Showbiz Showdown: Gloria Swanson vs. Bette Davis
Tuesday, August 1, 2023, 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Instructor: Jennifer Fleeger, Ph.D., Media and Communication Studies, Ursinus College
All About Eve (1950) is a masterful display of wit by the director whom philosopher Gilles Deleuze called the cinema’s “greatest flashback author.” A quintessential woman’s picture, All About Eve is a spectacle of elegance, in which the story of glamorous actress Margo Channing and the manipulative ingénue, the eponymous Eve, comes to light through a series of memories held by some of Hollywood’s most unforgettable characters. Starring Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Celeste Holm, George Sanders, and Marilyn Monroe, however, it’s clear that Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s film is “about” much more than Eve.
In addition to dishing details on the cast, the seminar will consider the presentation of aging women in classical Hollywood, paying particular attention to the placement of their voices within the stories. It will discuss the genres occupied by the category of the “women’s picture” and the influence men like Mankiewicz had in calling attention to power and patriarchy. It will outline the film’s opposition between Hollywood and Broadway in light of the director’s own ambitions. And it will explore alternate readings of the film and the relationship between the women in it, all of which will enhance our viewing of this sophisticated satire. All About Eve won Mankiewicz the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Screenplay, and after seeing the film on the big screen, it’ll be easy to understand why.
Are you interested in “just” seeing this movie? Visit the public screening page here.
Cinema Classics Seminars offer an entertaining and engaging way to learn more about some of the true classics of world cinema. All students receive an introductory lecture before the film and a guided discussion after the film. In addition, those in attendance receive a ticket to see it on the big screen, as well as popcorn and a drink. Please note: the screening associated with this seminar will be open to the public, as well.
Please email BMFI Programs and Education Coordinator Jill Malcolm with any questions.
$25 for members, $35 for non-members
Schedule