DramaThriller

A Woman's Face

- HOW COULD THIS WOMAN WIN A MAN'S LOVE...HIS KISSES...HIS EMBRACES...?

A female blackmailer with a disfiguring facial scar meets a plastic surgeon who offers her the possibility of looking like a normal woman.

Release Date : 1941-05-09

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Anna Holm

Original Name : Joan Crawford

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Gustaf Segert

Original Name : Melvyn Douglas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Torsten Barring

Original Name : Conrad Veidt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vera Segert

Original Name : Osa Massen

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bernard Dalvik

Original Name : Reginald Owen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Consul Magnus Barring

Original Name : Albert Bassermann

Gender : Male

Character Name : Emma Kristiansdotter

Original Name : Marjorie Main

Gender : Female

Character Name : Herman Rundvik

Original Name : Donald Meek

Gender : Male

Character Name : Christina Dalvik

Original Name : Connie Gilchrist

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lars-Erik Barring

Original Name : Richard Nichols

Gender : Male

Character Name : Eric

Original Name : Charles Quigley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gusta

Original Name : Gwili Andre

Gender : Female

Character Name : Wickman

Original Name : Clifford Brooke

Gender : Male

Character Name : Defense Attorney

Original Name : George Zucco

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judge

Original Name : Henry Kolker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Associate Judge

Original Name : Robert Warwick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Associate Judge

Original Name : Gilbert Emery

Gender : Male

Character Name : Public Prosecutor

Original Name : Henry Daniell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Matron

Original Name : Sarah Padden

Gender : Female

Character Name : Court Attendant

Original Name : William Farnum

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Doris Day

Gender : Female

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-25

Joan Crawford ("Anna") is on top form in this adept Cukorian adaptation of Francis de Croisset's play. Set in Sweden, she is a young girl scarred after an accident in her home many years earlier. Feeling herself rejected by society, she turns to petty blackmail with "Barring" (Conrad Veidt) and alights on the cheating wife "Vera" (Isa Massen) of plastic surgeon "Gustaf" (Melvyn Douglas). Whilst amidst her extortion attempts, she is apprehended by the doctor who mistakes her for a burglar. Persuaded not to call the police by his wife, "Gustaf" turns his attention to her disfigurement, and offers to help... Meantime, "Barring" is starting to run out of credit, so tells her of his wealthy uncle who has only a young grandson to inherit his fortune. Should anything happen to the young boy, then it would all be his - or, theirs! She pretends to be a governess and heads to look after the young lad. Will she carry out their dastardly plan and dispose of their obstacle to wealth and happiness? It's told by way of a trial at which "Anna" is the accused, so for most of the film we are not entirely sure who has been killed - or, indeed, who did any killing. The method by which each "witness" gives their statement fills in parts of the jigsaw without ever spoiling the suspense. Veidt is great as the baddie - as usual, and Richard Nichols is engaging as the mischievous four year old object of their ploy "Lars-Erik". Crawford's characterisation is strong and layered - we begin to see a little more of this flawed woman as the story progresses - even eliciting a touch of unlikely sympathy. This is a compelling drama, well paced with plenty of meat on it's bones and well worth a watch.