Best Actor in "All About Eve"

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I removed Davis and Baxter from consideration -- too easy.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
George Sanders as Addison DeWitt 12
Celeste Holm as Karen Richards 3
Thelma Ritter as Birdie 3
Gary Merrill as Bill Sampson 0
Hugh Marlowe as Lloyd Richards 0
Gregory Ratoff as Max Fabian 0
Marilyn Monroe as Miss Caswell 0


Throwing Muses are reuniting for my next orgasm! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 24 April 2010 02:39 (fifteen years ago)

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.

Throwing Muses are reuniting for my next orgasm! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 24 April 2010 02:42 (fifteen years ago)

Yeah but Davis deserves to win this poll.

who's always getting head from the commissioner (Eric H.), Saturday, 24 April 2010 02:48 (fifteen years ago)

In her absense, Ritter really really really easily.

who's always getting head from the commissioner (Eric H.), Saturday, 24 April 2010 02:48 (fifteen years ago)

<3 thelma ritter in just about anything

velko, Saturday, 24 April 2010 03:25 (fifteen years ago)

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.)

clemenza, Saturday, 24 April 2010 22:54 (fifteen years ago)

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...

Kevin John Bozelka, Sunday, 25 April 2010 00:18 (fifteen years ago)

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

who's always getting head from the commissioner (Eric H.), Sunday, 25 April 2010 01:13 (fifteen years ago)

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!"

Throwing Muses are reuniting for my next orgasm! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 25 April 2010 04:56 (fifteen years ago)

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.

Throwing Muses are reuniting for my next orgasm! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 25 April 2010 04:56 (fifteen years ago)

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

who's always getting head from the commissioner (Eric H.), Sunday, 25 April 2010 06:48 (fifteen years ago)

I hate men.

Kevin John Bozelka, Sunday, 25 April 2010 08:03 (fifteen years ago)

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

kind of shrill and very self-righteous (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 25 April 2010 08:05 (fifteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 23:01 (fifteen years ago)

Sanders kills it

the sound of a norwegian guy being wrong (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 23:03 (fifteen years ago)

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?

cool and remote like dancing girls (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 4 May 2010 23:08 (fifteen years ago)

he's scary

horseshoe, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 23:38 (fifteen years ago)

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

System, Wednesday, 5 May 2010 23:01 (fifteen years ago)


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