I suppose the one thing Eve White could never be accused of, in the 1957 movie "The Three Faces of Eve," is not having enough of a personality! In fact--to the consternation of her dullard Georgian husband, and the amazement of shrink Lee J. Cobb--she's got three distinct personalities that tend to emerge quite unexpectedly. The first is Eve White herself, a mousy dishrag of a housewife; then there's "Eve Black," an extroverted, hard-drinking party girl; and finally "Jane," a nice, well-spoken young woman. As portrayed by Joanne Woodward in her Oscar-winning role, this mixed-up gal becomes a very believable and sympathetic figure. Woodward is actually pretty amazing here, and it is quite remarkable how she is able to switch on a dime from one personality to another, using all the actor's tricks of mannerisms, voice inflections, accents and so on. Cobb is also excellent, as usual, as the soft-spoken, patient doctor who tries for years to help her, and David Wayne is also fine as Eve's husband, who, in one fascinating scene, seems to cheat on his wife WITH HIS OWN WIFE! The psychological explanation of why Eve has become what she is may strike some as too pat, but we shouldn't forget that this is all based on a real-life case history. However, as Danny Peary reminds us in his fun book "Alternate Oscars," the real-life Eve had not been cured at the time this film was made, but rather required 17 years' worth of additional therapy, during which time a full 22 personalities came forth! But I guess that would have made for a very depressing 10-hour movie! And I wholeheartedly agree with Peary that Woodward deserved an Oscar for her work here. Heck, under the circumstances, they should've given her three!
72 Reviews
It's all about the acting here.
Hey_Sweden17 December 2018
Joanne Woodward lights up the screen in triple roles in this tale of multiple-personality disorder. Her initial, primary role is that of Eve White, a seemingly ordinary and meek Southern woman married to a man named Ralph (David Wayne). Well into adulthood, her second personality, a flirty, vampish, life-of-the-party pre-marriage version of herself, starts posing serious problems, and she is sent to therapy. An eminent psychiatrist (Lee J. Cobb) uses hypnosis to try to get through to her, and find the life event that triggered the emergence of Eve No. 2 (although none seems to exist). In time, a third personality emerges, a soft-spoken but mature and intelligent woman named Jane.
Although extremely well shot in CinemaScope by Stanley Cortez, this relatively brief film (92 minutes long) does not try to dazzle the viewer with visual dynamics, hinging almost entirely on Woodwards' impressive ability to delineate these three distinct characters. She certainly deserved that Best Actress Oscar win; "The Three Faces of Eve" offers her plenty of opportunity to just emote for everything that she's worth. Offering strong support are Wayne, as the husband who finds that he just can't stand by her (and, in one memorable scene, finds himself attracted to the Eve Black personality), and Cobb as the determined doctor interested in Eves' welfare. In smaller roles, you'll see familiar actors and actresses such as Nancy Kulp ('The Beverly Hillbillies'), Douglas Spencer ("The Thing from Another World"), Vince Edwards ('Ben Casey'), and Ken Scott ("Stopover Tokyo"). The film is narrated by Alistair Cooke of 'Masterpiece Theatre' fame.
This compelling material is given fairly straightforward treatment by screenwriter Nunnally Johnson, in one of his eight directing credits. It doesn't get too bogged down in "psycho-babble", although there is some amusement in the way that Cobb has his work cut out for him trying to use laymen's terms with the not-terribly-bright, hot-tempered Wayne.
While the film ends rather abruptly, it's careful to point out to us that the journey to self-discovery for Eve was a couple of years in the making. While the ending is kind of typical Hollywood stuff, Woodward still sells all of it so beautifully.
Inspired by the real-life case of South Carolina woman Christine Costner Sizemore, who ultimately manifested over *20* different personalities over the course of her lifetime.
Eight out of 10.
Although extremely well shot in CinemaScope by Stanley Cortez, this relatively brief film (92 minutes long) does not try to dazzle the viewer with visual dynamics, hinging almost entirely on Woodwards' impressive ability to delineate these three distinct characters. She certainly deserved that Best Actress Oscar win; "The Three Faces of Eve" offers her plenty of opportunity to just emote for everything that she's worth. Offering strong support are Wayne, as the husband who finds that he just can't stand by her (and, in one memorable scene, finds himself attracted to the Eve Black personality), and Cobb as the determined doctor interested in Eves' welfare. In smaller roles, you'll see familiar actors and actresses such as Nancy Kulp ('The Beverly Hillbillies'), Douglas Spencer ("The Thing from Another World"), Vince Edwards ('Ben Casey'), and Ken Scott ("Stopover Tokyo"). The film is narrated by Alistair Cooke of 'Masterpiece Theatre' fame.
This compelling material is given fairly straightforward treatment by screenwriter Nunnally Johnson, in one of his eight directing credits. It doesn't get too bogged down in "psycho-babble", although there is some amusement in the way that Cobb has his work cut out for him trying to use laymen's terms with the not-terribly-bright, hot-tempered Wayne.
While the film ends rather abruptly, it's careful to point out to us that the journey to self-discovery for Eve was a couple of years in the making. While the ending is kind of typical Hollywood stuff, Woodward still sells all of it so beautifully.
Inspired by the real-life case of South Carolina woman Christine Costner Sizemore, who ultimately manifested over *20* different personalities over the course of her lifetime.
Eight out of 10.
A must see performance
Paul-10322 December 1998
Joanne Woodward is SO good in this (she won the academy award for best actress). Her portrayals of Eve White (dowdy and dreary), Eve Black (sensual and wild) and the eventual Jane (pretty close to what you'd call normal) were nothing short of incredible due to the diversity of the personalities and the fact that she was able to achieve such believability. Got to see this one.
Three Different Women In One Body
Chrysanthepop4 May 2010
'The Three Faces of Eve' tells the true story of a housewife who suffers from the condition recognized as dissociative identity disorder today. Nunnally Johnson's movie entirely focuses on the experience of Eve White, Eve Black and Jane during a period of a couple of years beginning from the time she started visiting her psychologist. This is unlike many of the 50s movies I've seen because it deals with several adult themes such as divorce, spousal abuse, sex and childhood trauma unlike the comparatively melodramatic films that were so popular at the time. Nunnally proves to be a fine storyteller as the meticulous writing is rich, tight and full of depth and the direction is great. I liked how he showed the 'treatment process'. It was cleverly downplayed in the story. The execution is done with skill. 'The Three Faces of Eve' has some outstanding nuanced performances. Lee J. Cobb is restrained as Eve's psychologist but it is Joanne Woodward who carries the film. She is simply sublime. Since then there have been numerous movies on dissociative identity disorder but 'The Three Faces of Eve' is the pioneer but that's not the reason why the movie ought to be watched because even as a stand alone, it works very well as a captivating character study.
