All About Eve Directed by Joseph Mankiewicz

Created by D. White Joseph Mankiewicz 1909 - 1993 The film was inspired by a story and radio play written by Mary Orr in and was written by director Joseph Mankiewicz in 1950. 'All About Eve' was a huge critical success and in fact revived the career of Betty Davis and was nominated for 14 Academy Awards; winning 6, including Best Picture.

Mankiewicz won Best Director and developed a reputation for being a brilliant writer of complex, multi-dimensional roles for women. He had an eye for exploring the complexity of human relationships and identity, and therefore produced detailed and precise observations through his female characters.

Mankiewicz uses the the idea of the theatre as a metaphor to demonstrate: - the masks people adopt, the dynamics within male-female relationships and the ways in which ambition corrupts. Mankiewicz sets out on a quest to reshape the conventional portrayal of women in Hollywood movies. His women are autonomous, self-reliant, intelligent decision- makers who will not be bound by the conventions and strictures of their times and circumstances. Mankiewicz’s women are defiant and confident, seeking control over their lives and accepting the consequences of their actions. The film is set 5Historical years after WWII, and as postwarContext America was entering into a period of unprecedented economic prosperity. It was a time of increased consumerism, high employment opportunities and the film industry was booming.

Politically, the 1950's was a deeply conservative decade, dominated by the Cold War and the pervasive fear of Communism. The House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) had been established in 1938 to counter the Communist menace and flush out those who threatened the American way of life and threaten capitalism. Such a committee had a direct impact on many writers, directors and actors who were seen to have any kind of communist affiliation were severely targeted. This was a time of increased intolerance and political persecution, censoring and limiting ideas expressed in films produced to ensure they were sufficiently patriotic.

Live theatre, however, experienced fewer limitations compared to Hollywood, as the theatres of Broadway managed to continue to offer a sense of freedom of speech, action and ideas. During the 1950's, the Broadway audience was considered to be more sophisticated and it was not until the 1960's that film began to gain except acne as a legitimate art form. Broadway v Hollywood In cultural terms, the theatre was considers much more prestigious than Hollywood. Hollywood films had been developed to be as popular as possible, offering audiences escapism and happy endings. In contrast, the theatre had its roots in tradition. The theatre was considered to be culturally and artistically superior, with an air of integrity that Hollywood seemed to lack.

This idea is explored throughout the film, yet we are first introduced to this concept when Bill and Eve are discussing the theatre. Can you think of other examples in the film where the tension between Broadway and Hollywood is the focus?

In the opening scene, Addison approvingly notes that the Sarah Siddons Award for Distinguished Achievement is of a different calibre to such "questionable honours as those awards presented annually by that film society". Notably, he references theatrical celebrities of the late 19/20th centuries, such as Minnie Fiske and Richard Mansfield as legends in their field. As an actress whose career has been exclusively in the theatre, Margo Channing is part of this illustrious tradition. Sarah Siddons Award Sarah Siddons (1755-1831) was the most celebrated and successful English actress of the eighteenth century. She specialised in tragedy and was famous for her Shakespearean role of Lady Macbeth. Her portrait was painted several times, including by artist Sir Joshua Reynolds who painted her as the 'Tragic Muse'. It is his portrait that we see hanging on the walls of the dining room at the commencement of the film and statuettes that replicate this model.

For the purpose of the film, Mankiewicz invented the Sarah Siddons Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Theatre that is presented to Eve Harrington. Two years after the film's release the real award was initiated; a case of life limitations art. Bette Davis received this award.

Women's place in society

'All About Eve' is set two decades before the women's liberation movement and there is a pivotal debate running through the film regarding the role of women. In the 1950's, gender roles were clearly delineated, as women of this generation were largely dependent on men, economically and socially.

In fact, many married women were required to give up their jobs once they wed. Few women went on to study after school or had ambitions beyond marriage and being a wife/mother. The cultural expectation was that a woman's place was in the home so that they could support their husbands and focus on family life. Backstage documentary

http://youtu.be/a98Bcu55nAM Backstage 24 min Film Study as Text Whilst 'All About Eve' is a film, it important to study it as you would explore a text. While there are elements common to all narratives - such as characters, themes, quotes, setting - there are also features specific to film and it is these elements that combine to create meaning and reinforce a particular line of thought.

