Addison Dewitt

"That's, uh, all television is, my dear, nothing buy auditions."

- Addison Dewitt

A supporting character to the 1950 Best Picture winner All About Eve, Addison Dewitt is an intelligent, hides in plain sight, opportunistic, possessive and power loving (in the behind the scenes sense) type of villain.

He is played by George Sanders.

personality
1. Loves to condescend, especially to an idividual's face. He often does so and even insults the viewer if she/he has no knowlege of who he is. He does this often with such well crafted words that the target of his affection is often clueless to his shots.

2. Passion for Theatre. He sits in wait, observes and postures until moments of bliss light the stage like "Fire and Music."

3. Sensitive to personal insults. In the pivotal scene between Dewitt and Eve, Eve laughs in his face at his mention of them meaning something of more and profound personal valute to one another. He slaps her hard, clearly showing signs of weakness and sadness in his visage as he exclaims "Remember as long as you live, never to laugh at me. At anything or anyone else, but never at me."

in the movie
Addison Dewitt introduces the viewers right as the movie begins. He does so with charm, pace and obnoxious wit. He introduces each character with a little bit of history and personal points per subject. After his opening monologue the focus shifts to one of the other supporting characters for narration.

Dewitt is seen once again at a party that Margo is throwing for her long term boyfriend, but secretly established by Eve. Addison arrives and is met as an anooyance by the protagonists, but alas, he is a compelling and powerful individual and the lead hereos just accept and deal with him. He introduces a "protege" Miss Casswell (played by Marilyn Monroe) a simple minded lady with and not much else. Addison directs Casswell to influence a producer friend of Margo's to get herself a gig.

While in attendance for Miss Casswell's audition, Addison was in awe of the new and up coming star - Eve Harrington, who had a reading with Casswell. Addison comments how he's like a monk patiently waiting for that moment of enlightenment, an epiphany. He notes several actors who sparked such delight within him, including Margo and now one such Eve Harrington. He uses the term "Like Fire and Music!" A phrase that stick within Margo's mind as a kind of self doubt.

While Eve secretly holds meetings with members of the press for her own power gain and climb to stardom, Addison, by chance arrives at the very moment when Eve confesses to Lloyd (Margo's boyfriend) that she loves him and desires him. Addison doesn't let his presence be known and simply waits outside and eavesdrops. After Lloyd turns down Eve's advances, Addison spies a royally angry and frustrated Eve, who tears off her performance wig and trashes her dresser. Eve hears a sudden knocking and asks who it is. Addison enters enters as if he'd just arrived and Eve puts on her facade again. They have a discussion and Addison asks questions into Eve's past that she personally spoke about in an earlier article. As Dewitt probes, Eve finds that she must cut him off as she can't remember all the details perfectly. Addison leaves and Eve carries on.

In the pivotal scene between Addison and Eve, Eve tells Dewitt a false story of her and Bill's engagement. Addison knows her story's a lie and retaliates. He informs Eve that he looked into her past and discovered that she's not who she says she is and is in fact a criminal on the run desperately seeking fame and attention. Eve unfortunately cannot fight back and Dewitt let's her know that she "Belongs completely" to him. He wants her and he wants her to want him (or at least comply). He tells a distraught Eve, "You're an improbable person, Eve, and so am I. We have that in common. Also a contempt for humanity, an inability to love and be loved, insatiable ambition- and talent. We deserve each other."

At the end of the film, Dewitt and Eve now working hand in hand with Dewitt obvisouly withholding the dirt on Eve so she stays by his side, he arrives at Eve's place to drop off her award, when he meets Phoebe (an unkown woman, similary to Eve) and asks her is someday she would like a statue like Eve's. Phoebe passionately nods and Dewitt tells her she may yet get one. He leaves and is not to be seen again.

TRIVIA
George Sanders won the oscar for best supporting actor for his portrayal of Addison Dewitt.

George Sanders provided his voice for another notable villain, Shere Khan from 1967's The Jungle Book.