Dated, but Still Good Docudrama with Magnificent Performance of Joanne Woodward
claudio_carvalho22 May 2013
In 1951, in Georgia, the submissive housewife and mother Eve White (Joanne Woodward) is brought by her husband Ralph White (David Wayne) to a consultation with Doctor Curtis Luther (Lee J. Cobb) since she has painful headaches followed by blackouts with no recollections of what she did. The rude Ralph tells that she bought expensive clothing and hurt their daughter Bonnie during one of these blackouts. Dr. Luther begins her therapy and soon Eve shows a new personality, the reckless and wild Eve Black that hates Ralph and loves to drink and dance with other men, and Dr. Luther diagnoses a case of multiple personality to his colleague Doctor Francis Day (Edwin Jerome).
Ralph moves with Bonnie to Jacksonville and Eve continues her treatment. She tells that she is hearing voices, and Dr. Luther uses hypnosis to disclose more about her trauma. Out of the blue, a third personality emerges and tells that she is Jane that shows that is a balanced personality. Dr. Luther questions which personality should be the predominant.
"The Three Faces of Eve" is based on a true story and based on a book written by two medical doctors about a case of multiple personality in Georgia. I do not know the impact of Nunnally Johnson's movie in 1957 since it is dated in the present days. But it is still a good docudrama, especially because of the magnificent performance of Joanne Woodward in the role of three different women. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "As Três Máscaras de Eva" ("The Three Masks of Eve")
Ralph moves with Bonnie to Jacksonville and Eve continues her treatment. She tells that she is hearing voices, and Dr. Luther uses hypnosis to disclose more about her trauma. Out of the blue, a third personality emerges and tells that she is Jane that shows that is a balanced personality. Dr. Luther questions which personality should be the predominant.
"The Three Faces of Eve" is based on a true story and based on a book written by two medical doctors about a case of multiple personality in Georgia. I do not know the impact of Nunnally Johnson's movie in 1957 since it is dated in the present days. But it is still a good docudrama, especially because of the magnificent performance of Joanne Woodward in the role of three different women. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "As Três Máscaras de Eva" ("The Three Masks of Eve")
Three People Inside Your Skin
bkoganbing21 February 2006
For dramatic effect movies about mental illness always have the psychiatrist coming up with a miracle cure of the patient. You saw that in Spellbound with Gregory Peck and in The Snake Pit with Olivia DeHavilland. It's not that easy, but it does make for good cinema. To give credit where it is do, The Three Faces of Eve is about a real case of multiple personality disorder and Alistair Cooke's narration does give it a proper time frame, the cure is a matter of years here.
In only her third feature film Joanne Woodward became the Best Actress for 1957, ironically beating out Elizabeth Taylor who was descending into madness in Raintree County instead of being cured. I read somewhere that the Southern born Ms. Woodward remarked ironically that it took years of training for her to lose her southern accent and then she has to find it all over again to win her Oscar. I guess the Academy voters that year were as impressed as I was how she was able to flip into three different characters in many scenes. She's drab homemaker Eve White, a Tennessee Williams sexpot as Eve Black, and as Jane who's trying to leave both behind.
As good as Woodward is, my favorite scene in The Three Faces of Eve is when psychiatrist Lee J. Cobb tries to explain to Woodward's working class husband David Wayne about multiple personality disorder. The patient looks on Cobb's face and the blank expression on Wayne's face say more than ten pages of dialog. Another performance to look for is that of future TV physician Ben Casey, Vincent Edwards as a soldier trying to pick up Woodward in her sex kitten self.
Nunnally Johnson gets some real good performances out of his cast and a once in a lifetime role for Joanne Woodward.
In only her third feature film Joanne Woodward became the Best Actress for 1957, ironically beating out Elizabeth Taylor who was descending into madness in Raintree County instead of being cured. I read somewhere that the Southern born Ms. Woodward remarked ironically that it took years of training for her to lose her southern accent and then she has to find it all over again to win her Oscar. I guess the Academy voters that year were as impressed as I was how she was able to flip into three different characters in many scenes. She's drab homemaker Eve White, a Tennessee Williams sexpot as Eve Black, and as Jane who's trying to leave both behind.
As good as Woodward is, my favorite scene in The Three Faces of Eve is when psychiatrist Lee J. Cobb tries to explain to Woodward's working class husband David Wayne about multiple personality disorder. The patient looks on Cobb's face and the blank expression on Wayne's face say more than ten pages of dialog. Another performance to look for is that of future TV physician Ben Casey, Vincent Edwards as a soldier trying to pick up Woodward in her sex kitten self.
Nunnally Johnson gets some real good performances out of his cast and a once in a lifetime role for Joanne Woodward.
Increasingly dated but with a chilling, compact effect.
secondtake26 June 2010
The Three Faces of Eve (1957)
A lot of movies tell you they are based on facts, and it doesn't always matter in particular, or it even distracts because with fact, there are limits, and with fiction, there are none.
But if this movie was NOT based on fact, it would come off a little cheesy and a hair slim. There really isn't much a plot, or, oddly, development. The key twist happens right away, and is explained, through narration and by the main male lead, Lee J. Cobb, playing a psychiatrist. From there it is a matter of thinking, wow, this really happened?
And it happened to a young woman played here with energy by Joanne Woodward. I think it's a beautiful performance, an appropriate one, but the style of this quasi-documentary style movie makes it a little plasticky, too, chilling in a fake way. With keyed in music with each change of personality.
So there is something utterly amazing and chilling going on here, as a movie, and as psychology, but within constraints of its own making.
A lot of movies tell you they are based on facts, and it doesn't always matter in particular, or it even distracts because with fact, there are limits, and with fiction, there are none.
But if this movie was NOT based on fact, it would come off a little cheesy and a hair slim. There really isn't much a plot, or, oddly, development. The key twist happens right away, and is explained, through narration and by the main male lead, Lee J. Cobb, playing a psychiatrist. From there it is a matter of thinking, wow, this really happened?
And it happened to a young woman played here with energy by Joanne Woodward. I think it's a beautiful performance, an appropriate one, but the style of this quasi-documentary style movie makes it a little plasticky, too, chilling in a fake way. With keyed in music with each change of personality.
So there is something utterly amazing and chilling going on here, as a movie, and as psychology, but within constraints of its own making.
