The Three Faces of Eve Blu-ray Review

"The Three Faces of Eve" is presented on Blu-ray by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The presentation showcases Stanley Cortez’s meticulously crafted cinematography, masterfully highlighting the intricate interplay of light and shadows. The grayscale is impeccably balanced, ensuring bright but natural whites and deep, solid blacks that enhance the film's overall visual appeal. Furthermore, a fine layer of grain pervades the frame, providing a quintessentially film-like texture without becoming intrusive. Although early CinemaScope films tended toward excessive graininess, this 1957 release exudes a smooth, aesthetically pleasing grain structure.

The transfer is exemplary with sharp textures and crisp details, especially evident in the characters' costumes and finely dressed sets. The wide Cinemascope shots are particularly notable, rendering layers of background detail with pristine clarity and dimension. This Blu-ray edition effectively brings out the lustrous quality of the black and white imagery, offering viewers an enriching visual experience. There are a few instances where the image softness contrasts with the general sharpness, largely during scene transitions or dissolves, but these moments are minimal and do not detract significantly from the overall quality.

The nearly immaculate print shows no visible signs of age or damage, maintaining a stunningly preserved look throughout. This results in a high-definition presentation that stands as a testament to classic cinema’s enduring beauty. Despite some minor variances in sharpness, "The Three Faces of Eve" on Blu-ray remains an exceptional visual treat, appealing to both cinephiles and fans of vintage films alike.

The Blu-ray release of "The Three Faces of Eve" boasts a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono track that caters well to the film’s dialogue-centric nature. The score, composed by Robert Emmett Dolan, is another highlight and is reproduced with pleasing accuracy and fidelity. Despite the film having limited dynamic range, the audio track is damage-free and effectively communicates the original sound design's modest ambitions.

Dialogue remains clear and clean throughout, though slightly thin when compared to modern releases. The effects are minimal but adequately conveyed, enhancing the viewing experience without overpowering the primary audio elements. While there is a faint background hiss detectable in certain scenes, significant age-related issues, such as pops and crackles, are notably absent. The sound design from the 1950s may not excite contemporary audiophiles, but Fox has done a commendable job preserving the filmmakers’ original intentions with this clean and authentic audio presentation.

This Blu-ray includes optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles, making it accessible to a broader audience. Overall, the DTS-HD Master Audio Mono mix, while basic, offers a respectful and faithful reproduction of the film's original audio, ensuring that both dialogue and music contribute to the overall ambiance effectively.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Three Faces of Eve" offer a deep dive into the film’s history and production. Highlighted by Aubrey Solomon’s commentary, viewers are treated to substantial insights about the film's background, including casting choices and adaptation nuances. Despite some occasional silences, Solomon's track is filled with valuable trivia, like Judy Garland being the original choice for the lead. Additionally, vintage promotional content, such as the Fox Movietone News segment featuring Joanne Woodward's Academy Award win, provides historical context. The theatrical trailer, with a rare on-set appearance by the director, rounds out the offerings.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary by Film Historian Aubrey Solomon: Engaging details on adaptation, casting, and production.
• Fox Movietone News: Academy Awards: Joanne Woodward’s award acceptance.
• Theatrical Trailer: Includes a director's introduction.

"The Three Faces of Eve" offers a compelling dive into the complex realm of multiple personality disorder, anchored by Joanne Woodward's riveting and Academy Award-winning performance. Based on a real-life case study by psychiatrists Corbett H. Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley, the narrative follows Eve White, a woman plagued by memory loss and erratic behavior. These symptoms are unveiled to stem from her alternate persona, Eve Black, whose flirtatious and carefree demeanor starkly contrasts with Eve White's timid nature. The film intensifies when a third personality, Jane, emerges, adding another layer to the already intricate psychological dilemma.

Nunnally Johnson's direction prioritizes authenticity, underscored by Alistair Cooke's narration that authenticates the story's factual basis. Filming in black and white enhances the sense of documentary realism, setting a tone of gritty truthfulness. The cinematography takes full advantage of the Cinemascope frame, offering thoughtful compositions and lighting designs that bolster the film’s clinical atmosphere. Despite some stretches feeling a bit slow and dry due to the script’s fidelity to its source material, the movie remains an insightful exploration of identity and trauma.

Ultimately, it's Woodward's performance that carries the film, seamlessly embodying three distinct personas: the docile Eve White, the vivacious Eve Black, and the well-adjusted Jane. Her ability to transition between these personalities with subtle changes in expression and demeanor is mesmerizing and elevates the film beyond its somewhat restrained visual and narrative presentation. While the supporting roles and certain dramatic beats may not fully resonate, Woodward's portrayal ensures "The Three Faces of Eve" stands as a landmark in cinematic representations of mental illness.

'The Three Faces of Eve' on Blu-ray is a film that balances both captivating performances and technical precision. Joanne Woodward's portrayal of Eve—encompassing three distinct personalities—is compelling and stands as the film's central strength. While the narrative and stylistic elements may feel somewhat dated by contemporary standards, Woodward's performance elevates the material, drawing the audience into the complex world of multiple personality disorder.

From a technical perspective, Fox has excelled with this Blu-ray release. The video transfer is exceptional, providing sharp, clear imagery that enhances the overall viewing experience. The audio mix remains faithful to the original production, ensuring that every line of dialogue and musical score is precisely delivered. Although the release lacks a significant number of supplemental materials, the included commentary offers valuable insights and is certainly worth exploring.

In conclusion, 'The Three Faces of Eve' is one of the quieter films about mental illness, but due to Woodward's commanding performance(s), it’s an often fascinating experience. Some elements may seem dated, but when Woodward's on the screen (which is most of the time), minor qualms drift away into nothingness. This is another great looking and sounding Fox catalog release, and it comes Recommended.