This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.

While Mankiewicz employs his signature style with this film, the un-chronological sequencing and multiple narrators don't make up for the ultimately lack-lustre and a little confusing plot. Ava Gardner, in the role of Maria Vargas, however does! She is scintillating as a Spanish dancer turned Hollywood actress and always maintains the crucial sense of mystery and likeability. She is a humble siren, someone to envy and also to sympathise with. Humphrey Bogart is lovely in his role of unwitting "Godfather" and it is refreshing to see a film where the two main characters form a friendship rather than just another love affair.

I really enjoyed the playful structure of this film, which starts with the chronological end scene and then, with narration shared between multiple characters, proceeds to unroll the mystery of how things ended up that way. Saving, of course, one last surprise for the end. Bette Davis is riveting in her role as Margot Channing, playing an aging theatre actress. She is dramatic, she behaves badly but she manages to be completely charismatic and sympathetic throughout, all the better to cast Eve in her role.