Bette Davis - "Busy Little Bees" from All About Eve (1950)

Bette Davis with Celeste Holm, Anne Baxter, Hugh Marlow, Gary Merrill, George Sanders, and Marilyn Monroe.

[@sethjohnson2743]

"If you'd like." "I wouldn't like." DEAD.

[@randywhite3947]

Flenif2247 what’s a lesbian for hire?

[@Dr.SyedSaifAbbasNaqvi]

That's Bette Davis in a nutshell

[@nisiriti]

"What's attractive on stage might not necessarily be attractive off"! What a line!

[@karllieck9064]

Celeste Holms was also wonderful in AAE.

[@rdevans4097]

One of the greatest scenes in cinema history, scintillating dialogue spat out by Miss Davis, venom was never so alluring.

[@macc.1132]

Every other line is quotable. Is there another film with such a high density of great dialogue? Look at other clips from the film and each one is stocked with them.

[@JamesBond-fg6bt]

@@macc.1132 30 second of dialogue in AAE trump the entire Marvel Universe writing put together.

[@pmonkeygeezer6212]

@@macc.1132 Bette Davis was a ham though. Terrible actress.

[@mood7060]

@@pmonkeygeezer6212 I distinctly remember crossing you off of my guest list. What are you doing here?

[@pmonkeygeezer6212]

@@mood7060 Commenting on the video. I've every right to comment, the same as anyone else. Betty Davis was a terrible ham actress. Do yourself a favour. Listen, learn, and suck it up.

[@bushwickbaby]

And you call yourself a playwright--a situation pregnant with possibilities and all you can say is "Everyone go to sleep"...GENIUS!

[@DiabolicalAngel]

the writing is so flawless in this!

[@carlos-ricardochambers8486]

"..a good thought..".."..it WON'T play."

[@randywhite3947]

She said pose as a playwright

[@FeelinErie]

Her delivery of "... happy little housewife" was FIRE!!!

[@BadGuyRants]

Bette Davis looks stunning!

[@m.e.d.7997]

Probably the last time Bette looked good.

[@randywhite3947]

Margaret huh? She looked good after this as well

[@JeffmChicago]

@Viking Song Git her. ;)

[@leroymccoy9008]

@@randywhite3947 not really. Compare her here to the movie "The Star" only a year or two later. She looked matronly and aged from then on out. Ciggs and booze (with a sprinkling of screaming at 4 husbands and countless lovers) aged tf out her.

[@musicjunkie7549]

This scene is on my Bucket List to get drunk and recite this entire scene

[@02chevyguy]

:) Have you had any chance(s)?

[@lynryall1317]

Wish I would be there to see that and raise a glass xxx

[@jamesphillips9671]

I just wanna be marilyn monroe while you do it

[@davonfryar-frazier435]

I prefer the theater scene.

[@jonathanroberts6434]

Need help?

[@dalesnyder2705]

I'm with Marilyn Monroe. I'd reach for a drink too after that scene! lol

[@DDios-ih9de]

Dale Snyder really!

[@TEFFTPATTERN]

Notice how they block her face out of the scenes speech intentionally because every moment she’s on camera she steals all the eyes and attention lol

[@nancynolan5823]

😂

[@gregfeil2574]

No one could do a better imitation of Bette Davis than Bette Davis. That syncopated, pop-eyed way she delivered lines, all the while putting the emphasis on the word you’d least expect to be emphasized. Pausing in all the wrong places. She was ahead of the beat or behind the beat at all times. She took what, in lesser hands, would be a hackneyed mess of affectations and mannerisms and turned them into just what they were: an utterly PERFECT mess of hackneyed affectations and mannerisms.

[@markanthonyfuentes4052]

You havent seen Charles Pierce's performance at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in Los Angeles in 1981 have you? Now he can imitate Bettie Davis better than Bettie Davis dear. As a matter of fact she attended his performance that nite and said 'Charles Pierce is supremely talented man'

[@puurrrr]

I think Susan Sarandon did a great job playing her

[@randywhite3947]

Mark Anthony Fuentes eh your gassing his performance way too much he was good but nowhere near as good as Bette Davis

[@randywhite3947]

Anonyme User she was good but not on the level of bette

[@peterdavino4408]

@Greg Feil/ Greg that's a brilliant description of her performance and I agree with you completely. This sort of characterization could easily have slipped into cartoon territory. Davis was a superb actress of the highest caliber.

[@bywaternyc7856]

One of the smartest, wittiest screenplays in Hollywood history!

[@randywhite3947]

Cinema history not just Hollywood

[@bywaternyc7856]

@@randywhite3947 You're absolutely right.

[@hansvonrittern9168]

"You're maudlin and full of self pity - you're magnificent!"

