MovieChat Forums > All About Eve (1950) Discussion > Which is a better film - this or "Sunset...

Which is a better film - this or "Sunset Boulevard"?

posted 6 years ago by Otter (24464)
8 replies | jump to latest

Both highly acclaimed 1950 dramas dominated by a diva actress, which both veer into camp and which absolutely work as drama.

I've always loved "Sunset Boulevard" more myself, there are a million stories about showbiz backstabbing, but there's only one gothic and grandiose drama about Hollywood! And Gloria Swanson totally out-divas Bette Davis in this matchup, her final glittering mad descent down the staircase beats the hell out of anything Bette did in "Eve".

[–] partydjz (424) 5 years ago

Agreed, it was ironic how they both played "has beens" and ended up competing for best actress and best picture.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

Oh, both Davis and Swanson WERE considered has-beens by the movie industry, in 1950! Swanson had retired from acting in the 1930s and was happy doing other things with her life, while Davis was widely considered to be too old to be taken seriously by the studios. Her last film had been the dreadful low-budget "Beyond the Forest", and even after the success of "All About Eve", she had trouble finding roles worthy of her talents for the rest of her career.

Swanson had the right idea about Hollywood of course - make your pile, get out, and live your life. But as Davis was stuck supporting her entire family, she was never in a financial position to do that.

[–] partydjz (424) 5 years ago

"she had trouble finding roles worthy of her talents for the rest of her career."
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

Oh, she found a few roles worthy of her steel, but she worked for thirty-odd years after the success of "All About Eve" and few of the resulting films are memorable.

"Baby Jane" is, of course, one of the great exceptions. Unforgetable film!

[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

I love them both. Both are great films, but for me Sunset Blvd slightly edges out All About Eve. I think it's because the characters are more fleshed out and interesting.

[–] snepts (11123) 5 years ago

They both are weird stories, but SB is way more bizarre in it's subtle way than AAE.
AAE seems like a satire of social mores, while SB is something out of The Twilight Zone.

[–] HarlemEagle42 (16170) 3 years ago

I preferred Sunset Boulevard. Gloria Swanson is more entertaining to watch and the situations were more bizarre.

[–] Otter (24464) 3 years ago

I agree, I do like my movies to take a bit of a step out of reality. I can get all the reality I want for free!

Of course the "step out of reality" in this movie is into the mind of a crazy person, but that can be great if done right. And it's rarely been done better.