Needs to be seen from the 1957 perspective
Eightythreeyearoldguy14 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this while in my mid 20's and found it a most daring and powerful movie. Joanne Woodward's acting was phenomenal, especially her ability to switch personalities instantly. And while much credit needs to be given Nunnaly Johnson's direction, I believe Woodward's performance fueled each of the other actors in reacting to her personalities.
These days, the film doesn't have the same power which is why I feel it needs to be seen from the mid 50's viewpoint.
I heartily disagree with those who feel there wasn't enough difference between the Eve White personality and the Jane personality. Woodward definitely brought out the submissiveness and lack of self confidence in Eve White and the level headed attitude of Jane.
It's true that the true story didn't end where the movie did. However it does stand as a great movie.
One does wonder if either Judy Garland or June Allyson, both of whom were offered the role, could have done as well. Orson Welles reportedly stated that any actress successfully doing the role would win an Oscar. However, Woodward did the switch so effortlessly that I feel she was destined for the role.
As for those who argue that MPD doesn't actually exist, I personally knew a woman afflicted with the disorder. It indeed exists.
These days, the film doesn't have the same power which is why I feel it needs to be seen from the mid 50's viewpoint.
I heartily disagree with those who feel there wasn't enough difference between the Eve White personality and the Jane personality. Woodward definitely brought out the submissiveness and lack of self confidence in Eve White and the level headed attitude of Jane.
It's true that the true story didn't end where the movie did. However it does stand as a great movie.
One does wonder if either Judy Garland or June Allyson, both of whom were offered the role, could have done as well. Orson Welles reportedly stated that any actress successfully doing the role would win an Oscar. However, Woodward did the switch so effortlessly that I feel she was destined for the role.
As for those who argue that MPD doesn't actually exist, I personally knew a woman afflicted with the disorder. It indeed exists.
One of the Greatest Performances of All Time
Supachewy28 November 2010
The drama The Three Faces of Eve is directed by Nunnally Johnson and stars Joanne Woodward, David Wayne, and Lee J. Cobb. The film is a true story and takes place between 1951 and 1953 in a small town not too far from New York City.
Eve White (Woodward) is a woman who suffers from severe headaches and spells of amnesia. She thinks it is only spells that she goes through so goes to a doctor, Dr. Curtis Luther (Cobb), to see if he can do anything to help her overcome her illness. After some time Dr. Luther comes to the conclusion that Eve has multiple personality disorder when he met with Eve's other personality, Eve Black. While Eve White is a very quiet, somewhat depressed woman Eve Black is the exact opposite, a woman who is very loose and does anything for a thrill. Eve's husband (Wayne) does not believe that Eve has an illness and blames her for everything that Eve Black has done. He's really mad at her before he even knows that there is a third face of Eve.
The screenplay by Nunnally Johnson is very entertaining, and for the time very daring and unconventional. Sadly by today's standards it is nothing new and somewhat a cliché since multiple personality is an overly used illness. I really enjoyed this film the whole way through thinking as if I saw this for the first time in theatres and not seeing all the multiple personality films and television programs of today. It was very intense and I had no idea how it was going to end at all. The three characters that Joanne Woodward played were all interesting and kept me wondering. Unfortunately, the end of the film did not satisfy because it did not match the rest of the film in its mood. Johnson had a very successful career as a writer and this film is definitely one that will be remembered that she wrote.
Nunnally Johnson's direction for this film was also good, except the ending still bothers me and brought the film down a point. He had some very powerful shots during this film, the first one that comes to mind was when Eve's husband pulled Eve off their child as she was trying to strangle the child. When I saw that I was thought I didn't know they could do that in the 1950s. There were many great shots throughout the film many of them were for when Eve changed into a different personality. Of course Johnson has to be complimented for his great job getting wonderful performances from his actors.
Joanne Woodward delivered one of the greatest performances of all time in this film. For all of those people who play a person with multiple personality I suggest you take a lesson from Woodward on how to do it. She won the Oscar for Best Actress and she deserved it more than most of the women who won it. The way she transformed into each of the separate personalities was amazing. She had a different voice, different facial expressions, different body movements, it was like she was actually different people. It was like watching a person switch characters without stopping the shot, well actually it was that. Magnificent. Now David Wayne played her husband and he did a fine job, I thought it would have been better if he acted more tough instead of like a coward pretending to be tough. I though Lee J. Cobb did a very good job as the doctor, he could have done nothing really to improve on his well done performance.
The score for this film was very well done. It added suspense when it was proper and kept me on the edge of my seat. When it was sad the music was appropriate and got me more engaged in the film and especially Woodward's performance. Like a good score should it adds another layer to the film that allows the viewer to get more entwined with the plot.
Overall I give this film a 7/10 due to the outstanding performance by Joanne Woodward and also the edginess for the film at the time. It would have been an 8/10 if it had a more satisfying conclusion. If you watch this film today thinking it was made today you will be disappointed by the writing though because of how overused multiple personality disorder is. See this film to see the wonderful performance and also if you like dramas that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Eve White (Woodward) is a woman who suffers from severe headaches and spells of amnesia. She thinks it is only spells that she goes through so goes to a doctor, Dr. Curtis Luther (Cobb), to see if he can do anything to help her overcome her illness. After some time Dr. Luther comes to the conclusion that Eve has multiple personality disorder when he met with Eve's other personality, Eve Black. While Eve White is a very quiet, somewhat depressed woman Eve Black is the exact opposite, a woman who is very loose and does anything for a thrill. Eve's husband (Wayne) does not believe that Eve has an illness and blames her for everything that Eve Black has done. He's really mad at her before he even knows that there is a third face of Eve.
The screenplay by Nunnally Johnson is very entertaining, and for the time very daring and unconventional. Sadly by today's standards it is nothing new and somewhat a cliché since multiple personality is an overly used illness. I really enjoyed this film the whole way through thinking as if I saw this for the first time in theatres and not seeing all the multiple personality films and television programs of today. It was very intense and I had no idea how it was going to end at all. The three characters that Joanne Woodward played were all interesting and kept me wondering. Unfortunately, the end of the film did not satisfy because it did not match the rest of the film in its mood. Johnson had a very successful career as a writer and this film is definitely one that will be remembered that she wrote.
Nunnally Johnson's direction for this film was also good, except the ending still bothers me and brought the film down a point. He had some very powerful shots during this film, the first one that comes to mind was when Eve's husband pulled Eve off their child as she was trying to strangle the child. When I saw that I was thought I didn't know they could do that in the 1950s. There were many great shots throughout the film many of them were for when Eve changed into a different personality. Of course Johnson has to be complimented for his great job getting wonderful performances from his actors.