WHEN WRITING YOUR ESSAYS YOU WILL NEED TO CONSIDER THESE ELEMENTS- this is HOW Mankiewicz conveys his ideas. Settings Most of the film's scenes are shot indoors and many of the interiors, significantly, are the set in the theatre, either backstage or on the stage itself. This theatrical setting reinforces the idea that this is a drama about people who labour in this space, as well as a reminder that the relationship between illusion and reality can at times become somewhat distorted. All About Eve' is set in the world of theatre, a world that fascinated Mankiewicz. The introductory scene takes place in the "hallowed walls" of the Sarah Siddons Society and highlights the exclusiveness and hierarchical world of the theatre. As an audience, we immediately feel privileged to be invited into this alien world as the devious and cynical Addison De Witt explains the codes and culture of the theatre. What do you notice about Margo's apartment? Mis en scene

This term refers to the visual and design elements of a film. In other words, everything we see within the frame - setting, costumes, lighting and props are deliberately selected and encoded with meaning. Mis en scene Framing and camera angles The placement of the camera becomes a conduit to reinforce meaning. Shooting a character from below or above can empower or weaken our perception of this person. Framing enhances meaning too, as this can establish relationships, actions and choices made by the character. Costumes Clothing attracts attention and assists in defining the character. This is most prominent when you observe the transformation of Eve. Her initial dowdy raincoat and hat that she wears at the start of the film is carefully designed to generate pathos in the viewer. This also masks the true disguise of her nature. Whilst she initially appears innocent and humble, her transformation as a person is mirrored in the clothing she wears. How is Eve beginning to transform? Describe this scene. In what way do these costumes mirror the characters? Music Music is tool used to often reflect the emotional state of particular characters. For example Liebestraum No. 3 is played at Bill's party to match the melancholy mood of Margot. It is later heard on the radio as Karen and her friend wait in the car, though here, Margo declares, "I hate cheap sentiment" and turns it off. Margo's melancholy mood Film Noir Film Noir is a style of cinematography that is typically associated with detective and crime genres. Film Noir uses light, dark and shadow to create a sense of moral uncertainty within the mis en scene. In other words, what we see tells us that this is a world in which people can no longer trust each other.

The scene in which Eve first introduces herself to Karen draws on the stark contrast between light and darkness associated with film noir. Eve's duplicity is signalled from the start through the use of film noir lighting in the scene of her introduction. She emerges from the shadows into the light. Doorways, alleys, stairs and fire escapes were often used in film noir production design as they emphasise the hidden backdrop world explored in these films. Shadows play a significant role in film noir, as they can heighten fear and paranoia in the audience. This can also be observed during Bill's Birthday party, as Margo descends from her staircase with a heightened sense of paranoia as she rushes to greet Bill. Where is this shot taken? Describe what you see in the frame. Symbolism Symbolism suggests a deeper meaning that is often representative through an object, action or event. What do you notice in this frame? What symbolism can you find in this frame? Narrative Structure

'All About Eve' has a circular structure that commences in June 1950, where Eve is presented with the Sarah Siddons award. An extended flashback then takes the audience back to the previous October, where Karen first meets Eve. As we follow Eve's rise to stardom, the film eventually returns full circle to the moment where Eve receives her award. The film ends with a short postscript, that follows Eve home after the ceremony, enabling the audience to discover and make conclusions about the messages portrayed in the story. The script is anchored by Addison's sardonic voiceover, but the story is also presented by Margo and Karen. This multi-voice narration highlights the fact that all of these parties have an individual investment in Eve's rising career. Their voices establish their ownership over the story. Narrating the story from three different perspectives also builds a more complete picture of Eve. -Addison's voice is dry and ironic. -Karen's voice is reflective and at times regretful. -Margo's voice enables the audience to connect with her, despite her flaws. •Black/White Binary •Youth/Age •Truth/Lies Opposites •Masculine/Feminine Two elements/ideas are placed side by side in a text in order to demonstrate that one defines or is dominant over the other.