The Three Faces of Eve (1957)
Grade: 65
Hollywood had a fascination with psychiatry during the 1950s. Perhaps the hope was strong that a person's emotional problems were simply based upon a single traumatic incident, which, once revealed, would 'cure' that person. These naive, wishful expectations of psychiatry form the background of "The Three Faces of Eve".
Joanne Woodward plays a woman who suffers from multiple personalities. Based (undoubtedly loosely) upon a true story, 'Eve' is a drab housewife married to a clueless hick (David Wayne). When a second personality emerges, a vivacious, irresponsible flirt, Eve is somehow sent to a psychiatrist (Lee J. Cobb, whose ability to keep a straight face provides the major use of his acting skills here). Eventually, a third personality appears, a perfect, mature woman who apparently has combined the best aspects of the other two personalities.
There is much humor in this film, intentional or otherwise. This is provided by Cobb's deadpan delivery, Woodward's flirtatious personality, and Wayne's dense character. The worship of doctors as superior beings is apparent, especially when Cobb states that he has no sexual interest in Woodward because he is a doctor. The silliest part of the film has Cobb able to resurrect the desired Woodward personality simply by calling for it by name. (Eve's personality changes are signalled by musical score changes and by her freezing in an awkward position.)
Joanne Woodward won a Best Actress Oscar for her wide-ranging performance. She would turn the tables in 1976, playing a psychiatrist treating a woman with multiple personalities in the made-for-TV "Sybil".
kollers@mpsi.net http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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