Celeste Holm ("Karen") takes pity on stage-door groupie "Eve" (Ann Baxter) when, after the umpteenth time, she encounters her hanging around waiting for the departure of stage star "Margo Channing" (Bette Davis). She decides to take her in and introduce her to her feisty idol. "Channing" - despite the rather brusque protestations of her assistant "Birdie" (a lovely effort from Thelma Ritter) - and writer "Richards" (Hugh Marlowe) take a bit of a shine to this endearing young woman who proceeds to regale them with a rather sad story explaining her current predicament. Next thing we know, "Eve" has ingratiated herself into the home of her new - and increasingly frustrated - mentor, and - well is she quite what she seems? Davis is at the top of here game in this drama. Her characterisation of the ageing star is potent and poignant - especially when she hosts a welcome home party for her soon-to-be husband "Simpson" (Gary Merrill) and the "fasten your seatbelts" quote is unleashed to devastating cinematic effect. Holm is also really quite effective as the conduit between these two women, but it is really Baxter who steals the show. You just know she can't be as pure and innocent, as sweetness and light as she portrays. Luckily, we have the dastardly critic "Addison DeWitt" (possibly a career best supporting performance from George Sanders) on hand to help keep the audience ahead of the plotting and scheming and also to ensure a certain amount of divine retribution is doled out as required at the end. This is a cracking drama with six principal characters left to develop and evolve in front of us exposing all that is good and bad about human nature and nurture. Joseph L. Mankiewicz adapts and allows Mary Orr's pithy and sharp story to accumulate gently but powerfully and even though it starts as it finishes, robbing the denouement of a touch of jeopardy, it's still one hell of a star-studded "bumpy' ride.
