Mankiewicz may not have intended it this way, but All About Eve makes a sharp jab at the conformity and blind appreciation common during the 1950Õs. Eve mimics Margo and eventuall rises to fame, yet her personal life crumbles around her. Perhaps a subtle message directed to the ÒsheepÓ in America, Mankiewicz shows how copying lifestyles can benefit one outwardly, but lose the things in life that should be more precious.