MovieChat Forums > The Three Faces of Eve (1957) Discussion > this film is over-rated

this film is over-rated

posted 19 years ago by King-Turtle
12 replies | jump to latest

True, Joanne Woodward puts on a stellar performance. But the screenplay is trite. And it's attitudes toward mental illness are naive.

[–] aramsay 19 years ago

Keep in mind this film was made in 1957 when mental illness knowledge was still in its relative infancy. Also it is almost a semi-documentary film about an actual case and the director and producer have probably been faithfull to the facts of the case. Joanne Woodward does an impressive performance and the film is very memorable, and well worth watching and adding to ones library of classics.

[–] Marnita 15 years ago

I agree.

[–] bteigen 15 years ago

Enjoyed Joanne Woodward - not much else to recommend it.

[–] don-lockwood 15 years ago

Agreed. It's solid, but Sybil did it much better. That was amazing.

[–] stratosl 13 years ago

Bear in mind the time it was made...Then it was very daring, now it appears simplistic at many moments

[–] sunznc 13 years ago

I agree. This was very hard to watch because it is so dated! I was shocked at how tired the whole film seems.
Don't want to sit through this dreary mess again.

[–] mariahfan-1 13 years ago

it's not dreary at all it's a film thats supposed to make you think and it does. if it were dreary would the motion picture academy voted to give Joanne the best actress oscar for her work no either Deborah Kerr or Elizabeth Taylor would've won the oscar that night. and to who ever mentioned Cybil that was done for television nearly 20 years later with Ms Woodward as the concerned Physchartrist

"why are you married to him then if you can't work with him how do you live with him?"

[–] sunznc 13 years ago

The acting is excellent no doubt about it. But it is very, very dated and has a very low key, somber feel to it.
I must prefer Sybil and thought Woodward was excellent in that.

[–] roarmeister2 12 years ago

It makes a difference on the viewer's age and ability to relate to the '50s. I was born in 1960 so compared to someone born in the '80s, it is easier for me to understand the simplistic/date views and attitudes displayed. I found the film absolutely captivating and ranked it high. Joanne Woodward was absolutely amazing and knowing it was based on a true story makes this whole story even more interesting. This movie is far from overrated especially compared to the drivel of today's movies.

[–] mariahfan-1 12 years ago

@RM2 I agree with you and I was born in the 80's but have always liked things from decades before

"why are you married to him then if you can't work with him how do you live with him?"

[–] denis-38 10 years ago

I would go further and say that Woodward's performance is not so much. LOTS of cut-aways before she "transforms." I think she gave more nuanced portrayals later on. But she didn't, ever, have much of a screen personality. But she was dependable, and never less than adequate and professional.

[–] michaeldecker 10 years ago

I have to agree - sadly the film hasn't aged at all well, and seems more like a Public Information Film in parts...