Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Blistering performances.

I'm certainly no psychiatrist and I would never, ever say that I knew a hill of beans about something like Multiple Personality Disorder (M.P.D.) - But, with that said, I certainly found this film's over-simplified fast-tracking in regards to the complete cure of Eve White's obviously complicated, deep-rooted mental affliction to be just a tad too pat and easily remedied from this layman's puzzled point of view.With the way that Eve's psychological illness was treated in this somewhat pedestrian-level, little picture, all that was needed to fix Eve's screwed-up, little head was for the doc to subject her to but a few limp-wristed sessions of hypnotherapy - And before we knew it, Eve was suddenly emerging into that of a very well-rounded, level-headed, likable and intelligent woman who had not a care in the world (as well, she also had a hunky, understanding new beau waiting in the wings to love her to pieces).I don't know what most people think, but, when I took into serious consideration the fact that Eve's M.P.D. didn't just take place over night (it was an extremely rare, almost unheard of, mental disorder that had been with her, steadily becoming worse, since the very young age of 6), this over-simplified cure-all of using only hypnosis struck me square in the face as being downright ludicrous beyond words.I guess (considering that this "based-on-fact" story was a very clear product of the 1950s) its whole over-simplification of a very complex disorder of the mind was a deliberate attempt by its producers to present its subject matter as a marketable product, easily sold to the naive mind-set of "Mr. & Mrs. Joe Average" movie-goer from that particular era in American culture.Now, don't get me wrong here - I didn't in any way hate The Three Faces Of Eve. On the contrary, I found it to be entertaining, very well-scripted and its cast certainly convinced me that they were in complete earnest when it came to playing their parts - But, as a film dealing directly with very serious psychological issues, it just wasn't structured in a convincingly enough manner to hold even an ounce of water. - And, so, due to that argument, I rate it with only 5 stars.

The Three Faces of Eve is directed by Nunally Johnson who also adapts the screenplay from a book written by Corbett Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley. It stars Joanne Woodward, Lee J. Cobb, David Wayne and Edwin Jerome. A CinemaScope production, music is by Robert Emmett Dolan and cinematography by Stanley Cortez.Doctor Curtis Luther (Cobb) treats Eve White (Woodward) for Multiple Personality Disorder...Christine, Strawberry Girl.It has become one of those films that is stuck in some sort of Hollywood purgatory. Its impact back on release in 1957, where Hollywood was still struggling to come to terms with putting mental illness on celluloid, should not be understated, and it's that time frame where one might have to transport yourself to get the benefits of the production. Looking at it today, it is rife with simplistic ideals, where it often feels like Hollywood believes there is this magical cure for mental illness, a world where some amiable doctor can chat the chat, snap his fingers and bang! What joy, it's all good really, and sorry we played some of the film for laughs...The reason why it is in Hollywood no man's land is because in spite of the near crassness of the piece, it still stands up as a film of importance, a picture that brought out the topic at hand into the mainstream. As an interim movie in the trajectory of big screen forays into matters of the mind, it advanced awareness and built a bridge that the likes of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Girl Interrupted would later traverse with some distinction.It also boasts a brilliant Oscar winning performance from Woodward, a real tour de force that engages the viewer emotionally to the point where sadness, anger, hope and understanding merge into one blurry cinematic achievement. Though away from "Eve's" interactions with Doctor Luther (Cobb perfectly restrained for a change), the rest of the film kind of feels like filler, Johnson not quite comfortable enough as a director to expand the dramatic thematics out of the Doc's office.Based on the real life case of Chris Costner Sizemore, the story only scratches the surface of what the poor lady went through. The psychiatric resolution here on film is very disappointing, this even if there's undoubtedly some exhilaration to be had as cinema Eve comes through the dark tunnel to find daylight. So in that respect, it's another blot on Nunally Johnson's landscape. But again, it put the case in the public conscious, where even today it should at least make people consider reading up on the real "Eve's" story.Uneven for sure, where rewards and annoyances await, but Woodward and the film's mark in subject matter history lift it way above average. 7.5/10

I am ashamed that there are such strong opinions about the falsehood of Disassociative Identity Disorder. The fact that it is in the DSMIV and STILL disbelieved is disgusting! Major depression is quite real to everyone. Schizophrenia is quite real! PTSD is quite real as well! Just because something doesn't go away with all the medicine that psychiatrists can throw at you does not mean that "DID" is not real! On the contrary. I know it is real because I have had it all of my life. I see people in the mirror when I am getting ready or pass one in the hall. I hear people talking to me when they are in our "common area" and not in their "rooms." Ever since I can remember back as a child I could hear different voices. I just thought that was what people meant when they said that "they are talking to themselves." Little did I know what my future reality would hold. The events that saved my sanity are quite real. The voices and faces I see in the mirror are quite real. Just because my reality is different from another's does not make mine fictitious or unbelievable. It makes it sad and disgusting knowing that there are people out there in the world who could do such evil, terrible things to young children where it leaves their mind no alternative but to have different people take the traumas so that a "normal life" could still be had by at least one. Shame on you and especially psychiatrists who believe otherwise. Just because you don't possess the capability in helping ones such as me does not give you the right to deny us. I can't perform brain surgery, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a need for someone who does. I can't tell someone who does need brain surgery that they are wrong and don't need it just because I can't perform the procedure!

Based on a true story, this film looks at the case of woman with multiple personality disorder. Woodward, in only her third film and her first lead role, won an Oscar and became a star with her fine performance here. Also good are Cobb as her psychiatrist and Wayne as her less-than-understanding husband. After starting with an interesting premise, the film tends to bog down in psychoanalysis. Too much time is spent on conversations between psychiatrist and patient, yet little insight is provided into the nature of the disorder. Furthermore, a complex disorder is presented as too simple, as is the final resolution.