The Three Faces Of Eve

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: September 23, 1957

DVD Release Date: October 5, 2004

Plot 411: A true story about a married woman with dissociative identity disorder.

Review: The movie was shot like a historical reenactment with a narrator throughout the entire piece. He even opened up the movie to clarify that this was indeed a true story and not one simply based in truth. Joanne Woodward did a pretty good job portraying a woman tormented with three separate personalities. However, some of the scenes were really hard to believe. For instance, when she switched from one personality to the next it seemed that the process was what everyone expected rather than how it might actually happen in real life. I'm not psychiatrist or doctor but I'm pretty sure it doesn't happen by simply putting your head down or instantaneously upon command. The contrast between today and when the film was made was really evident in some scenes and actually bothered me a bit. I realize that you have to take things in historical and cultural context and not pass judgment using today's standards, but it was really annoying to see how Eve's husband treated her. The film showed how completely male dominated the world was back them. Even the complete faith Eve and her husband put in the doctors and their word shows an America and Americans who were more innocent than we are today. I'm not sure whether that's a good or bad thing.

Watch It: For what seems to be an interesting case study of a woman with three personalities.

Skip It: If you're just looking for a good black and white period piece. I'm sure there are others that are more interesting than this one.

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