[@JeffmChicago]

Addison is such queen.

[@StopBeingLiedTo]

@@JeffmChicago if straight men could eviscerate as effectively, violence would've died out with the dinosaur

[@Apollo_Blaze]

One of the Best lines in the whole movie!!! LOL

[@carloschambers8423]

A line so perfectly delivered Addison Dewitt would most cert ainly have to be gay to pull it off in a modern version. His shade was Everything.

[@sidneyfrederickson3941]

"Stormy Weather" in the background, perfect for the scene!

[@02chevyguy]

The prefect song to end this scene.

[@libramuscle4u]

the writing in this script is smart, sharp, and just down right marvelous...love this movie!!

[@katalinabrigitte3395]

As a teacher I can promise you, the sarcasm, vocabulary, and wit would escape today's students...perhaps even that of their parents.

[@LaDivinaLover]

@@katalinabrigitte3395 and I can promise you that if you feel that way it’s because you’re a piss poor teacher that’s out of touch with the actual lives and likings of her students.

[@williedaniel8885]

Will you just look at this Gown & hair style Bette Davis is magnificent

[@jay_rjabonillo9908]

Gown designed by legendary Edith Head.

[@stuartlee6622]

Baby, that was ALL TALLULAH!!!!

[@willg4802]

So stereotypical gay of you

[@LaDivinaLover]

Will G So stereotypically bigoted of you.

[@susietorres8600]

That Dress!

[@kevinpaul2987]

Damn! Why didn't she win an Oscar for this?!

[@markanthonyfuentes4052]

The Oscar committee screwed it up. They nominated Anne Baxter and Bettie Davis. And it created a lot devastation for Bettie. Bettie Davis won Golden Globe for best actress though. And Judy Holiday won Oscar for Best Actress for her flick Born Yesterday.

[@musicjunkie7549]

kevin Paul Anne Baxter felt that she should have been nominated for Best Actress so she campaigned for it which threw chances for both her and Bette. We All know Bette killed this role and would have won it

[@marquamfurniture]

@@musicjunkie7549 Anne Baxter got a little too far ahead of herself.... If she hadn't been a greedy piggy, she might have won best supporting actress. Thanks to her, neither won anything. (Deserves to be despised in perpetuity.)

[@kerriethompson2073]

Even though I loved her performance in this movie I think that Judy Holiday deserved it more In Born Yesterday. Maybe this year should have been a tie.

[@marquamfurniture]

@@kerriethompson2073 Judy Holiday won strictly by default. (Da fault of Anne Baxter.)

[@junegiovanni6475]

Your in a beehive pal!, dont you know, Where all busy little bees, full of stings, making honey, day and night aren't we honey!...love this line.

[@carlamartinezvega13]

No one could have delivered that line better than the one and only Bette Davis

[@HaroldGriffin-083]

Nicely said 😊. I guess that most be one of your favorite part?

[@Aramanth]

Bette acts like she breathes... effortlessly.

[@lyonprairie2691]

I love Margo as a character in this movie. She roasted everyone. It's not even Eve's evil doings that took her down. In the end she had the last laugh. A classy sip of wine and a deadly stare that simply spelled death.

[@jasminnapuli2081]

Bette Davis! Just perfect! I love Marilyn Monroe. Last minute scene stealer!

[@goliathsparrow1082]

hardly

[@m.e.d.7997]

Loved the "Butler" comment. She adds a nice touch to this movie IMO. Great cast.

[@brenoleitebrito2471]

"Aren't we, honey?"

[@dalesnyder2705]

LOL

[@darnellmajor9016]

@Sydney Piper Bristow Well what did she meant by that? LOL

[@windstorm1000]

​@@darnellmajor9016she's being sarcastic to Eve and playing off the words " busy little bees"

[@AntajuanGrady]

Great film. Possibly the best screenplay ever written

[@karllieck9064]

The Lion in Winter script is equally brilliant.Also, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf.

[@EllerthePeridot]

This whole movie!! Addison’s “you’re magnificent” and the way he looks at Bill waiting for more drama kills me 😆.

[@jimjimmyjames59]

I've watched this a thousand times, but this was the first time I noticed that when Davis says "All right!", the music changes to Stormy Weather. That Mankiewicz - brilliant.

[@bugpal]

"And we who are about to die salute you." "Need any help?"

[@nathanmulroy8313]

“He needed help behind the notions counter” burnnnn

[@SaxonC]

The best intelligent dialogue in a film, EVER! Witty and biting remarks throughout the entire movie! This is when people had class and expressed themselves with an intelligent and clean vernacular. This movie stands the test of time and there wasn’t one curse word utter throughout the entire film. The actors are so amazing that one would think that each part was specifically written with them in mind. It may sound weird but I am glad that Claudette Colbert wasn’t able to play the part of Margo Channing. She injured her back and Bette Davis signed on!

