All About Eve Blu-ray Review

Criterion’s Blu-ray edition of "All About Eve" presents the film in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, utilizing a 1080p, MPEG-4 AVC encode sourced from a meticulous 4K restoration. The restoration process was overseen by Twentieth Century Fox and involved scanning a 35mm composite fine-grain from the Museum of Modern Art in 4K resolution at Reliance MediWorks in Burbank, California. The resulting transfer is visually stunning, exhibiting a natural grain structure that maintains the film-like quality with excellent image stability and minimal age-related imperfections. Fine details are rendered with impressive clarity, and the black-and-white palette is solid and well-graded, enhancing depth and contrast.

While comparisons to the 2011 Blu-ray release by Fox reveal only minor enhancements, they are noticeable. The Criterion transfer boasts slightly sharper visuals and more vibrant image characteristics, evident in intricate details such as the burlap background in the opening credits and close-ups that reveal more nuanced textures without losing the organic feel. Rich, deep blacks and consistent shadow delineation contribute to a polished presentation, particularly enhancing scenes involving complex patterns and varied grays. Although some digital adjustments have been noted to introduce a bit of flatness in certain areas, these do not detract significantly from the overall experience.

Ultimately, even if the improvements over the previous release are not groundbreaking, Criterion’s edition subtly but effectively refines the visual presentation of "All About Eve." This upgraded transfer ensures that this cinematic classic can be appreciated in its finest possible form, devoid of any distracting debris, cuts, or significant damage while maintaining a wholly authentic and engaging visual experience.

The Audio presentation on the Blu-ray release of "All About Eve" features a single English LPCM Mono track (48kHz, 24-bit), along with optional English SDH subtitles. This lossless audio track is a significant upgrade over previous versions, especially considering the lossy mono track included on Fox's 2011 release. The audio restoration ensures exceptional clarity, with no discernible dropouts, distortions, or background hiss present. Purists will appreciate the meticulous attention to detail that preserves the film's original monaural soundtrack, drawing from both a 35 mm fine-grain optical track and a quarter-inch magnetic recording for the main and end-title sequences.

The audio fidelity is impressive, with a dynamic range that manages highs and lows impeccably, reflecting the majesty of Alfred Newman's Oscar-nominated score without any hint of distortion. Dialogue comes through robust and clear, crucial for a film that hinges heavily on its sharp, witty exchanges. Additionally, the restoration has successfully eradicated any age-related hiss, pops, or crackle, leaving pure silences and subtle ambient noises, such as restaurant background chatter and urban atmospherics, to resonate naturally. Given these technical enhancements, this release represents the zenith of audio quality for "All About Eve" on home video.

The Blu-ray extras for "All About Eve" assemble an extensive archive of content, enhancing the appreciation of this classic film. This release includes insightful audio commentaries, archival documentaries, interviews, and unique features focusing on various aspects of production, costume design, and the film’s cultural impact. Notable inclusions are two distinct commentaries that delve into the film's creation, a feature-length documentary on director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, radio adaptations, and vintage TV interviews with key cast members. Despite some minor absences from earlier releases, the Criterion edition offers a rich and comprehensive exploration of "All About Eve".

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary One: Insights by actress Celeste Holm, Ken Geist, and Christopher Mankiewicz.
• Audio Commentary Two: Analysis by author Sam Staggs.
• Larry McQueen Interview: Discussion on costumes by film historian Larry McQueen.
• All About Mankiewicz: Documentary featuring Joseph L. Mankiewicz in extensive interviews.
• The Secret of Sarah Siddons: Documentary on the formation of the Sarah Siddons Society in Chicago.
• Radio Adaptation: Lux Radio Theatre adaptation with original cast members.
• Bette Davis Promotion: Short promotional clip with Bette Davis.
• Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz: Examination of Mankiewicz's career thru interviews.
• The Dick Cavett Show: Two episodes featuring Gary Merrill and Bette Davis.
• Hollywood Backstories: All About Eve: Archival documentary on the film's production history.
• Joseph L. Mankiewicz: A Personal Journey: Documentary covering Mankiewicz’s life and career.
• The Real Eve: Documentary discussing real-life inspirations behind the story "The Wisdom of Eve".
• Booklet: Includes texts by Terrence Rafferty and Mary Orr.

Joseph L. Mankiewicz's "All About Eve," a quintessential film from Hollywood’s Golden Age, has been meticulously restored on Blu-ray by Criterion. Renowned for its razor-sharp screenplay and sophisticated narrative, Mankiewicz’s direction is matched by the performances of a stellar cast led by Bette Davis and Anne Baxter. The film dives into the devious machinations of Eve Harrington, an aspiring actress who cunningly usurps the career and personal life of Broadway star Margo Channing. This narrative is enriched with intricate character interplay and biting wit, epitomizing not only Mankiewicz’s screenwriting prowess but also the synergistic contributions of cinematographer Milton Krasner, production designer Lyle Wheeler, composer Alfred Newman, and costume designers Edith Head and Charles LeMaire.

The performances are nothing short of iconic. Bette Davis delivers a career-defining portrayal of Margo Channing, balancing dominance with vulnerability. Anne Baxter shines as the treacherous Eve, whose angelic exterior conceals a ruthless ambition. The supporting cast is equally exceptional, featuring George Sanders as the sardonic critic Addison DeWitt, Celeste Holm as Karen Richards, and Thelma Ritter in a scene-stealing role as Birdie. Marilyn Monroe’s brief but impactful appearance as a naive starlet adds another layer to this multifaceted drama. Each actor thrives under Mankiewicz’s incisive direction, contributing to a film that masterfully explores themes of fame, ambition, and betrayal.

Criterion's Blu-ray edition does justice to this cinematic gem through a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer coupled with LPCM mono audio. Housed in a stately slipcase with a 48-page booklet, it includes insightful essays, the original short story that inspired the film, and rare photos. The dual-disc set features comprehensive supplemental content ranging from archival interviews to illuminating documentaries on the film’s production and legacy. This adept amalgamation of technical finesse and profound storytelling ensures "All About Eve" retains its status as an enduring masterpiece.

Criterion's release of "All About Eve" showcases the 4K restoration introduced by Twentieth Century Fox in 2011. The set includes a wealth of bonus features, many of which are exclusive to this edition. However, not all of the features from previous releases are present, so keeping your older version is advisable. The mono soundtrack is now available in a lossless format for the first time, enriching the auditory experience and contributing to the release's appeal.

This two-disc Criterion edition arrives at an opportune time for holiday gifting, packaged elegantly with a hefty booklet of insights and several new extras. Criterion has maintained a high standard, ensuring that most of the previous supplements are carried over, and including a slightly improved image quality. This amalgamation of features makes it one of the most comprehensive home video releases of this cinematic classic to date.

While the video transfer offers only marginal improvements over previous Blu-ray editions, the Criterion release stands out due to its holistic approach. From the timeless performances of Bette Davis and Anne Baxter to the pristine audio, every aspect is meticulously curated. Until a 4K UHD rendition is made available, this is arguably the definitive edition to own.

Criterion's upcoming two-disc release of "All About Eve" is sourced from the 4K restoration that Twentieth Century Fox introduced in 2011. However, it has a wealth of bonus features, many exclusive, that will be of interest to fans of the film. On other hand, this release does not have all of the bonus features from the first release, so if you decide to pick it up, do not give away your other release of the film. Highly recommended.