Joanne Woodward delivered one of the greatest performances of all time in this film. For all of those people who play a person with multiple personality I suggest you take a lesson from Woodward on how to do it. She won the Oscar for Best Actress and she deserved it more than most of the women who won it. The way she transformed into each of the separate personalities was amazing. She had a different voice, different facial expressions, different body movements, it was like she was actually different people. It was like watching a person switch characters without stopping the shot, well actually it was that. Magnificent. Now David Wayne played her husband and he did a fine job, I thought it would have been better if he acted more tough instead of like a coward pretending to be tough. I though Lee J. Cobb did a very good job as the doctor, he could have done nothing really to improve on his well done performance.
The score for this film was very well done. It added suspense when it was proper and kept me on the edge of my seat. When it was sad the music was appropriate and got me more engaged in the film and especially Woodward's performance. Like a good score should it adds another layer to the film that allows the viewer to get more entwined with the plot.
Overall I give this film a 7/10 due to the outstanding performance by Joanne Woodward and also the edginess for the film at the time. It would have been an 8/10 if it had a more satisfying conclusion. If you watch this film today thinking it was made today you will be disappointed by the writing though because of how overused multiple personality disorder is. See this film to see the wonderful performance and also if you like dramas that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Excellent!
MtDewdependant6 July 2003
This movie is definitely a must-see for any classic movie lover. Joanne Woodward definitely deserved the Oscar for this one. It is so amazing how seemingly easy she could change from one character to another in 2 seconds flat and make it so believable. This is an excellent movie and I highly recommend it. 5 stars out of 5!:)
Classic Woodward
smatysia7 August 2008
I expect that this film was fascinating back in the Fifties. I only just saw it for the first time, even though I'm middle-aged. I remember reading the book Sybill in the Seventies, (can't remember if I saw the movie) and that sort of forms my basis for Multiple Personality Disorder. I don't know if it really exists or not, and I've never encountered anyone with it (as should be expected, as it is very rare). As for the movie, I think it fails to really evoke the horror that must be felt by Eve White, the waking self, as she comes to in places and situations she knows nothing of. I must say that Joanne Woodward was outstanding. She could go from mousy to sexy in fifteen seconds. And she really was beautiful. I'd say that this is worth seeing as a classic, and for Woodward fans, but other more modern films are probably better on the subject matter. One can't have expectations that are unrealistic for the times that this movie is from.
Trifecta For Woodward
gcrokus26 April 2009
"The Three Faces of Eve" is just the film for students of psychiatry. This was a landmark film in its own time, and still holds up after so many years. There is much to like, and I can't think of one thing I didn't like about it.
Filmed in black and white, as usual the look always seems to impart a certain gravity to the story. It does so here; this is not really a happy tale, as things develop.
Eve White (Joanne Woodward) has agreed to see a psychiatrist along with her husband Ralph (David Wayne – probably his most significant film role). She has been having problems with headaches and some strange events have occurred, at least one of which is quite alarming. The psychiatrist is of course befuddled with her testimony. As the story continues, she certainly is treated for her condition – evincing at first two and then three distinct personas – but she really is taxing contemporary knowledge of her kind of affliction.
Joanne Woodward won the Best Actress award from the Academy in 1957. She was a fresh face at that time, yet there is no doubt she should have at least been nominated. She really convinces us that she is each one of the three people she could become. It is incredible how she can change on a dime from one "face" to another, and in fact she can even be induced to do so.
Lee J. Cobb (as Dr. Luther) really supports this film and the character(s) of Eve, and it is seems to me a big oversight by the Academy that he wasn't nominated for an award; two of the nominees for Best Supporting Actor (Russ Tamblyn and Arthur Kennedy) had appeared in "Peyton Place". The sheer amount of dialogue Cobb delivers and the manner in which he essentially manipulates Eve to open up is really on the mark. It should also be mentioned this was probably Nunally Johnson's best directorial effort. In an interview Johnson relates that he really wanted Orson Welles to play the doctor's role (http://www.archive.org).
There is more to the story of the real person's life upon who this was based (Chris Sizemore) then we are able to cover in this movie. The above mentioned interview sheds some light on that. But this story stands on its own, in a big way.
Four stars.
Filmed in black and white, as usual the look always seems to impart a certain gravity to the story. It does so here; this is not really a happy tale, as things develop.
Eve White (Joanne Woodward) has agreed to see a psychiatrist along with her husband Ralph (David Wayne – probably his most significant film role). She has been having problems with headaches and some strange events have occurred, at least one of which is quite alarming. The psychiatrist is of course befuddled with her testimony. As the story continues, she certainly is treated for her condition – evincing at first two and then three distinct personas – but she really is taxing contemporary knowledge of her kind of affliction.
Joanne Woodward won the Best Actress award from the Academy in 1957. She was a fresh face at that time, yet there is no doubt she should have at least been nominated. She really convinces us that she is each one of the three people she could become. It is incredible how she can change on a dime from one "face" to another, and in fact she can even be induced to do so.
Lee J. Cobb (as Dr. Luther) really supports this film and the character(s) of Eve, and it is seems to me a big oversight by the Academy that he wasn't nominated for an award; two of the nominees for Best Supporting Actor (Russ Tamblyn and Arthur Kennedy) had appeared in "Peyton Place". The sheer amount of dialogue Cobb delivers and the manner in which he essentially manipulates Eve to open up is really on the mark. It should also be mentioned this was probably Nunally Johnson's best directorial effort. In an interview Johnson relates that he really wanted Orson Welles to play the doctor's role (http://www.archive.org).
There is more to the story of the real person's life upon who this was based (Chris Sizemore) then we are able to cover in this movie. The above mentioned interview sheds some light on that. But this story stands on its own, in a big way.
Four stars.
This Multiplied Thing.
rmax30482312 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Joanne Woodward is the chronically fatigued, defeated, dull housewife, Eve White, dominated by her boorish husband, David Wayne, in 1950s Georgia. She has spells of forgetfulness and sees a shrink, Lee J. Cobb. One day, to Cobb's surprise, the personality of Eve White disappears under hypnosis and is replaced by the irresponsible, flirtatious playgirl who is called Eve Black. Eve has two separate and distinct personalities that take the public stage at various times. Eve Black knows about the existence of Eve White but not vice versa. Being the more clever of the two, Eve Black goes out secretly gallivanting around town and leaves Eve White with the hangovers. There's a lot of confusion. In the end, a third personality emerges and gets rid of the other two. The third is called Jane. She's mature, full of social graces, uses words like "controversial," and quotes Shakespeare's sonnets. Jane gets married and lives happily ever after.
