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Only One Other Actress Could Have Played Eve

posted 16 years ago by Harold_Robbins
7 replies | jump to latest

I've just watched THE THREE FACES OF EVE again after a number of years, and was astonished again at Joanne Woodward's performance. Talk about your basic tour-de-force! The differences in body language and voice that she brought to each character were brilliantly nuanced. Although Judy Garland and June Allyson may have been considered for THE THREE FACES OF EVE, there was only one other actress I can think of who could have played it, and played it at least as well as Woodward: Kim Stanley.

Kim Stanley made her film debut in THE GODDESS in 1958, the year after EVE, in a stunning performance by-passed by the Academy. If she'd had a shot at EVE, it might well have been Stanley, not Woodward, taking home the 1957 Best Actress Oscar, and things might have gone differently for both Stanley and Woodward's film careers.

Ah, "the land of what-might-have-been" - meanwhile we have Woodward's heartbreaking three faces ("They're gone, and there's nobody else here but me!"), and we have Stanley in THE GODDESS and SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON, and her beautiful narration of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.

"Stone-cold sober I find myself absolutely fascinating!"---Katharine Hepburn

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] eadoe 15 years ago

See my post entitled, "Does anyone think Marilyn would have done it better." Both Woodward and Kim Stanley were WAY WAY WAY too mannered and stilted in their southern syrup versions of Eve and the Goddess, respectively. Only one actress could have played both parts to perfection, because she essentially lived them herself, and that is Marilyn Monroe. Neither Woodward nor Stanley had the one essential ingredient for both roles: true vulnerability. They could simulate it, but never truly capture it, because it wasn't part of their natures. Marilyn, with her own tragic childhood and her private hells of mental instability and hunger for love and acceptance, would have broken our hearts with only one look of those lost, wistful eyes, and shown them both how its done. She truly was a candle in the wind, "never knowing who to cling to when the rains begin."

"The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power."
- Julius Caesar, act 2 sc 1

[–] sweet_river 14 years ago

eadoe, just because someone understands an experience does not mean they can portray it diversely on cue and very good at it. Some people are natural at acting whether the experience of the character is similar to their own or not. Acting in itself is another ability from actually withholding the emotions and living a somewhat similar experience to a character to then represent it; some people wouldn't be able to act themselves if it required structured lines, cues and a set up etc. Woodward did the role nicely because she is well... *natural* at performing and was able to learn the experience of this woman as to encompass her character into her creativity and ability as an actress.
Monroe, in my opinion wasn't great at divulging herself in her acting and not particularly convincing in realistic portrayals of woman, nor in simple 'dizzy' ones. I do enjoy some stuff by Monroe for fun, but just observing her life story can't convince you she's suitable for a Dissociative Identity role because hardship has needed her to put on a few *facades* throughout her life. Warmth and 'vulnerability' is not enough either.

I want to rip my arm off just to have something to throw at the TV screen.

[–] marcellis_robinson 11 years ago

I think you might be joking with us here, eadoe. Monroe didn't have 1/10 of the talent of Joanne Woodward, and casting her in a serious dramatic role would be big mistake. She simply didn't have the acting chops to play Eve. As 'The Misfits' showed, she was better suited for light comedy fare.

[–] don-lockwood 15 years ago

It's ridiculous to say only one person could play a part so well. It was definitely a very challenging role, but I'm sure we could have seen strong performances from other actress, because it was such meaty material. For example, why not Vivien Leigh?

[–] mariahfan-1 11 years ago

you guys are forgetting that Woodward had been performing on stage since age 3 and though a strong woman does have a very vulnerable side as everybody does

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

[–] davidwile 11 years ago

Hey folks,

I would agree with Don. There were many gals who could have played the part. Liz Taylor jumps to mind at once, and there were many others as well.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile