Best Actor in "All About Eve"

I suspect Sanders will take this easily, and I voted for him, but Celeste Holm's dry-ice performance is still underrated; she can handle the bon mots ("We know you. Is it over or just beginning?") and the softness.

The only one who plays the part exactly as written without a single interesting actorly flourish is sticky wicket Hugh Marlowe.

Yeah but Davis deserves to win this poll.

In her absense, Ritter really really really easily.

<3 thelma ritter in just about anything

I'd possibly go for Sanders even with a full cast; without the two leads, an easy call. (Although MM gets off a couple of great lines.)

I'd possibly go for Sanders even with a full cast

Which is why I'm cranky about this poll. I could kinda sorta see leaving off Bette Davis but Sanders and Holm beat Baxter in my book. I'm going with Holm because Karen takes no shit from Margo and face it - in many ways, she's the most crucial character in the whole damn thing. Sure, Eve is our starstruck surrogate. But Karen gets us backstage and without that, there's no story. And no greatest film ever made.

The only one who plays the part exactly as written without a single interesting actorly flourish is sticky wicket Hugh Marlowe.

I agree and yet he has my all-time favorite line in the film. And it's a non-esprit de l'escalier one, uttered right after Bill tells Karen and Lloyd that he wants them both at the wedding (gawd, I'm choking up as I cut & paste): "There are very few moments in life as good as this. Let's remember it."

Fave bitchy line (and it comes right after "bumpy night"): "I distinctly remember, Addison, crossing you off my guest list. What are you doing here?" Followed hard by my second fave bitchy line: "Dear Margo. You were an unforgettable Peter Pan - you must play it again soon."

Goddamn. This movie...

Sanders does get the most satisfying moment in the whole movie, a long-deferred slap to Eve's left cheek.

Sanders losing his cool for once in his professional life is a sight to behold: "Now remember...as long as you live never to laugh at me!"

There are very few moments in life as good as this. Let's remember it."

Yes. One of the movie's unremarked virtues is how well these four actors capture middle-aged friendship; you can believe these four different people would love each other.

Middle-aged? Bill's 32. He looks 32. He looked it five years ago. He'll look it 10 years from now.

I hate men.

jeezus you guys, who remembers Hugh Marlowe in this movie?

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Sanders kills it

Is it possible, even conceivable, that you've confused me with that gang of backward children you play tricks on, that you have the same contempt for me as you have for them?

he's scary

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.