Freud called all of these dissociative conditions "hysteria," as did the Greeks, whose language the term is borrowed from. The aberrations were found mostly in women, as they are today, and were attributed to a wandering womb. No kidding.
Freud clarified some of the nomenclature around the turn of the century and multiple personality was first identified and described by the American psychologist Morton Prince.
Joanne Woodward does all the work in this movie. She won an Academy Award for her efforts and probably deserved it. It's not a great big tragic movie, but depends on subtle variations on a theme of Eve. Not an easy job. Woodward has to remain the same central person, but just tint the character enough to make it seem one way or the other.
Lee J. Cobb lends stalwart support as the cigar-smoking shrink who is amazed -- amazed! -- to run into a multiple personality in his practice. He shouldn't be, not if he's an aware shrink. MPDs aren't that common but they're well-known because they're usually dramatic.
The way they usually work is like this. (Lecturer unrolls ancient Egyptian papyrus and displays a flow chart.) There's a dull person. Sometime during childhood the dull person begins to have spells of reckless behavior and doesn't remember them. The dull person grows up accompanied by this second, thoroughly integrated personality, often assuming a different name, using different handwriting, and so forth. But, most often, the dull person is the one we meet in the supermarket. It's as if, inside the dull person, there's another one just DYING to get out. Probably most of us have a bunch of unintegrated nasty impulses buried inside us but we manage to stifle them because we recognize them as socially abjured. The multiple personality, in a sense, outwits herself and gets to have a lot of fun while never having to take responsibility for it. Better than that -- the reckless one has a ball and the dull one gets to become a sympathetic victim of the other. She (or he) gets to have her cake and eat it too.
But -- here's the thing -- it's all UNCONSCIOUS. There isn't a single person figuring out how to avoid responsibility for misbehavior, not like an actor stepping out onto a stage, being Othello for a while, then going to his dressing room and shedding Othello's personality along with his costume.
It may LOOK contrived but it's not. The different personalities don't know what's causing "this multiplied thing," as Eve White's husband calls it. Or -- maybe some are more aware than others. The Hillside Stranglers tried to use it as a defense. And I won't take the space to describe Ganser's Syndrome, but just suggest it's worth a look-see on Google or someplace if you're interested.
I'm always tempted to get off the track with movies that deal with complicated issues like this, because the movies themselves tend to simplify it to an annoying extent. It all boils down to some hidden childhood trauma. Once that's discovered, all the problems disappear. It doesn't matter whether the movie is "The Three Faces of Eve" or "Marnie". That childhood experience provides a nifty dramatic structure -- the thing towards which the whole narrative is striving.
In real life -- that is, as of now, not as of Freud's turn-of-the-century Vienna -- nothing is as simple as that, although the movies strive mightily to make it seem so. The real Eve later developed many more personalities. In some cases, there are dozens of them, each with different names and identities and characteristics. Old habits die hard.
But I DID like the sonnet that Jane quotes:
"Life's a city, full of strange streets,
And Death's the marketplace where each one meets."
Spot-on analogy, isn't it?
Freud called all of these dissociative conditions "hysteria," as did the Greeks, whose language the term is borrowed from. The aberrations were found mostly in women, as they are today, and were attributed to a wandering womb. No kidding.
Freud clarified some of the nomenclature around the turn of the century and multiple personality was first identified and described by the American psychologist Morton Prince.
Joanne Woodward does all the work in this movie. She won an Academy Award for her efforts and probably deserved it. It's not a great big tragic movie, but depends on subtle variations on a theme of Eve. Not an easy job. Woodward has to remain the same central person, but just tint the character enough to make it seem one way or the other.
Lee J. Cobb lends stalwart support as the cigar-smoking shrink who is amazed -- amazed! -- to run into a multiple personality in his practice. He shouldn't be, not if he's an aware shrink. MPDs aren't that common but they're well-known because they're usually dramatic.
The way they usually work is like this. (Lecturer unrolls ancient Egyptian papyrus and displays a flow chart.) There's a dull person. Sometime during childhood the dull person begins to have spells of reckless behavior and doesn't remember them. The dull person grows up accompanied by this second, thoroughly integrated personality, often assuming a different name, using different handwriting, and so forth. But, most often, the dull person is the one we meet in the supermarket. It's as if, inside the dull person, there's another one just DYING to get out. Probably most of us have a bunch of unintegrated nasty impulses buried inside us but we manage to stifle them because we recognize them as socially abjured. The multiple personality, in a sense, outwits herself and gets to have a lot of fun while never having to take responsibility for it. Better than that -- the reckless one has a ball and the dull one gets to become a sympathetic victim of the other. She (or he) gets to have her cake and eat it too.
But -- here's the thing -- it's all UNCONSCIOUS. There isn't a single person figuring out how to avoid responsibility for misbehavior, not like an actor stepping out onto a stage, being Othello for a while, then going to his dressing room and shedding Othello's personality along with his costume.
It may LOOK contrived but it's not. The different personalities don't know what's causing "this multiplied thing," as Eve White's husband calls it. Or -- maybe some are more aware than others. The Hillside Stranglers tried to use it as a defense. And I won't take the space to describe Ganser's Syndrome, but just suggest it's worth a look-see on Google or someplace if you're interested.
I'm always tempted to get off the track with movies that deal with complicated issues like this, because the movies themselves tend to simplify it to an annoying extent. It all boils down to some hidden childhood trauma. Once that's discovered, all the problems disappear. It doesn't matter whether the movie is "The Three Faces of Eve" or "Marnie". That childhood experience provides a nifty dramatic structure -- the thing towards which the whole narrative is striving.
In real life -- that is, as of now, not as of Freud's turn-of-the-century Vienna -- nothing is as simple as that, although the movies strive mightily to make it seem so. The real Eve later developed many more personalities. In some cases, there are dozens of them, each with different names and identities and characteristics. Old habits die hard.
But I DID like the sonnet that Jane quotes:
"Life's a city, full of strange streets,
And Death's the marketplace where each one meets."
Spot-on analogy, isn't it?
highly engaging and entertaining and mostly psychological mumbo jumbo
planktonrules11 June 2005
For the average viewer, this will be a highly entertaining film. Joanne Woodward's performance is extremely colorful and entertaining--she really did a good job in portraying the 3 personalities! However, the sad problem with the film is that so much of the movie just isn't true or sound psychologically--at least according to the average psychotherapist. This is actually a pretty controversial topic among some therapists today. Many (and probably the vast majority) therapists now believe that these multiple personalities are, in fact, not a real manifestation of underlying parallel personalities but are unintentionally created by the therapists themselves or are created by the patient due to all the exposure MPD has in the media (such as after the film SYBIL appeared on TV). For example, IF the therapist believes that multiple personalities exist, they tend to find that MANY of the patients who come to them have MPD--while those who don't believe in its existence do not see people with these traits. In addition, many cases (especially the more famous "Sybil") have actually been debunked as frauds.
