Joseph L. Mankiewicz had many talents, working as a director, screenwriter, and producer during his time in Hollywood. He wrote and directed All About Eve, and was awarded with Academy Awards for both duties. The script was based on a radio play and short story by Mary Orr, a story which Mankiewicz stumbled upon after deciding that he wanted to write a screenplay about an aging actress. Upon first reading Orr's short story, Mankiewicz sent a note to producer Darryl F. Zanuck that read, "fits in with an original idea and can be combined. Superb starring role for Susan Hayward." Of course, Susan Hayward would not end up starring in the film, but it was a smash success nonetheless.
A great deal about the script and film changed in production. For instance, Mankiewicz's original title for the film was Best Performance, but Zanuck eventually decided to change it to All About Eve. Casting also shifted quite a bit. It's hard to believe, but the role of Margo Channing, a character now impossible to think of without Bette Davis, was passed around quite a bit before Mankiewicz finally settled on his leading lady. Susan Hayward was Mankiewicz's first choice, but Zanuck thought she didn't fit the bill, so they tapped Marlene Dietrich, Gertrude Lawrence, Talullah Bankhead, and Joan Crawford (Davis' arch nemesis). When Claudette Colbert had to withdraw from the project, Mankiewicz and Zanuck had to reconsider. When Bette Davis came up, Mankiewicz set to work rewriting the script to reflect Davis' stronger and more combative personality. Indeed, Mankiewicz hired Davis in spite of being warned that she would drive him crazy.
The result is one of the wittiest accounts of theater and show business in American cinema. Mankiewicz always said that writing men's parts came much more naturally for him, but that writing for a woman presented a challenge. Mankiewicz delved into his subject matter with gusto, approaching the challenge with wit and grit, and getting along very well with his allegedly difficult leading lady, Davis.
