Undescribable Perfection

Such a frustrating disappointment

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Fresh-faced lovely Joanne is lovely and dynamic in this rather implausible story. Even if this mental illness existed and could be so neatly managed as Lee J. Cobb summoning one of the personalities with an instant verbal command, what kind of medical treatment would involve allowing the impulsive, seductive second character named Eve Black go about exposing herself to danger, rape, pregnancy, or venereal disease? She's portrayed as simply wanting a good time, not illicit sex, but the smoldering G.I.s at the canteen are pushed to their limits at the tease. Still, I suppose that's the spice of the story and when you see the wicked grin emerging after the pitiful Eve White "goes to sleep", the fun on screen begins. Her merciless teasing of boorish husband David Wayne is entertaining and a good comeuppance to his unsympathetic treatment of the dominated wife.

Looking at the title and poster of this film, the period it was made in, this easily could've been yet another okay straightforward production from the 50's. Films at the time were usually pretty 'thick' and unsubtle with how it managed the psychological element. Too obvious.This here has nothing that is obvious. As the disclaimer states, it's all based on a totally true story and lots of the script is word for word as it happened so 'the film wrote itself', but really there's very good structure and pace to it.In a sense, this isn't even really a "psychological film" in that it focuses on the story rather than the mental complex itself as a film like Freud (Montgomery Clift) would be more of. As obvious as the narrative is ultimately, this film does very well not to uncover everything too quickly, and paces itself just right, not a single dull, obvious or redundant moment. Very well made, and just the right length.And Joanne Woodward easily could've been just another pretty broad putting in a good but predictable shift at the office... but goodness, she is absolutely brilliant, surprisingly good, in this one. By any measure, it was a particularly difficult job to do, and she far exceeds doing it merely right. And what a beautiful woman too ! So much character and warmth and feminine wit...Lee J.Cobb does an excellent job here too and shows in contrast with his performances for example in 'On the Waterfront' or in '12 Angry Men' that he can do the big ole scary villain/tough guy as well as here, the sophisticated psychologist.Ultimately, this film surely could've been better and been a 9 or a 10 but does really well all in all, and one of the main criticisms would be that the ending is too rushed as it is the ultimate climax and answer to the entire film's happenings, if only it could've been explained a bit more or given more depth...8/10.

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

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.