PS--In response to OTHER postings on IMDb, schizophrenia and multiple personality disorders are NOT the same. Even among therapists who believe MPD exists, there is universal agreement among professionals that MPD and schizophrenia are not at all the same. The DSM (the therapists' bible for diagnosing mental illnesses) lists them as separate disorders with very different symptoms. They are VERY different and are treated VERY differently. This movie was NOT about schizophrenia. I use the movie myself in my psychology class as it is a wonderful introduction into this controversy. Great entertainment but "fact"? I am skeptical.
PPS--In response to one posting advising others to IGNORE another posting because it is WRONG. I would NEVER want to do this. Whether you believe DID/MPD exists, it is very unwise to advise others to ignore those whose opinions differ. Provided you have an informed opinion (like the 2 in question), it's nice to hear the controversy. I want people to be aware there is a lot of disagreement--don't believe any one posting is definitively right just because they say so!
PS--In response to OTHER postings on IMDb, schizophrenia and multiple personality disorders are NOT the same. Even among therapists who believe MPD exists, there is universal agreement among professionals that MPD and schizophrenia are not at all the same. The DSM (the therapists' bible for diagnosing mental illnesses) lists them as separate disorders with very different symptoms. They are VERY different and are treated VERY differently. This movie was NOT about schizophrenia. I use the movie myself in my psychology class as it is a wonderful introduction into this controversy. Great entertainment but "fact"? I am skeptical.
PPS--In response to one posting advising others to IGNORE another posting because it is WRONG. I would NEVER want to do this. Whether you believe DID/MPD exists, it is very unwise to advise others to ignore those whose opinions differ. Provided you have an informed opinion (like the 2 in question), it's nice to hear the controversy. I want people to be aware there is a lot of disagreement--don't believe any one posting is definitively right just because they say so!
Great film!
Rose-355 October 1999
Wow! Woodward is amazing in this film as Eve White, Eve Black and Jane. She plays them all to perfection. It has to be hard to switch and do all these different characters right after one another but she did it wonderfully. It's no surprise she won the oscar for best actress. Great film, if you havent seen this one yet do ASAP!
Interesting psycho-shtick
funkyfry6 February 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Joanne Woodward won her Oscar for performing the role of a woman with 3 "multiplied" personalities in this Nunnally Johnson film. While I'm somewhat dubious about the medical veracity of this film, it does provide a compelling drama. Lee J. Cobb also gave an interesting performance as the doctor who is trying to help her with a problem that he doesn't even fully understand. What I liked best about the movie was the fact that the "bad girl" persona (Eve Black), who seemed at first simply a shallow representation of her repressed sexuality, actually becomes a very sympathetic and believable character in her own right. The scene where Eve Black weeps about the damage she's done to Eve White is the most affecting in the movie. However I didn't think there was enough differentiation between Eve White and Jane. I thought David Wayne's performance was intriguing; he's a husband who in the end is less concerned with his wife's welfare than with his own pride. Unfortunately the film also gives us Earl (Ken Scott) who is sort of an idealized masculine figure. Maybe Johnson thought the film could be seen as feminist if he didn't include him for some kind of balance, but to me it felt cheesy and forced.
On the whole the movie works, by keeping us interested in the cause of Eve's sickness and also in the fact that it's called "3 faces" but we only see the first two for quite a lot of the film's running time. It's a very dense film, in the sense that there are not a lot of characters and it's not very long but quite a lot of ground is covered within that space of time. I would say it remains interesting mostly for the performances of Woodward, Wayne, and Cobb.
On the whole the movie works, by keeping us interested in the cause of Eve's sickness and also in the fact that it's called "3 faces" but we only see the first two for quite a lot of the film's running time. It's a very dense film, in the sense that there are not a lot of characters and it's not very long but quite a lot of ground is covered within that space of time. I would say it remains interesting mostly for the performances of Woodward, Wayne, and Cobb.
wonderful performance from Mrs Woodward
ragazza-43 December 2005
I read Paul Newman's biography this summer. And early in the book, they mentioned the 3 faces of Eve and the Oscar Mrs Woodward won for her portray of the personality troubled character. From that moment, I wanted to see the movie. I have watched it lately and I must admit this is one of the best movie I have seen so far. She was capable to play three different characters and at the same time understand the subtlety of this disease (as I happen to study mental diseases). The ensemble has a good rhythm. The other characters are good and take just the necessary room without trying to impose. I enjoyed the tension that rises as we approach the end of the movie. There is no bloodshed yet it is quite terrifying. I recommend this feature to any movie lover.
Inside every fat man there's a thin man trying to break out
sol-kay31 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Based on the true story of Chris Contner Sizemore the film "Three Faces of Eve" explores the problem of multiple personalities that at the time of the release of the movie in 1957 was almost totally unknown even in the world of medicine.
Eve White, Joanne Woodward, has been acting somewhat strange of late losing her memory from time to time and doing things that's very unlike herself. It's Eve's husband Ralph, David Wayne, who decides to take his wife to see a psychiatrist in order to get to the bottom of what's causing her to act in this strange and puzzling behavior. It's Doctor Curtis Luther, Lee J. Cobb, Eve's head shrinker or psychiatrist who first finds out that she has a split personality being simple housewife Eve White by day and party girl Eve Black by night. This split personality on Eve's part drives her confused husband Ralph bonkers. It's when he catches Eve trying to strangle his and her little girl Bonnie, Terry Ann Ross, that he really goes nuts, and who can blame him, and almost ends up beating the living hell out of his deranged wife Eve.
It's when plain Jane Eve White becomes hot & sexy Eve Black that Ralph in fact gets turned on to her and tries to get it on with Eve but the fact that she's a bit insane has him back off at the very last moment. It's not too long that Ralph is completely out of the picture or movie with Eve playing the field in the romance department with mostly soldiers on weekend passes , like Sgt Vince Edwards, that never really get anywhere. With Dr. Luther desperately trying to get a handle to his patience Eve white's problems all of a sudden pops up this third personally inside Eve a Miss. Jane who's about the most normal of the three. By then Dr. Cobb finally gets to the bottom of Eve's illness that stemmed from the death of her grandma when she was six and began to work on it.
