THE THREE FACES OF EVE

US, 1957, 91 minutes, Black and white.
Joanne Woodward, David Wayne, Lee J. Cobb. Narrated by Alistair Cooke.
Directed by Nunnally Johnson.

The Three Faces of Eve is famous because Joanne Woodward won an Oscar for best actress (as well as a Golden Globe and the award from the National Board of Review). She had appeared in a few films, especially Count Three and Pray, but was to begin a very successful career. The next year she married Paul Newman and appeared with him in many films and was directed by him in several including the Oscar-nominated Rachel Rachel.

David Wayne portrays her husband and Lee J. Cobb has an interesting role as the psychiatrist who has to deal with Eve White and her multiple personality disorder. It is interesting to note that Alistair Cooke does the narration.

The writer-director is Nunnally Johnson, a prolific screenwriter from the 1930s to the 1970s. He was also a prolific producer. However, he directed only a few films and those between 1954 and 1960: Night People, Black Widow, How To Be Very, Very Popular, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, O Men O Women, The Man Who Understood Woman, The Angel Wore Red – and The Three Faces of Eve.

The film was a breakthrough in the presentation of multiple personality disorder. There had been a number of films about psychiatric conditions, about schizophrenia and about antagonistic twins (Olivia de Havilland had appeared as twins in The Dark Mirror as well as in the psychiatric film, The Snakepit). Twenty years later Joanne Woodward was to perform as the psychiatrist in Sybil with Sally Field as the person with sixteen multiple personalities. (Sybil was remade at the beginning of the 21st century with Jessica Lange as the doctor.)

1. The impact of this psychological drama, the reality of the human relationships, strange personality, psychological treatment?

2. The insights into psychology as presented in the fifties, Alistair Cook and his introduction and commentary, the fact that the case was a true one, audience interest in casebook histories? The impact of this kind of case now, the change in understanding of psychology, more sophisticated treatment, therapeutic techniques?

3. The film's use of Cinemascope and black and white photography, the music? The strength of Joanne Woodward's performance and her receiving an Oscar for it? The particular qualities of the performance?

4. Audience involvement through the structure of the film: the initial problem and sessions, interest in persons, psychology, development, the strange problem of Eve, the possibilities of resolution? Where did audiences' sympathies lie as regards the main characters, why?

5. Audience appreciation of Dr Luther, his background and education, as a psychologist, his treatment of Eve, the sympathy that he offered, his understanding of her personalities, his advice and therapy? His influence in her life?

6. Ralph White as the ordinary man, confronted by a marriage problem, the puzzle about Eve and her personality, his difficulty in accepting things, the reality of his inability to cope? The ordinary person's reaction?

7. The initial impact of Eve, as Eve White? The skill in Joanne Woodward's performance, her ability to change character within the one take, during the interviews, her lowering her head and emerging as another person? The audience sharing the psychologist's view of this change in personality? How well did it communicate the nature of schizophrenia?

8. What were the particular characteristics of Eve White? The symbolism of her name and goodness? The kind of real goodness she had, at home, in her ordinary dealings, her inefficiency and sense of failure of relationship with her husband? A desirable character, only part of a personality?

9. The contrast with Eve Black, her name and the indications of evil? Eve Black as the opposite of Eve White, only a partial personality? The unleashed unconscious of the nervously good person? How did Black and White make a unity?

10. Why did the personality of Jane emerge? how did this happen, why did she have no memory? The puzzle of her vague memories, the visualizing of these, Jane as a little girl, the audience's wanting Jane to emerge? The therapy which helped this, the facing up to the past, the dead grandmother and the kiss? Why was there a blockage and the change in personality?

11. What were the reasons for Jane's taking over of the two Eves? What third personality emerged? A total person? Is this too optimistic for this kind of illness?

12. The prospects of Jane and her new life? What about mental difficulties in the future? Pad she resolved and integrated all the facets of her personality?

13. How much depth of understanding of psychological problems can be presented in a popular film like this?