All About Eve (1950)

Celeste Holm: Karen

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Quotes 

• Margo : So many people know me. I wish I did. I wish someone would tell me about me.

  Karen : You're Margo, just Margo.

  Margo : And what is that, besides something spelled out in light bulbs, I mean - besides something called a temperament, which consists mostly of swooping about on a broomstick and screaming at the top of my voice? Infants behave the way I do, you know. They carry on and misbehave - they'd get drunk if they knew how - when they can't have what they want, when they feel unwanted or insecure or unloved.

• Lloyd Richards : That bitter cynicism of yours is something you've acquired since you left Radcliffe!

  Karen : The cynicism you refer to, I acquired the day I discovered I was different from little boys!

• Lloyd Richards : Karen, let me tell you about Eve. She's got everything - a born actress. Sensitive, understanding, young, exciting, vibrant...

  Karen : Don't run out of adjectives, dear.

• Karen : Nothing is forever in the Theatre. Whatever it is, it's here, it flares up, burns hot and then it's gone.

• Karen : I'm sorry, Margo.

  Margo : What for? It isn't as though you personally drained the gas tank yourself.

• Llyod Richards : Eve did mention the play, but in passing. She'd never ask to play a part like Cora. She'd never have the nerve.

  Karen : Eve would ask Abbott to give her Costello.

• Karen : Where were we going that night, Lloyd and I? Funny, the things you remember and the things you don't.

• Karen : This beats all records for running, standing or jumping gall.

• Karen : [Eve walks in, carrying the fur coat of a new arrival to Margo's party]  Who'd show up at this hour? It's time people went home. Hold that coat up.

  Karen : [Eve holds up a luxurious full-length fur coat, Karen lets out a whistle]  Whose is it?

  Eve : Some Hollywood movie star's. Her plane got in late.

  Karen : Discouraging, isn't it? Women with furs like that where it never even gets cold.

  Eve : Hollywood.

  [tosses the fur coat on the bed] 

• Karen : [narrating]  Newton, they say, thought of gravity by getting hit on the head by an apple. And the man who invented the steam-engine, he was watching a teakettle. But not me. My big idea came to me just sitting on a couch. That boot in the rear to Margo. Heaven knows, she had one coming. From me, from Lloyd, from Eve, Bill, Max and so on. We'd all felt those size fives of hers often enough. But how? The answer was buzzing around me like a fly. I had it. But I let it go. Screaming and calling names is one thing, but this could mean...

  Karen : [continues]  Why not? "Why," I said to myself, "not?" It would all seem perfectly legitimate. And only two people in the world would know. Also, the boot would land where it would do the most good for all concerned. After all, it was no more than a harmless joke which Margo herself would be the first to enjoy. And no reason why she shouldn't be told about it... in time.

  Karen : [on the phone, calling Eve to let her in on her little "joke"]  Hello. Will you please call Miss Eve Harrington to the phone?

• Karen : [voiceover]  It seems a lifetime ago. Lloyd always said that in the theatre a lifetime was a season and a season a lifetime.

• Karen : Margo just doesn't miss performances. If she can walk, crawl or roll, she plays.

  Eve : The show must go on.

  Karen : No, dear. Margo must go on.

• Karen : A part in a play. You'd do all that just for a part in a play?

  Eve : I'd do much more for a part that good.

• Eve : I hope you don't mind my speaking to you?

  Karen : Not at all.

  Eve : I've seen you so often. It took every bit of courage I could raise.

  Karen : To speak to just a playwright's wife? I'm the lowest form of celebrity.

• Karen : Good luck, genius.

  Bill Sampson : Geniuses don't need good luck. I do.

• Eve : Mr. Sampson. What's he like?

  Karen : Bill Sampson? He's - he's a director.

  Eve : He's the best!

  Karen : He'll agree with you.

• Eve : Autograph fiends. They're not people. Those little beasts that run around in packs like coyotes.

  Karen : They're your fans!

• Karen : Margo, nothing you've ever done has made me as happy your taking Eve in.

  Margo : I'm so happy you're happy.

• Karen : It's about time Margo realize that what's attractive on stage need *not* be attractive off.

• Karen : Lloyd says Margo compensates for underplaying on stage by overplaying reality.

• Karen : Eve, you mustn't mind Margo too much, even if I do.

  Eve : There must be some reason, something I've done without knowing.

  Karen : The reason is Margo and don't try to figure it out. Einstein couldn't.

• Karen : Bill is all of eight years younger than you.

  Margo : Those years stretch as the years go on. I've seen it happen too often.

  Karen : Not to you, not to Bill.

  Margo : Isn't that what they always say?

• Karen : Lloyd Richards, you are not to consider giving that contemptible little worm the part of Cora!

• Addison DeWitt : By the smartness of your dress I take it that your luncheon companion is a lady?

  Karen : Margo.

  Addison DeWitt : Margo lunching in public?

  Karen : Oh, it's a new Margo; but, she's just as late as the old one.

• Karen : I guess at this point I'm what the French call "de trop."

  Bill Sampson : Maybe just a little around the edges.

• Karen : [voiceover]  Margo and I were having lunch at 21, just like girlfriends, with hats on.

• Lloyd Richards : Margo and Bill want us to meet them in the Cub Room tonight after the theater for a bottle of wine.

  Karen : Margo Channing in the Cub Room? I couldn't be more surprised if she'd said Grant's Tomb.

• Eve : I'll never get over it.

  Karen : Oh, yes, you will. You theatre people always do. Nothing is forever in the theatre. Whatever it is, it's here, it flares up, burns hot, and it's gone.

• Karen : It strikes me that Eve's disloyalty and ingratitude must be contagious!

  Lloyd Richards : All this fuss and hysteria because of an impulsive kid got carried away by excitement and the conniving of a professional manure-slinger named DeWitt. She apologized, didn't she?

  Karen : On her knees, I've no doubt!

• Karen : What are you going to wear?

  Margo : Something simple, a fur coat over a nightgown.

• Karen : They'll do as they're told.

• Karen : I'm gonna take you to Margo.

  Eve : Oh, no!

  Karen : Oh, yes. She's got to meet you.

  Eve : No. No, I'd be imposing on her. I'd be just another tongue-tied, gushing fan.

• Karen : Now you're quoting Addison - or Eve.