Today in 1909, prolific filmmaker Joseph Leo Mankiewicz was born.
Synopsis
All About Eve follows the story of an aging Broadway star, Margo Channing (played by Bette Davis), whose life is disrupted by the cunning and young Eve Harrington (played by Anne Baxter). As Eve insinuates herself into Margo's life and career, she manipulates those around her to achieve fame and success, ultimately revealing the ruthless nature of ambition in the entertainment industry.
Why Today?
On February 11th, 1909, Joseph Leo Mankiewicz was born. A prolific director and screenwriter during Hollywood's Golden Age, he achieved the rare feat of winning back-to-back Academy Awards for both Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, winning for A Letter to Three Wives in 1950 and All About Eve in 1951.
For his birthday, we've chosen arguably his most iconic work, All About Eve. The film was critically acclaimed at the time of release and a mainstay on top critical lists, including the American Film Institute's Top 100 American movies list. Nominated for a record 14 Academy Awards, including an unmatched 4 female acting nominations, it remains a mainstay on top critical lists, including the AFI's 100 Movies list.