OVERLAY REPORT

There is a strong consensus among film historians and the cast members themselves that there were **no improvised scenes** in *All About Eve* (1950). Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who also wrote the screenplay, was famously protective of his dialogue, and the actors held the script in such high regard that they adhered to it with unusual precision. Here are the specific details regarding the script's adherence and the "happy accidents" that are sometimes mistaken for improvisation: ### 1. Strict Adherence to the Script Despite Bette Davis's reputation for being "difficult" and frequently rewriting her lines on other sets, she did not change a single word of Mankiewicz's script. * **Mankiewicz’s Testimony:** The director later remarked that "not one syllable is different on the screen than in the screenplay." * **Bette Davis’s View:** Davis referred to the script as "the most brilliantly written" of her career. She reportedly came to the set with no notes or markings on her script because she felt the "genius had done it all." ### 2. The "Husky Voice" (A Physical Accident) One of the most iconic elements of Margo Channing’s performance—her gravelly, husky voice—was actually a "happy accident" rather than an intentional acting choice or improvisation. * **The Cause:** Just before filming began, Davis had a massive, hours-long screaming match with her then-husband, William Sherry. The strain blew out her vocal cords, leaving her with a permanent rasp for the duration of the shoot. * **The Result:** Mankiewicz and Davis realized the voice perfectly suited the character’s "bitchy" and world-weary persona, so they kept it. While it wasn't scripted, it was a physiological condition that Davis had to maintain throughout the production to ensure continuity. ### 3. The "Mink Coat Like a Poncho" (Character Note) Some trivia sources cite Margo's habit of tossing her expensive mink coat around as if it were a cheap blanket as a "bit of business." * **The Origin:** This was not an actor's improvisation on the day. It was a specific character note provided by Mankiewicz during pre-production. He told Davis that Margo was "the kind of dame who would treat her mink coat like a poncho." Davis took this note and translated it into a series of physical actions (tossing the coat on the floor or a chair), which helped define the character's casual arrogance. ### 4. Marilyn Monroe’s Line Struggles In contrast to the seasoned actors who delivered the witty dialogue with ease, Marilyn Monroe (playing Miss Casswell) struggled significantly with the script. * **The Lobby Scene:** In the scene with George Sanders in the theater lobby, Monroe reportedly required **25 takes** because she kept forgetting her lines. Her performance appears "breathless" and nervous on screen, which worked for the character, but it was the result of a struggle to stick to the script rather than an attempt to improvise. ### 5. The "Bumpy Night" Party Scene Even the complex, multi-layered "Fasten your seatbelts" party scene was choreographed and scripted down to the finest detail. The sharp overlapping dialogue and biting quips that feel spontaneous were the result of meticulous rehearsals. The only elements of "improvisation" were the **physical reactions** of the background actors, which Mankiewicz encouraged to make the party feel lived-in, but the primary dialogue remained untouched.