The Three Faces of Eve (1957)

A doctor treats a woman suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder.

Director:

Nunnally Johnson

Writers:

Nunnally Johnson (screenplay), Corbett Thigpen (book) (as Corbett H. Thigpen M.D.)

Stars:

Joanne Woodward, David Wayne, Lee J. Cobb

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joanne Woodward	...	Eve White / Eve Black / Jane
David Wayne	...	Ralph White
Lee J. Cobb	...	Doctor Curtis Luther
Edwin Jerome	...	Doctor Francis Day
Alena Murray	...	Secretary
Nancy Kulp	...	Mrs. Black
Douglas Spencer	...	Mr. Black
Terry Ann Ross	...	Bonnie White
Ken Scott	...	Earl
Mimi Gibson	...	Eve - Age 8
Alistair Cooke	...	Narrator

Storyline

Eve White is a quiet, mousy, unassuming wife and mother who keeps suffering from headaches and occasional black outs. Eventually she is sent to see psychiatrist Dr. Luther, and, while under hypnosis, a whole new personality emerges: the racy, wild, fun-loving Eve Black. Under continued therapy, yet a third personality appears, the relatively stable Jane. This film, based on the true-life case of a multiple personality, chronicles Dr. Luther's attempts to reconcile the three faces of Eve. multiple personalities.

---

Plot Keywords:

multiple personality | psychiatrist | multiple personality disorder | dissociative identity disorder | younger version of character | 

---

Taglines:

"The Three Faces of Eve" will leave no part of you untouched!

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery

---

Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The reason for Eve's personality split as depicted in the film is complete fiction. According to a People magazine article in 1989, "As a 2-year-old, Eve had witnessed three unnerving scenarios within three months: a drowned man being pulled from a ditch, a sawmill worker sliced into three pieces and her own mother cutting herself severely on a piece of broken glass. Too young to deal directly with what she had seen, she developed the first in a line of alternative personalities, including the three that now revealed themselves, one by one, to the amazed [psychiatrist who diagnosed her as having multiple personality disorder]."

---

Goofs

In at least two scenes, including the opening with Eve being driven to the doctor's office, there are cars in the background newer than 1951 when the scene is indicated to be taking place.

---

Quotes

Dr. Luther: It's a serious manifestation, the hearing of voices, but the difference in your case is this: You've been frightened by this voice because you recognize it as a symptom of illness. People who are actually losing their minds rarely find anything extraordinary about the hearing of voices. They almost invariably assume it's some sort of extra privilege that they enjoy... like personal radio reception, or built- in radar.
Eve White: Yeah, but what if sometimes it sounds like my own voice?
Dr. Luther: Your own voice? ...

---

Crazy Credits

introducing Alistair Cooke distinguished journalist and commentator

---

Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #26.191 (2010)

---

Soundtracks

Hold Me
(uncredited)
Written by Jack Little (as Little Jack Little), Dave Oppenheim and Ira Schuster
Performed by Joanne Woodward

User Reviews

There is more to the story

Joanne Woodward was wonderful in this movie. She really showed the confusion and hardship surrounding multiple personality disorder. Years later, however, I found a book called, "I'm Eve". It was the autobiography of Chris Sizemore, the person the movie is based on. If you would like the continuation of this story, and there is a lot more, then this book is a must read.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 September 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Three Faces of Eve

Filming Locations:

Stage 8, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$965,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) 4-Track Stereo

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1