****SPOILERS*** Eve realizing that three personalities into one new body just doesn't work then shad her two other personalities, Eve White & Black, and finally became normal or better yet whole again Jane. But as for Eve's friends and family members who knows her both as Eve White and Eve Black she was still someone who needed help not just for herself but those, like Dr. Luther, who have to deal with her personality disorder without them ending up going nuts themselves.
Eve White, Joanne Woodward, has been acting somewhat strange of late losing her memory from time to time and doing things that's very unlike herself. It's Eve's husband Ralph, David Wayne, who decides to take his wife to see a psychiatrist in order to get to the bottom of what's causing her to act in this strange and puzzling behavior. It's Doctor Curtis Luther, Lee J. Cobb, Eve's head shrinker or psychiatrist who first finds out that she has a split personality being simple housewife Eve White by day and party girl Eve Black by night. This split personality on Eve's part drives her confused husband Ralph bonkers. It's when he catches Eve trying to strangle his and her little girl Bonnie, Terry Ann Ross, that he really goes nuts, and who can blame him, and almost ends up beating the living hell out of his deranged wife Eve.
It's when plain Jane Eve White becomes hot & sexy Eve Black that Ralph in fact gets turned on to her and tries to get it on with Eve but the fact that she's a bit insane has him back off at the very last moment. It's not too long that Ralph is completely out of the picture or movie with Eve playing the field in the romance department with mostly soldiers on weekend passes , like Sgt Vince Edwards, that never really get anywhere. With Dr. Luther desperately trying to get a handle to his patience Eve white's problems all of a sudden pops up this third personally inside Eve a Miss. Jane who's about the most normal of the three. By then Dr. Cobb finally gets to the bottom of Eve's illness that stemmed from the death of her grandma when she was six and began to work on it.
****SPOILERS*** Eve realizing that three personalities into one new body just doesn't work then shad her two other personalities, Eve White & Black, and finally became normal or better yet whole again Jane. But as for Eve's friends and family members who knows her both as Eve White and Eve Black she was still someone who needed help not just for herself but those, like Dr. Luther, who have to deal with her personality disorder without them ending up going nuts themselves.
Creepy, hair raising and constantly involving and believable.
christopher-underwood18 December 2018
Excellent performance from Lee J Cobb as the psychiatrist, phenomenal performance from Joanne Woodward as the victim of multiple personality disorder and a really fine, tight, dramatic and emotional film. There is little action in the accepted sense but there is never a dull moment either as we ride the switchback of this psychological drama from the little housewife with a headache problem to the vivacious and flirty and more. The introduction by Alistair Cooke sets the basically serious tone and although I understand changes were made from the original case and the book, the tale is as true to actuality as possible. It seems the real 'Eve' had to sign three contracts in her three personalities at the outset and her signature was different on each. Creepy, hair raising and constantly involving and believable.
It's not you marrying me. It's me marrying anybody. I'm sick. I am mentally sick, and I can't marry anybody, ever.
hitchcockthelegend2 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The Three Faces of Eve is directed by Nunally Johnson who also adapts the screenplay from a book written by Corbett Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley. It stars Joanne Woodward, Lee J. Cobb, David Wayne and Edwin Jerome. A CinemaScope production, music is by Robert Emmett Dolan and cinematography by Stanley Cortez.
Doctor Curtis Luther (Cobb) treats Eve White (Woodward) for Multiple Personality Disorder...
Christine, Strawberry Girl.
It has become one of those films that is stuck in some sort of Hollywood purgatory. Its impact back on release in 1957, where Hollywood was still struggling to come to terms with putting mental illness on celluloid, should not be understated, and it's that time frame where one might have to transport yourself to get the benefits of the production.
Looking at it today, it is rife with simplistic ideals, where it often feels like Hollywood believes there is this magical cure for mental illness, a world where some amiable doctor can chat the chat, snap his fingers and bang! What joy, it's all good really, and sorry we played some of the film for laughs...
The reason why it is in Hollywood no man's land is because in spite of the near crassness of the piece, it still stands up as a film of importance, a picture that brought out the topic at hand into the mainstream. As an interim movie in the trajectory of big screen forays into matters of the mind, it advanced awareness and built a bridge that the likes of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Girl Interrupted" would later traverse with some distinction.
It also boasts a brilliant Oscar winning performance from Woodward, a real tour de force that engages the viewer emotionally to the point where sadness, anger, hope and understanding merge into one blurry cinematic achievement. Though away from "Eve's" interactions with Doctor Luther (Cobb perfectly restrained for a change), the rest of the film kind of feels like filler, Johnson not quite comfortable enough as a director to expand the dramatic thematics out of the Doc's office.
Based on the real life case of Chris Costner Sizemore, the story only scratches the surface of what the poor lady went through. The psychiatric resolution here on film is very disappointing, this even if there's undoubtedly some exhilaration to be had as cinema Eve comes through the dark tunnel to find daylight. So in that respect, it's another blot on Nunally Johnson's landscape. But again, it put the case in the public conscious, where even today it should at least make people consider reading up on the real "Eve's" story.
Uneven for sure, where rewards and annoyances await, but Woodward and the film's mark in subject matter history lift it way above average. 7.5/10
Doctor Curtis Luther (Cobb) treats Eve White (Woodward) for Multiple Personality Disorder...
Christine, Strawberry Girl.
It has become one of those films that is stuck in some sort of Hollywood purgatory. Its impact back on release in 1957, where Hollywood was still struggling to come to terms with putting mental illness on celluloid, should not be understated, and it's that time frame where one might have to transport yourself to get the benefits of the production.
Looking at it today, it is rife with simplistic ideals, where it often feels like Hollywood believes there is this magical cure for mental illness, a world where some amiable doctor can chat the chat, snap his fingers and bang! What joy, it's all good really, and sorry we played some of the film for laughs...
The reason why it is in Hollywood no man's land is because in spite of the near crassness of the piece, it still stands up as a film of importance, a picture that brought out the topic at hand into the mainstream. As an interim movie in the trajectory of big screen forays into matters of the mind, it advanced awareness and built a bridge that the likes of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Girl Interrupted" would later traverse with some distinction.
It also boasts a brilliant Oscar winning performance from Woodward, a real tour de force that engages the viewer emotionally to the point where sadness, anger, hope and understanding merge into one blurry cinematic achievement. Though away from "Eve's" interactions with Doctor Luther (Cobb perfectly restrained for a change), the rest of the film kind of feels like filler, Johnson not quite comfortable enough as a director to expand the dramatic thematics out of the Doc's office.
