Il était une fois

The fact that Joan Crawford failed to win an Oscar nomination for her magnificent performance in this film is a travesty! Her talents as an actress were never more evident in her portrayal of a bitter woman who hates the world because of her disfigurement.

Joan Crawford has one of her first great roles in this 1941 remake of a Swedish film that starred Ingrid Bergman. And she is superb. She plays a complex woman scarred in a fire caused by her drunken father. She has grown up as an outcast of society and turns to blackmailing as a way to make a living. Through a series of events she meets a plastic surgeon (Melvyn Douglas) who operates and transforms her life. But she is ensnared with villainous Conrad Veidt who wants to kill his nephew so he can inherit the family fortune.

Part thriller part courtroom drama, A Woman's Face gives Crawford the kind of role that showed off all her talents as an actress. This film, along with Mildred Pierce, Possessed, and Humoresque, ranks as one of her best. The entire cast is top notch.

Douglas is fine as the compassionate surgeon and Veidt is terrific as the murderous uncle. Marjorie Main has one of her best roles as the jealous housekeeper. Reginald Owen, Connie Gilchrist, and Donald Meek are Crawford's band of thieves. Albert Basserman is the old counsel. Richard Nichols is the cute kid. Osa Massen is Douglas' pig of a wife. Henry Kolker is the judge and Henry Daniell a lawyer.

Great direction (George Cukor) and cinematography. Exciting sleigh race at the finale. But first and foremost this is a Joan Crawford picture. Why didn't she get Oscar nominated for this gem?

An exciting cast, an excellent story, excellent acting. Joan Crawford is perfect as a malevolent blackmailer who has a change of heart after her facial disfigurement is repaired.

The story progresses in an interesting way, with the plot unfolding during a murder trial. Each witness builds the story line, and the script has many unexpected plot twists, making this film anything but predictable.

This film is a good example of how skillful film makers create special effects without high-tech gadgetry. It's wonderful that we have films like this to show us what real movie-making is like.

This film may surpass even Joan Crawford's Oscar-winning performance in `Mildred Pierce' as the best of her career. `A Woman's Face' is part courtroom drama, part mystery, and unfolds in the form of flashbacks through the eyes of no less than half a dozen questionable characters. Crawford plays Anna Holm, a facially scarred woman whose disfigurement has led her to an embittered life of crime.

Melvyn Douglas is perfectly cast as the handsome and heroic Dr. Segert, and Conrad Veidt plays Torsten Barring, the despicable charmer. Crawford's interpretation of a genuinely mean-spirited and heartless Anna develops into a complex character who wins our sympathy despite her evil intentions. It's a breath of fresh air to see Crawford not made up glamorously. There are no dazzling gowns or mascara-ed lashes to distract the viewer from Crawford's fabulous performance.

With a brilliant supporting cast (including the adorable Richard Nichols as the 4 year-old Lars-Erik, and Marjorie Main as the suspicious housekeeper), `A Woman's Face' ranks among the best Crawford films of all time. It is a must-see for anyone who wishes to see a well-made, fascinating tale of intrigue, love and human frailty.

This is a shaded Crawford performance, showing her dramatic range better than most. As the conflicted Anna, she goes through a number of emotional changes in subtle fashion. Defaced by a facial scar, Anna strikes back at the world by heading up a blackmail ring. Then, by chance, she meets up with cosmetic surgeon Dr, Segert (Douglas), who restores her underlying beauty. Too bad he's married.

With the operation, Anna can now lead a normal life, except her cruel boyfriend Torsten (Veidt) has a hold on her, and dispatches Anna to kill his toddler nephew who stands to inherit the fortune Torsten would otherwise inherit. So what's she going to do now that she has a chance to lead a normal life. Will Torsten's hold cause a relapse into her former criminal life.

The sleigh chase and roaring cataract below may be the most exciting sequence in any of Joan's many dramatic films. It's certainly the high point here. Douglas and Veidt are excellent in their roles; however, Massen's over the top as Douglas's unfaithful wife. On the whole, the MGM production is excellent, especially the ballroom scenes. However, some of the outdoor process shots and miniatures are sometimes apparent. Director Cukor's a little out of his usual sophisticated element, but keeps things moving seamlessly.

Too bad the film has drifted around in the Crawford canon because it's one of Joan's best, both for her and for the audience.