Don't listen to the negative reviews

A Masterpiece!

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

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.

Joanne Woodward won a best actress Academy Award for her memorable performance as Eve White, an unassuming and shy housewife who has been suffering from headaches and blackouts. When she sees a psychiatrist(played by Lee J. Cobb) he puts her under hypnosis, and is shocked when a new and wholly dissimilar personality emerges who calls herself Eve Black, who is aware of Eve White, but hates her. A third personality(named Jane) later emerges, who seems like a balance between the two extreme Eves. Her husband(played by David Wayne) is totally bewildered and annoyed by this fuss, and can scarcely believe it. The doctor is determined to get to the root cause of this split, no matter how long it takes...Best remembered for Joanne Woodward's excellent performance, this Nunnally Johnson written and directed drama(based on a real case) is still reasonably compelling, though the outcome is a bit underwhelming. Still, the performances make up for any liabilities in this adaptation.

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

So I watched 1957's "the three faces of Eve" starring Joanne Woodward. So is this movie a classic, well I say yes but not emphatically. Ms. Woodward did win an academy award for her performance as three slightly different personalities inhabiting one body, also known as multiple personality disorder. So why not emphatic in my description of this film being classic, well that has to do with what the definition of classic is. To me something that is classic never goes out of style like coca-cola or a Porsche 911. They withstand the test of time and don't lose much if anything with age. Well this movie suffers from what a lot of older movies suffer from, in my opinion, that is that they are tame by today's standards. I found this to be the case with this movie. I can't help but to think if this movie was made today it would have some cursing, nudity, sex, and maybe some real dramatic moments instead of sort of muted safe ones. I also had a problem with the opening of this movie where they go out of the way to say this isn't loosely based on a real story but is in fact taken from actual events, and even transcripts. However, I read about the woman Eve is based on, and apparently this movie left out a lot and maybe changed some relevant things pertinent to her case. I think Joanne Woodward's portrayal of Eve in all her forms was o.k. I personally think Eddie Murphy did a much better job of portraying multiple characters in "the nutty professor", but where is his academy award. Huh I wan to know, it's all politics with the academy. So it's good, it's still watchable but it is not awesome, but being watchable 50 some odd years later does qualify a movie as a classic to some degree. I recommend watching it, but I've seen better old flicks. if you like concise reviews of interesting films please read my other reviews at http://raouldukeatthemovies.blogspot.com/