[@WikeddTung]

If only we all had Joe Mackiewicz writing what comes out of our mouths for us.

[@LaDivinaLover]

You’re over-romanticizing the 40s & 50s. No normal person spoke like this. Movies are not reality. There were no curse words because of the Hayes Code. All of the actors in this scene swore like sailors offscreen! And Furthermore, People haven’t really changed that much, just the clothes. Stop being deluded.

[@Jardinier2023]

Wow!! what a brilliant scene..Bette Davis was the best..she owned that role and this scene attributes her greatness...No one could have delivered those lines like that and she plays drunk superbly. One of the best scripts ever for a movie...pity people were jealous of Bette she should of won the oscar!! One of the best performances ever by an actor/actress.

[@stmichl9433]

Such superb dialogue, screenplay, acting and direction. Love how she has revolving swipes at all of them sitting on that staircase and how she pivots, turns and pauses - as Addison De Witt observes, she's "magnificent."

[@Oceanusnovas-um2zf]

I LOVED BETTE DAVIS she was gifted talented actor and movie star I loved her dreamy eyes stunning.

[@nekukool4306]

Bette Davis could take on a whole room and walk out without a scratch!

[@MsClaudiaDuran]

The Bees and Honey line was so Shakespearian.

[@thenicolajeann]

her line delivery is one of a kind, everytime.

[@radamik]

Love this scene and this movie - and also love Margo's house, specifically that iron stair railing, the modern baroque style that came in in the 1940s. Very cool, and what you might see in older American suburbs that have always been affluent.

[@srfrider1973]

after all it was her house

[@XYZ-ln2qk]

I suspect, she would say the same even outside her house.

[@photo161]

Betty Davis's work in this scene is so filled with the evidence and outpourings of a rich, complex, and ultimately unhappy life such as only a great actress...no, a great artist could pull off, and pull it off she does ever so brilliantly.

[@treesny]

Claudette Colbert, whom Davis replaced on short notice, would have been excellent as Margo - she was a fine actor, both in drama and comedy - but Davis lifts the entire picture into another realm altogether.

[@windstorm1000]

Great analysis of great actress

[@andrewjwheelerjr275]

old Bette so darn ahh cute she look so sleepy she just needed a little Nap great performances and great cast of characters in this Oscar winner of a masterpiece of a film i will make sure I add this to my dvd collection ASAP well peace everyone😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂.

[@susanb2015]

Stuff your peace crap.

[@jons.6216]

It's funny that whenever I would come across this movie on cable I would find myself stopping and watching the whole thing! Haha!

[@ksmith1728]

absolutely love that stormy weather is playing in the background

[@vazmo14850]

saw this in a theater today! what a treat

[@bluecollarlit]

Good for you! I saw it first time at the Coolidge corner theater in Brookline, what a knockout film!

[@gracecheri997]

"fasten your seat belts it's going to be a bumpy night."

[@attyjosh]

“Oh please don’t play governess...” 🤣

[@frumaatholoid]

'You're maudlin and full of self-pity. You're magnificent!' LOL

[@unclealand]

One of the best drunk scenes I ever saw. Sorry the scene in the kitchen with Max isn't here, too.

[@Gambit8228]

you get quick action

[@roberttrepagnier9149]

No wonder.this movie received 14 Oscar nominations.

[@toplaycool21]

No special effects or special camera angles. Just great dialogue and fantastic acting.

[@jorgecuevas9087]

you can smeeeeeeell the cigarettes from here. Love from mexico.

[@nicholaspendergast9991]

This film is all perfect -- perfect actors, perfect roles, perfect script, perfect dialogues, perfect score.

[@truthmatters-jt5up]

perfect clothes...

[@windstorm1000]

You'd have to be dead or comatose not to adore this incredible dialogue

[@Paglia444]

"you're maudlin and full of self-pity. You're magnificent."

[@ksmith1728]

Ugh …I love it !

[@mentak2593]

Pockets in a formal gown back then, wow 🤩

[@windstorm1000]

You noticed !

[@MrBruce5437]

What a great darlin beautiful elegant and legendary was Bette Davis....a career spanned nearly almost 60 years...Bette Davis 1908-1989 May God rest your soul

[@josecarlosramolete6109]

This is why Kim Carnes wrote a song for Bette Davis. And interestingly speaking, Bette Davis wrote a letter to Kim Carnes in gratitude for making her (Davis) an inspiration behind the song, Bette Davis' Eyes.

[@amyclarke41]

She is class

[@vincenthannah7209]

No one could have played Margo like Bette.

[@user-ev9rg1tp8o]

Something tells me that this particular kind of conversation was probably a real-life convo between Bette Davis and many of her competitors. Ha!

