All About Eve Analysis

‘In All About Eve, Margo ultimately triumphs over Eve.’ To what extent do you agree?

Joseph Mankiewicz 1950’s ‘film du theatre’ All About Eve, provides an insight into the qualities needed to succeed in the star-studded world of the theatre. In particular, the protagonists, Margo Channing and her “carbon copy”, Eve Harrington, are portrayed as flawed characters because of their single-minded pursuit of fame and fortune. Whilst Margo eventually recognizes the absurdity of her dreams in a 1950s socially-conservative chauvinistic world, Eve appears to emerge triumphantly but discredited due to her wily, manipulative streak.

Deceptive and manipulative qualities as seen in the character Eve Harrington are what allow her to reach stardom in a

Margo has a deep voice and the mise-en-scene of the dressing room scene, reveals a close-up shot of Margo, without her makeup and a flat light that accentuates her wrinkles. She appears concerned and dishevelled like ‘a junkyard’, however, she still has Bill who loves her for who she is. This until Eve’s scheming sheds light on how Margo ‘treats her [friends] like her supporting cast’ in particular during Bill’s birthday party where she drinks herself into oblivion, leading her closest friends to turn against her. Margo maintains her dramatic stance on Eve’s ploy at the expense of her career, Karen’s loyalty, Lloyd’s support and most importantly Bill’s love. Bill and the Richards believe that Margo’s childish act is no longer going to cut it. As Bill leaves Margo on the bed on stage Mankiewicz makes the audience aware that Eve has cheated Margo out of everything she holds close to her and the retreating long camera shot reveals that all Margo has left is her act. However, even that will soon belong to Eve, as she takes the stage and fulfils her duty as an understudy while Margo stranded on the side of the road. It is this performance of Eves that compels the audience to believe that she had, in fact, prevailed over

Margo’s epiphany comes after, she “lets her hair down” and confides in Karen, in this private setting, Margo is seen to be humble by apologising and revealing her insecurities. This side of Margo is far from the arrogant “Queen Mother” she is perceived to be leading up to this scene. Margo’s fears of ageing and being anything less than a star all seem to fade away once she is engaged to Bill and ‘finally [has] a life to live’, this is indicative of the patriarchal society of the 1950’s that dictates that women who best conform to the domestic ideal are more likely to achieve happiness. Eve however as much as she tries to fit into the mould of a perfect woman, seen in her attempts to seduce Bill and Lloyd, even going as far as to fabricate a story in which she is to marry Lloyd. During the first half of this scene, Eve is filmed from below signifying the power she believes she holds over Addison and her future. However, the balance of power is rightfully resumed and Addison is now filmed from below to emphasise his control as he unravels all of Eve’s lies. Preceding Addison’s unpacking of Eve's forgery he claims ownership of her, she now belongs to Addison. The only thing she has left is the Sarah Siddons award which Margo insinuates can fill the cavity