ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)

Mousy, stage-struck--and cunning--Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) inveigles her way into the good graces of her idol, Margot Channing (Bette Davis), ageing Broadway superstar, and proceeds to con everyone around her until she almost takes over Margot's life, career and fiancee. It's a ruthless tale of stage competition and treachery, But it's elevated by a witty, knife-edged script by director Joseph Mankiewicz, and outstanding performances by Davis, Celeste Holm as her best friend, and George Sanders (Eternal Cynic) as a (what else?) jaded Broadway columnist. Gary Merrill is good as Davis' beau (she married him right after "Eve" was wrapped), and Hugh Marlowe is sturdy as Holm's playwright/husband. Gregory Ratoff and Marilyn Monroe do well in supporting roles. It's basically a sophisticated and talky soap opera, but it holds up.