Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Bette Davis | ... | Margo | |
Anne Baxter | ... | Eve | |
George Sanders | ... | Addison DeWitt | |
Celeste Holm | ... | Karen | |
Gary Merrill | ... | Bill Simpson | |
Hugh Marlowe | ... | Lloyd Richards | |
Gregory Ratoff | ... | Max Fabian | |
Barbara Bates | ... | Phoebe | |
Marilyn Monroe | ... | Miss Casswell | |
Thelma Ritter | ... | Birdie | |
Walter Hampden | ... | Aged Actor | |
Randy Stuart | ... | Girl | |
Craig Hill | ... | Leading Man | |
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Leland Harris | ... | Doorman |
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Barbara White | ... | Autograph Seeker |
Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) is waiting backstage to meet her idol, talented but aging Broadway star Margo Channing (Bette Davis). It seems innocent enough as Eve explains that she has seen Margo in EVERY performance of her current play. Margo and her friends take Eve under their wing but only theatre critic Addison DeWitt (George Sanders) sees through Eve's evil plan, which is to take Margo's parts and her fiancé, Bill Simpson (Gary Merrill) too.
As close to perfection as they come. A film than can be viewed again and again without ever getting tired. Bette Davis's Margo Channing is a film icon of major proportions. A point of reference. Her fear of the abyss is as human as it is at the center of this selfish, insecure, sacred cow. She is surrounded by some other sensational women. Thelma Ritter, Celeste Holm, Anne Baxter and in a tiny but telling part, Marilyn Monroe - a graduate from the Copacabana school of dramatic art. Wittily prophetic. George Sanders is another piece of extraordinary casting and writing. "I'm essential to the theater" Indeed. And here is a film that has become essential to anyone who loves movies"