[@silverman824]

Happy Birthday, welcome home and we who are about to die salute you... GOD DAMN AWESOME LINE!!

[@branpred79]

i havent your UNYIEEEEELDING good taste

[@ivyshannon-gg6dj]

The way I was like omg that girl in the corner looks just like Marilyn! And it is LOL

[@gsogso3444]

I just love Betty looks on this scene....beautyful

[@mahhubbard]

Amazing just amazing, I like the contrasting music in the background with the catty dialogue.

[@WikeddTung]

IMO the best written scene in the film

[@loretta_3843]

This movie is so well written - excellent dialogue. If only people spoke like this in real life!

[@tonyhoward7004]

Joseph L Mankiewicz best screenplay ever ! “You’re maudlin and full of self-pity…..you’re magnificent!” I mean, really. How did he write this good ?!?!

[@jrbon4619]

True Bette brilliance.

[@frankroper3274]

If you have ever seen the movie "Gladiator" some of the lines from this clip were used in it. "We who are about to die salute you"! "Busy little bees"!

[@scorpioninblue]

Bette Davis eyes! Need I say more??

[@rooseveltdavis9559]

You don't have to say more brother. Bette Davis was a living doll in her glory days.

[@mikeclifford8360]

"You're maudlin and full of self pity. You're magnificent!!" LOL!!!

[@bbc2402]

She was the most beautiful in this movie!!!!

[@BillofRights1951]

I read that Joseph Mankiewicz wrote the entire script of this film over a weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley...THAT is talent.

[@aishamarquez211]

That's awesome and natural I have to summon a demon 😂

[@jeffbassin630]

Bette Davis was BRILLIANT as Margo Channing!

[@kristopher1799]

The BEST script EVER!!

[@cobeu5471]

LOVE BETTE DAVIS !

[@williedaniel8885]

Oh My God just look the Orignal Mr Freeze George Sanders himself

[@coletrick8748]

The writer is perfection in this scene

[@02chevyguy]

I find it fitting that the song "Stormy Weather" is playing in the background.

[@windstorm1000]

You caught it too. Mankiewicz brilliant even music comments

[@blemelin]

"You're maudlin and full of self pity. You're magnificent!"

[@lindaeasley4336]

Bette was in top form in All About Eve 👍

[@michaelserfort8128]

B.D.looks here the best she can...in my eyes. 👍

[@AndrewRudin]

Bravo, Edith Head. That dress is a masterpiece!

[@aishamarquez211]

You're funny all you can think about is how nice the dress looks wow 😂

[@madlove1581]

... and we who are about to die salute you. LOL, classic Bette, my favorite role she played. Just a true, killer character actress!!!!!!!!

[@anastasiaromanov3863]

" Stop Acting Like I'm The Queen -- Mother "

[@puurrrr]

I like how marilyn is just there in the background and not the leading role for once

[@goliathsparrow1082]

brilliant

[@user-bq9wy9kx3y]

Wow she was stunning.

[@RichFirever12]

Women were more elegant back than

[@TheHappychickadee]

She was so good in this movie - truly magnificent

[@marcrobson6157]

You're MAGNIFICENT!

[@kadancebrynn]

Love the 50s

[@stevienicks4405]

Everyone i meet tells me that I look SO much like Bette Davis especially my Bette Davis eyes!

[@anotherguy7655]

Love what you're doing, keep it up!

[@MensAsses33]

Happy little housewife!

[@billhilton3265]

She is so beautiful and full of trouble! They dont make actresses like this anymore, nor do they make scenes and movies like this. Great movie, great acting!! It was the most ever nominated film until the titanic...and Davis is all bengal tiger

[@lizettec]

This scene is one of my 10 fave performance/quotes /smart . 🤗👏👸👏🌷🐝

[@lynryall1317]

What a woman, in acting and life xxx

[@ksmith1728]

“I wish I could have gone to Radcliffe too” ….. the shade 😂😂😂

[@mike48877]

Magnificent! The entire scene!

[@deewright1]

This is my house not a theater

[@elviswelling]

In my house you're a guest not a director

[@AndrewRudin]

"We're all busy little bees....... Aren't we, Honey?"

[@dianecourtney2724]

I love this movie 😂🌷

[@alexismarquez3674]

BETTE DAVIS AS MARGO CHANNING IN "ALL ABOUT EVE" SAID: "I ADMIT I MAY HAVE SEEN BETTER DAYS, BUT I'M STILL NOT TO BE HAD FOR THE PRICE OF A COCKTAIL LIKE A SALTED PEANUT 🥜

[@noaei]

Oh honnnnnnnayyyyy. I'll always think of Tracy Martell when I see this scene now.