Based on the real life case of Chris Costner Sizemore, the story only scratches the surface of what the poor lady went through. The psychiatric resolution here on film is very disappointing, this even if there's undoubtedly some exhilaration to be had as cinema Eve comes through the dark tunnel to find daylight. So in that respect, it's another blot on Nunally Johnson's landscape. But again, it put the case in the public conscious, where even today it should at least make people consider reading up on the real "Eve's" story.
Uneven for sure, where rewards and annoyances await, but Woodward and the film's mark in subject matter history lift it way above average. 7.5/10
not just a face in the crowd of great movies
lee_eisenberg12 September 2005
Joanne Woodward began her formidable career as a woman with three personalities: Eve White, Eve Black, and Jane. Her tendency to shift from one personality to another very quickly causes numerous problems for her, necessitating psychiatric help.
You can easily see why Joanne Woodward won an Oscar for this role. Her personality-shifting surprised even me. She fits the role to a tee. I guess that it's often hard for us remember that these kinds of orders exist, but this movie makes clear its abundance. Anyway, I can't stress enough how great this movie is. You have to see it to believe it. And believe it you will!
You can easily see why Joanne Woodward won an Oscar for this role. Her personality-shifting surprised even me. She fits the role to a tee. I guess that it's often hard for us remember that these kinds of orders exist, but this movie makes clear its abundance. Anyway, I can't stress enough how great this movie is. You have to see it to believe it. And believe it you will!
For it's time it was unique
PatrynXX25 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Today if feels like a thriller. Didn't find alot of substance to this movie. Maybe good acting on her part but not a good movie. I doubt I'll watch this again. It was interesting though when Jane came out, but alot of plot holes mar this movie so much I can't give it my best. ie first husband?? and how'd Bonnie come in on the second . It ended too fast too.
Quality: 5/10 Entertainment: 7/10 Re-playable: 4/10
Quality: 5/10 Entertainment: 7/10 Re-playable: 4/10
Amazing film, especially for the 1950s!
brightonxxx29 May 2020
I was not expecting this film to be this good! Didn't know anything about the film before I started watching it and what a pleasant surprise it was!
The film, which tells the true story of a young woman with multiple personality disorder, is way ahead of its time in my opinion. Coupled with good acting and a storyline that never bores you, it's one of the best films I watched that is from the 1950s.
Would I watch it again? Absolutely. Would I make my friends watch it? Definitely.
The film, which tells the true story of a young woman with multiple personality disorder, is way ahead of its time in my opinion. Coupled with good acting and a storyline that never bores you, it's one of the best films I watched that is from the 1950s.
Would I watch it again? Absolutely. Would I make my friends watch it? Definitely.
story of a young woman seeking treatment for DID
shatteredlady18 February 2006
This gets a 7 because of Joanne Woodward's performance. MPD (or DID as it is now called) -is- an actual disorder, though the therapists depicted in this film were inept at treating it and ultimately did NOT integrate 'Eve'. She went on to receive additional therapy from more qualified therapists and was then integrated. The essay by McHugh in the earlier comment is an essay that reflects absolutely zero knowledge of all the research done on DID. It IS a legitimate disorder and 'treating' it the way he recommends will only cause harm. The issue is 'split' between those who know the facts (that it is real) and those who are going to believe what they want DESPITE the facts. McHugh is one of the latter.
Is Hypnosis A Hollywood Cure-All For Any 1950's Mental Disorder?
strong-122-47888511 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I'm certainly no psychiatrist and I would never, ever say that I knew a hill of beans about something like Multiple Personality Disorder (M.P.D.) - But, with that said, I certainly found this film's over-simplified fast-tracking in regards to the complete cure of Eve White's obviously complicated, deep-rooted mental affliction to be just a tad too pat and easily remedied from this layman's puzzled point of view.
With the way that Eve's psychological illness was treated in this somewhat pedestrian-level, little picture, all that was needed to fix Eve's screwed-up, little head was for the doc to subject her to but a few limp-wristed sessions of hypnotherapy - And before we knew it, Eve was suddenly emerging into that of a very well-rounded, level-headed, likable and intelligent woman who had not a care in the world (as well, she also had a hunky, understanding new beau waiting in the wings to love her to pieces).
I don't know what most people think, but, when I took into serious consideration the fact that Eve's M.P.D. didn't just take place over night (it was an extremely rare, almost unheard of, mental disorder that had been with her, steadily becoming worse, since the very young age of 6), this over-simplified cure-all of using only hypnosis struck me square in the face as being downright ludicrous beyond words.
I guess (considering that this "based-on-fact" story was a very clear product of the 1950s) its whole over-simplification of a very complex disorder of the mind was a deliberate attempt by its producers to present its subject matter as a marketable product, easily sold to the naive mind-set of "Mr. & Mrs. Joe Average" movie-goer from that particular era in American culture.
Now, don't get me wrong here - I didn't in any way hate The Three Faces Of Eve. On the contrary, I found it to be entertaining, very well-scripted and its cast certainly convinced me that they were in complete earnest when it came to playing their parts - But, as a film dealing directly with very serious psychological issues, it just wasn't structured in a convincingly enough manner to hold even an ounce of water. - And, so, due to that argument, I rate it with only 5 stars.
With the way that Eve's psychological illness was treated in this somewhat pedestrian-level, little picture, all that was needed to fix Eve's screwed-up, little head was for the doc to subject her to but a few limp-wristed sessions of hypnotherapy - And before we knew it, Eve was suddenly emerging into that of a very well-rounded, level-headed, likable and intelligent woman who had not a care in the world (as well, she also had a hunky, understanding new beau waiting in the wings to love her to pieces).
I don't know what most people think, but, when I took into serious consideration the fact that Eve's M.P.D. didn't just take place over night (it was an extremely rare, almost unheard of, mental disorder that had been with her, steadily becoming worse, since the very young age of 6), this over-simplified cure-all of using only hypnosis struck me square in the face as being downright ludicrous beyond words.
I guess (considering that this "based-on-fact" story was a very clear product of the 1950s) its whole over-simplification of a very complex disorder of the mind was a deliberate attempt by its producers to present its subject matter as a marketable product, easily sold to the naive mind-set of "Mr. & Mrs. Joe Average" movie-goer from that particular era in American culture.
Now, don't get me wrong here - I didn't in any way hate The Three Faces Of Eve. On the contrary, I found it to be entertaining, very well-scripted and its cast certainly convinced me that they were in complete earnest when it came to playing their parts - But, as a film dealing directly with very serious psychological issues, it just wasn't structured in a convincingly enough manner to hold even an ounce of water. - And, so, due to that argument, I rate it with only 5 stars.
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