The Three Faces of Eve
Starring: Joanne Woodward, Lee J. Cobb, David Wayne, Alena Murray, Nancy Kulp, Ken Scott, Edwin Jerome, Alistair Cooke (narrator)
Directed by: Nunnally Johnson
Rating: Approved
Genre: Drama
1957

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A doctor (Lee J. Cobb) is stunned when he meets a woman (Joanne Woodward) who he suspects has multiple personality disorder.

Review:
Tim: It feels like there's a good deal to unpack with The Three Faces of Eve. This is a movie based on a book, about a real-life woman who suffered from dissociative identity disorder (which was called multiple personality disorder back then). It's fascinating to watch this fictional film about a subject which the broader public wasn't all that versed in. This would have felt new, frightening, to audiences in the late 1950s. The movie takes time to explain this condition as it moves into the story. I found the film quite interesting and I really enjoyed it. It's good, not great, but undoubtedly a success.

This movie is somewhat noteworthy for being nominated (and winning) Best Actress at the Academy Awards without getting another nomination in any category. That feels like it perfectly encapsulates this movie. The film itself is good, it's effective, but doesn't offer much that special. The one differentiator is the performance(s) of Joanne Woodward. What an incredible opportunity for an actress- to basically play three different characters, all trapped in the same body. It's a bit of a daunting challenge- to nearly seamlessly portray three different personalities, with different energy levels, mannerisms, tones, and pitches. Woodward absolutely crushes the role. I was fascinated with seeing her switch between the different personalities after just closing her eyes and lowering her head for a moment. It's a remarkable performance, where she brings Eve White, Eve Black, and Jane to life. You truly feel at times like they are separate and distinct characters. The challenge this presented Woodward and how she more than rises to the occasion made her virtually a shoe-in for the Best Actress Oscar. You want to talk about range? Let's let this one actress portray three completely different people and watch and she differentiates them so significantly that there's never a question of which personality is in control. That's some serious range. Woodward absolutely deserved the Academy Award and she's hands-down the best part of this film. Watching her portray this character and her multiple personalities was so entertaining. She's the reason this movie is a success.

Outside of Woodward's outsized performance, the movie is good, but a bit unremarkable. The story is fine, it's interesting to see the ups-and-downs this woman experiences as she comes to grips with what is happening to her, and then tries to chart a course for the remainder of her life. It's always interesting to watch characters deal with mental illnesses. There's something inherently frightening about our not being able to fully trust our minds. The movie seems to try and take this responsibility seriously. The film feels grounded, not exploitative. The story is entertaining enough, but never riveting. You find yourself just waiting for the next chance to see Woodward do her thing.

The supporting cast is decent. Lee J. Cobb is really the only other standout. His doctor character centers the film and you find yourself impressed with him. He makes a nice connection with the audience as he's our surrogate into this unexpected world we find ourselves. David Wayne was believable as Eve White's husband. I never liked his character, but that was the point. Ken Scott seemed a bit bland, but a decent chap when he shows up later. Everyone else is just window dressing. Your eyes continually focus on Woodward and her career-best performance.

The story is solid- I enjoyed how it balanced the explanations and mystery of this woman's mental illness with the more dramatic elements of her life. The film seems determined to explain multiple personality disorder to the audience, but it also tackles what this means for the woman suffering from it. You sit and think about how frightening it would be to look up and realize you've lost an indeterminate amount of time. Your body was moving, out in the world, but you weren't consciously in charge of it. I mean, think for a moment about how easy it is to get injured or killed. And to think, a different aspect of your brain is making decisions about the body that affects you and your life- it's truly a chilling concept. No wonder Eve White is under so much stress throughout the film.

The Three Faces of Eve is absolutely worth watching- the story is good, the movie effective, but the performance of Woodward is the real standout. The film is a quick 91 minutes, so it never wears on our patience. It tells its story quickly and effectively. The movie around Woodward isn't enough to reach greatness, but make no mistake, this film is absolutely a success.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Philadelphia, A Face in the Crowd, The Miracle Worker