Part of All About Eve's dream cast: L to R -Anne Baxter, Bette Davis, Marilyn Monroe + George Sanders

Christmas is traditionally the time to over indulge in old movies and I’m making an early start.

I was convinced I had seen Bette Davis in All About Eve but it turns out I was confusing it with Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? which she made some 12 years later in 1962 (this is now another movie on my ‘must see’ list).

All About Eve was written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and given its massive acclaim and Oscar success, it probably doesn’t need me to say that it’s a masterpiece.

The mark of a true classic is how it stands the test of time and this easily passes. The obsession with fame and the ruthless lengths Eve (Anne Baxter) is prepared to take to achieve it, actually make it pretty topical.

The only thing that really dates it is that the star vehicle of the Davis character – Margo Channing – is a theatre production whereas today it would have to be a movie or TV role to be as convincing. I love the fact that the story is actually pretty dark as success comes to those who are the most cynically manipulative; none of the usual feel good finales here.

Davis is sheer class and the supporting cast is equally faultless.  George Sanders as the suave and sinister critic Addison DeWitt stands out – its hard to hear his amazing voice without visualising the tiger Sheer Khan from Disney’s The Jungle Book.