The Three Faces of Eve (1957)

100% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(4,774 ratings)

When Alistair Cooke shows up to introduce Three Faces of Eve, we know that the fact-based story will bear more than a little fidelity to truth. Joanne Woodward won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Eve, a young Georgia housewife suffering from multiple personalities. Eve's husband (David Wayne),… More When Alistair Cooke shows up to introduce Three Faces of Eve, we know that the fact-based story will bear more than a little fidelity to truth. Joanne Woodward won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Eve, a young Georgia housewife suffering from multiple personalities. Eve's husband (David Wayne), confused by his wife's aberrant behavior when assuming her two "other selves," seeks out help from a psychiatrist (Lee J. Cobb). Carefully probing Eve's subconscious via hypnosis, the doctor finds out that, though each of Eve's personalities is aware of the other's existence, none are related. After months of therapy, Eve is purged of her negative selves and is totally cured. Ironically, Joanne Woodward would herself play a psychologist confronted with a multiple-personality case in the Emmy-winning 1976 TV movie Sybil. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Nunnally Johnson
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1957 Wide
On DVD: Oct 5, 2004

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
An early, too simplistic Hollywood melodrama about split personality, well acted by Joanne Woodward in an Oscar-winning performance.
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
The power of the film as a whole has been lessened with time...
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
watch the film for Woodward. She never reached heights like this before or since
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
A introdução feita por Cooke indica a insegurança dos produtores com relação ao roteiro - e, se não fosse pela performance de Woodward, o filme seria um grande embaraço.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
It once seemed daring, now it seems simplistic.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jim H

This film is the portrait of a woman with multiple personality disorder. I think Ken Hanke of Mountain Xpress best summarizes my opinion of this film: "It once seemed daring[;] now it seems simplistic." At the time, 1957, this film probably portrayed a… More
This film is the portrait of a woman with multiple personality disorder. I think Ken Hanke of Mountain Xpress best summarizes my opinion of this film: "It once seemed daring[;] now it seems simplistic." At the time, 1957, this film probably portrayed a little-known condition with little-known Freudian treatment, so that the popular audience had to be assured of the subject's verisimilitude, hence the framing narrator vouching for the film's accuracy to a point that the narrator "doth protest too much methinks." But now, Eve's condition is portrayed more like Thing from another World with magical and threatening music toning in every time one of Eve's personalities appears. It becomes heavy-handed, and for an audience that has seen Raising Cain, among all the other films about multiple personalities, it's trite. That said, Joanne Woodward is fantastic, fully creating each personality and delivering a performance that of the "they don't make 'em like that any more" variety. I also liked the film's feminist overtones. Ralph is an appropriate villain, and making him the villain, the film impugns patriarchal culture. The story's construction is also faulty in parts. There's no need for Woodward's song, and who the hell is Earl? He suddenly appears like the deus ex machina he is, and we have no reason to think of him as a worthy goal. Overall, The Three Faces of Eve is a film to see because it's a classic, but unlike most good classics, it has been imitated and refined to the point that it lost its originality and spark.
AJ V

This drama is brilliantly fantastic, I loved it. The actors are great, the story is intriguing, and it's based on a true story, what else could you ask for in a drama?
Randy T

It would be difficult to imagine a more demanding role than a character with three completely different personalities, and it would be equally difficult to imagine anyone rising to the challenge better than the lovely and gifted Joanne Woodward. Her performance is jaw dropping,… More
It would be difficult to imagine a more demanding role than a character with three completely different personalities, and it would be equally difficult to imagine anyone rising to the challenge better than the lovely and gifted Joanne Woodward. Her performance is jaw dropping, utterly believable, and oscar worthy.
First L

House wife "Eve" (Joanne Woodward in an oscar-winning role) buys alot of expensive "hollywood" dresses without remembering she had ever done so, then suddenly tries to strangle her child. Her redneck husband thinks she's batty and takes her to the doctors.… More
House wife "Eve" (Joanne Woodward in an oscar-winning role) buys alot of expensive "hollywood" dresses without remembering she had ever done so, then suddenly tries to strangle her child. Her redneck husband thinks she's batty and takes her to the doctors. It turns out Eve has multiple personality disorder, a disease which causes her to take up drinking alcohol and dancing in bars til all hours of the night. Her husband (played to the hilt by David Wayne) tells her "a good whoopin'" will knock some sense into her (he's quite a lowlife here), but in truth only her doctors can save her now. She's very polite when it comes to switching personalities, always able to do so at an instant, whenever demanded of her (even though she seems to have no control over it herself). Narrated like a docu-drama, Three Faces of Eve is still a 1950s handling of multiple personalities disorder. It maybe revolutionary for it's time, but the plot moves too slowly and what was once considered taboo (drinking in bars, oh my!) or shocking is now pretty blase. The only scenes of real greatness were the ones dealing with repressed memories, and these were handled with great artistry. I can see why Woodward won the oscar, she puts in a hell of a performance, its just too bad the movie itself seems so dated.
jay n

A bit dated but joanne woodward is great as always
Robert F

Joanne Woodward's performance was good. The upbeat ending probably wasn't necessary.
Kevin L

The movie the Three Faces of Eve is a true story about a southern wife in the 1950's. Her name was Eve White. She is taken by her husband to see the psychiatrist Dr. Luther. After hyptonitizing her, he discovers that she has two disctnictive personalties. One is EVe White, a… More
The movie the Three Faces of Eve is a true story about a southern wife in the 1950's. Her name was Eve White. She is taken by her husband to see the psychiatrist Dr. Luther. After hyptonitizing her, he discovers that she has two disctnictive personalties. One is EVe White, a rather depressed housewife. The other is Eve Black a very flirty southern gal. Later a third personality is discovered, named Jane who has no memory. I found this movie to be very entertaining througout. Joanee Woodward does a fantastic job as Eve(she won a academy award for the role). I was fastinayed with her portral of the three personalties. For those of you who dont like movies because they are old, please give this film a chance. There are times when I have been bored by the old cinema, I'll admit. However with this one I was impressed. Just about every scene in this movie there is something that catches your eye. I found several of the scenes to be humourous. When she transforms into Eve Black she flirts with everyone! Even her psychiatrist, who was double her age! What the hell!? So overall I found this movie quite a surprise. People who are interested in psychology will surely find this enjoyable along with anyone who enjoys great cinema. advertisementEve Black: Don't you want to get me one? Ralph White: Well, I've never seen you take a drink before. Eve Black: Honey, there are a lot of things you've never seen me do before. That's no sign I don't do 'em.