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Waldo Lydecker or Addison Dewitt (All About Eve)


Who is your favorite character? Both acid tongued critics/writers that play big parts in their respective stories, and both superbly acted by their respective actors, Clifton Webb and George Sanders. Seems as if Dewitt is a dead ringer for Lydecker in most regards, or was it a common trope in those days, I.e. The celebrated arteur/critic with a poison pen?

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I think I enjoy them equally.

Sanders is a little more suave, with that English sounding voice. But, both men are waspishly wicked. I think either of them could play both parts with equal success.

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both men are waspishly wicked

Reminds me of another such character from classic film: Sheridan Whiteside, as played by Monty Woolley, in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942).

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Sanders has actually played Waldo, not once but twice.

The first was in a pared-down television drama in 1955, "A Portrait Of Murder," an episode of The 20th Century-Fox Hour (Dana Wynter as Laura). The second in a 1968 TV movie version, with Lee Radziwill.

Robert Stack played McPherson in both.


Poe! You are...avenged!

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I saw the film recently and i just kept thinking "Dr Smith".

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I prefer Addison. Just my opinion. He exuded self confidence, whereas Lydecker's arrogance masked his insecurities.

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Waldo all the way.

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My Top 250 Favorite Films: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls071561044/

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Funny. Just watched this for the first time and I was thinking of that. But to me, hands down, it's Addison. Both Sanders and the dialogue were off the charts spectacular. You can't compare the brilliance of the writing. His delivery of, for example, telling Margot how she made a wonderful Peter Pan- come on! Genius.

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Can't top George Sanders, though Webb is amazing here.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLqcClh3qKQ

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I'm on team Addison. Waldo is good, but Addison is just awesome.

Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night.

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