All About Eve

Regarded as one of the greatest films ever made about the cost of stardom, "All About Eve" still cuts deep at the human need to be admired and loved. The Criterion Collection presents the film on Blu-ray with a brand new 4K restoration prepared by Twentieth Century Fox from a 35mm composite print. The high-definition presentation is stunning, but with all the incredible special features included make this one of the must-own home releases of the season. And while that same HD presentation can sometimes look a bit flat, I wouldn't fault the entire release for some minor flaws.

Margo Channing (Bette Davis), a broadway star, entertains one of her most dedicated fans after a performance of the show in which she is the lead. That fan, the wide-eyed Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter), soon becomes Channing's confidante and something of a prot�g�. But when Eve's talents start to eclipse Margo's, drama and hijinks ensue.

What's really impressive about the new Criterion Blu-ray of "All About Eve" is that despite there being some already thorough home releases of the film, Criterion still finds a way to top all that came before it, as is their wont. Aside from the stunning picture quality, the addition of some archival interviews with director Joseph L. Mankiewicz and a new feature with costume historian Larry McQueen provide incredible depth into the production of the film, as well as the work behind the scenes.

McQueen mentions that Claudette Colbert was originally cast as Channing before an injury forced her to drop out. And Anne Baxter was cast partly because of her resemblance to Colbert, as it would make the plot a bit creepier, given the resemblance. With Davis and Baxter in the roles, the onus was partly placed on the costume design to make the two leads look more and more the same as the plot progresses.

Many have heralded "All About Eve" for its acid-tongued wit, and it's true that the film hasn't lost an iota of that wit since its release. Davis - of whom many say this was her finest hour - carries every scene with gusto and an unmistakable emotional weight. The more selfish she becomes and the more she tries to cut Eve out of her inner circle, the more the audience quickly realizes that this cautionary tale doesn't mince words about being a celebrity. To be loved is one thing, but to be admired is an entirely different animal.

The inclusion of the 1983 documentary "All About Mankiewicz" is worth the price of purchase alone. Even though it's a bit of a stagey featurette about the famous director's career, it no less is a hoot to hear a classic filmmaker of his stature talk trash about his peers. Run, don't walk, to pick up this new Blu-ray, as it provides hours upon hours of entertainment for any film fan. Other special features include:

� Audio commentary with actress Celeste Holm, Mankiewicz biographer Ken Geist and Christopher Mankiewicz
� Audio commentary with author Sam Staggs
� "The Secret of Sarah Siddons" – a mini-doc about the actual Sarah Siddons Award
� Episodes of "The Dick Cavett Show" from 1969 and 1980 featuring actors Bette Davis and Gary Merrill
� New interview with costume historian Larry McQueen
� Hollywood Backstories: "All About Eve," a 2001 documentary featuring interviews with Davis and others about the making of the film
� Documentaries from 2010 about Mankiewicz's life and career; "The Wisdom of Eve," the 1946 short story on which the film is based, and its real-world inspiration; and a real-life Sarah Siddons Society based on the film's fictional organization
� Radio adaptation of the film from 1951
� Promotion for the film featuring Davis
� An essay by critic Terrence Rafferty and "The Wisdom of Eve"

"All About Eve"
Blu-ray
$39.95
https://www.criterion.com/films/29596-all-about-eve