40 Films in Robotech: All About Eve (1950)

  

A lot has been written about this film – and rightfully so.

 ROBOTECH MENTION:  

All About Eve has one of the most misquoted lines of dialogue in the history of cinema. The line in the movie is: "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride." Variations of this line pop up in many movies and TV shows, including Robotech. In Episode 48 entitled Déjà Vu, Dana Sterling warns her 15th Tactical Squadron: “Fasten your seatbelts, boys - it's going to be a bumpy night!" This scene is also in the Jack McKinney novelization of the same episode in his book Metal Fire (1987) on page 254…

 SYNOPSIS:  

Gary Koka writes in his #classicfilmreading book Memorable Supporting Actors and Actresses from the 1930s to 1950s Book 1 – A Through I (2020):

"Winner of six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Joseph L. Mankiewicz), and Best Supporting Actor (George Sanders), All About Eve is simply one of the great American films of all time. Eve Harrington (Ann Baxter) is an ingenue who idolizes actress Margo Channing (Bette Davis), but we eventually see that Eve’s plan is to take over the roles from the aging Margo. Margo’s maid Birdie (Thelma Ritter) is immediately suspicious of Eve, but no one else is until the end of the film. Birdie is much more savvy about human nature than just about everyone else in this motion picture. 

All About Eve garnered a record 16 Oscar nominations and includes one of the most famous lines of film history, when Margo says, 'Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.' Thelma Ritter definitely holds her own in a cast that includes Davis, Bancroft, Sanders, Celeste Holm, Gary Merrill, Hugh Marlowe, and a young actress named Marilyn Monroe in a bit part." 

 AWARDS & KUDOS:  

In addition to the Academy Awards mentioned above, All About Eve is considered one of “The Essentials / Must-See Movies.” The New York Times named it one of the Best Films of the Year 1950. NYT film critic Bosley Crowther wrote of All About Eve in his October 14, 1950 review: “A fine Darryl Zanuck production, excellent music, and an air of ultra-class complete this superior satire.” 

 OTHER COOL FACTS:  

Joseph L. Mankewicz based the All About Eve screenplay on a 1946 magazine story by Mary Orr titled “The Wisdom of Eve” – which was NOT credited onscreen. The film was nominated for 14 Academy Awards total - a record set and was later tied by both Titanic (1997) and La La Land (2016).

On a side note, the biggest La La Land fan I know, my daughter Lily, has her own film premiering at The Grace Film Festival on April 11th. Her film is titled (Not) Alone (2025). Way to go, Lil!

A still from (Not) Alone (2025) - a film by Lily Mich.

 ROBOTECH REASON:  

The female rivalry for professional status in All About Eve perfectly matches the female feistiness between Robotech Southern Cross characters Dana Sterling, Nova Satori, and Marie Crystal.

To read my ⭐⭐⭐ (out of a possible 5 star) rating for All About Eve on Letterboxd, click here.