20 Amazing Facts About All About Eve
8. The Cast And Crew Were Apprehensive About Working With Bette Davis
Being a last-minute addition as the film’s leading role, Bette Davis caused some anxiousness between cast members and the production team. Many were aware of how bold and brazen she could be on set and others were intimidated to be working with ‘Hollywood Royalty’.
Producer Darryl F. Zanuck and Davis already shared a dislike for each other because she walked out of her post as president of the Motion Picture Academy in 1941. Director Mankiewicz even received a phone call from Edmund Goulding, a former director of hers, and warned him about her bad on-set behaviour (particularly how she constantly wanted to change the script).
But Darryl and Davis put their differences aside and she turned out to a pleasant surprise. Davis admired the written dialogue and knew not to tamper with Mankiewicz’ finely crafted screenplay. In fact, he even later admitted she was one of the most professional actresses he had the pleasure of working with.