joe-pearce-1 This may not be really good, but it is fascinating to see if only for a 'legendary' performance, that being of Lauren Bacall as Margo Channing. I never found Bacall the least bit sexy in film, and although she came along some in the late 1940s and 1950s, I always thought she was a near-A star with a B- talent. I recall the discerning but often nasty critic John Simon once stating that there were certain stars, Bacall being one of them, who were simply naturally 'big' personalities and were able to demonstrate that much better on the stage than on the screen. Well, she does that here, and in spades. You cannot watch Bacall in KEY LARGO or TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT and get any idea that she has a personality and 'largeness' of aspect so totally on exhibit in this film. That being said, several reviewers here have somewhat denigrated this TV performance of hers, but they should remember that it is a THEATER performance basically filmed for the small screen. (Bette Davis, in ALL ABOUT EVE, gave a THEATER performance on the screen and got away with it, but she always gave THEATER performances on the screen, somewhat in the manner that Eleanor Parker and Faye Dunaway also did, and they all got away with it, sometimes gloriously well.) As for the rest of the TV show, it is quite updated to include not only some language that would have been verboten on the screen in 1950, but also in changing the Thelma Ritter role to that of a gay man, having an entire scene take place in a gay club, and changing the critic played by George Sanders to a show producer played by Robert Mandan. The producer isn't nearly as nasty and caustic (and funny) as is the Sanders character, but he is in the same position as is the critic to help Eve's upcoming career, and in the end, he gets that particular girl (poor guy), while Margo goes off to the domestic life with a good, but not grainy enough (in comparison to Gary Merrill) Larry Hagman. The songs for this show were so-so at best, but quite effective in putting over why people dedicate their lives to the theater (actually, this is done better than in the movie) and also why Margo has done so. And as iconic as Davis may have been in the movie, she is a big part of a great ensemble, whereas in the musical, Margo is 80% of the show. Whatever the outcome, and it is pretty good, this viewing just moved me to think of all the great stage performances that have not been preserved - like Andrews in MY FAIR LADY, Merman in GYPSY, Alfred Drake in just about everything he did, March and Eldridge in LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, etc., etc. Anyway, even as only a historical curiosity, this is well worth viewing.

mark.waltz While the Broadway musical this television special is based upon may be dated, the themes aren't. It's the story of a woman and her career, the presence of somebody who threatens both her career and her happiness, and how she rises above the usual temptations of how to survive while keeping your claws intact. "She" is Margo Channing (the fantastic Lauren Bacall, repeating her Tony Award Winning role), a Broadway diva extraordinare, at the height of her career, but on the threshold of middle age. Insecurities bring on jealousy and fear, especially when a young upstart (Penny Fuller) shows up, pretends to be her best friend, and betrays her simply to boost her own career as a rising actress and Broadway legend in the making.It is obvious that a young Margo Channing would never have done the things that Eve does here to rise from starlet to star. Margo may be tough and even bitchy at times, but she obviously has scruples. She was once a sexy screen siren and has moved into the theater simply for the love of the stage. Now she has two loves-the theater and a producer (Larry Hagman, taking over the role originated by Len Cariou), and isn't willing to let that go. As Margo learns the truth about Eve, she faces some important life lessons that might actually make her grateful to Eve for being that little push she needed to face the reality of aging gracefully.Bette Davis originated the role of Margo and also played a similar role as film actress Margaret Elliott in "The Star", and uttered the immortal screen line, "Fasten Your Seatbelts, It's Going to Be a Bumpy Night!". That becomes a big production number for the musical which was only just one of several dated musical numbers. One of them ("But Alive!") is set in a gay bar, and ends up in the television version which is pretty daring considering this was only four years after the Stonewall riots. I was in a production of this musical in the early 80's for my High School drama club, and they simply transfered the number to the Joe Allen's setting where the gypsies hung out. Here, the setting is extremely obvious with "Gay Power" highlighted on a huge sign in the background and very obvious gay men singing lyrics like "Chickie Chickie Ow! Ow Ow Ow!".One of the main reasons why this doesn't rate a higher rating is that the cheap video tape makes it look even more dated than it was on stage. If it wasn't for the stars being so incredible (Ms. Bacall tears "Welcome to the Theater!" to pieces), this would rank a 5 (**1/2). Attempts to update the book have not proved successful in getting a revival back on Broadway (although it was revived at the New York City Center for an Encores concert) while the same year's "Company" has been revived successfully several times even though the original production had a very early 70's sound as well. If you are lucky enough to find a copy of this, you can enjoy it, as long as you are aware that it works best as a fascinating ghost story.

Isaac5855 APPLAUSE, the Broadway musical based on the classic ALL ABOUT EVE, was hastily filmed for television in 1973. The show first appeared on Broadway in 1970 and won Lauren Bacall a Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical. The story definitely lacks the bite of the original, obviously because it's a musical, but it's still the same story of Broadway star Margo Channing (Bacall) taking a star-struck fan (Penny Fuller) under her wing who pays her back by trying to take over her life. This production seems to have been thrown together in sort of a hap-hazard fashion and Bacall and company deserve better. The score by Lee Adams and Charles Strouse (BYE BYE BIRDIE) includes "But Alive", "The Best Night of My Life", "Backstage Babble", "One of a Kind", and the classic title tune. Bacall works hard at making Margo likable as does Larry Hagman as Bill Sampson, Margo's much younger boyfriend. A curio to be sure, but worth a look if you can find it.

miketv-1 I always wondered what this show was like.The musical version of "ALL ABOUT EVE" I have heard the Original Broadway cast album and was excited to see on the IMDB that there was a video version taped in 1973. I recently found a copy of it. I can now understand why this is never seen. The quality of the sets is like a cheap soap opera, the actors project as if they are acting to the last row of a huge arena. Lauren Bacall has never seemed so insincere. The "choreography" is sloppy, the Greenwich Village gay bar number is a blast, men throwing Lauren around while she sings, and trying to make it look like she is a dancer. At times I am reminded of Mae West in "SEXTETTE" The lip-syncing is obvious. But I love this show I wish they would put this on DVD with DTS sound and hours of extras. But this will most likely be shown no-where and never released on home video. The production was probably taped in a few days and it shows. I am sure the stage production was a lot better. But this is the only version of this musical around. It is a great record of the show if you can imagine the better production it must have been. The songs are stuck in my head. The dramatic lovers quarrels with Lauren and Larry Hagman are unbelievable. The ending is very strange with Margo (Lauren) giving up her career as an actress so she can be a real woman for her man. But that is all part of the fun. The "APPLAUSE" number is a real hoot with the cutesy "gypsies" doing parodies of "Cabaret," "Fiddler," West Side Story," "Hello Dolly," "Oklahoma-Oh Calcutta." among others. Highly recommended!