The Three Faces of Eve (1957) - A product of its time

'The Three Faces of Eve' is an interesting film to revisit, especially as a product of its time. While it tackles multiple personality disorder (now more commonly known as dissociative identity disorder), the portrayal comes off as a bit simplistic (and definitely melodramatic!) by today’s standards. 

Certain elements feel overblown, simply to get across the affliction for the Hollywood audience of the time, but as someone who lives with a relative suffering from a similar affliction, I can’t say the film mirrors much of what I’ve seen in real life. Still, considering it was made in the 1950s, you can forgive the filmmakers for getting a few things wrong—understanding of mental health was far less advanced back then.

The performances are what carry it. Joanne Woodward, in particular, does an excellent job differentiating the “three faces” (of the three different elements/women living inside her mind) and it’s easy to see why the role was considered a landmark at the time. However, the story has to have that neat, “typical Hollywood ending,” which sadly glosses over the reality that mental health struggles don’t always tie up in a bow. For those who know what living with such a condition really looks like, that final note rings hollow.

Despite its shortcomings, The Three Faces of Eve is a decent enough attempt for the time of how the era perceived psychology and mental illness. Not perfect by any means, but worth a watch for its historical value and decent acting.

6/10