A Woman's Face (1941)

A Woman's Face (1941)

starring Joan Crawford, Melvyn Douglas, Conrad Veidt

directed by George Cukor

106 minutes

Anna Holm (Joan Crawford), a facially disfigured woman, meets Torsten Barring (Conrad Veidt). He is not put off by her face. She doubts his sincerity at first but soon finds herself craving the attention he gives her. She warns him that she isn't a good person but that doesn't scare him away.

Anna is in the process of blackmailing Vera Segert, when she gets caught by Vera's husband, Dr. Gustaf Segert (Melvyn Douglas). Gustaf decides not to turn her over to the police. His specialty is reconstructive surgery. He offers to fix her face. She accepts his offer and travels from Sweden to Switzerland where the surgery takes place.

The surgery is a success. Anna returns to Sweden and is reunited with Torsten. He reveals that his uncle Magnus is rich. He hopes to inherit his uncle's money but there is one person standing in his way: Lars-Erik, his uncle's grandson. Torsten's uncle is looking for a governess for Lars-Erik who is just four years old. Torsten suggests that she apply for the job and then murder Lars-Erik. She has doubts but agrees to do it.

Anna gets the job but immediately starts to have second thoughts after meeting Lars-Erik and Torsten's uncle. Things get more complicated when first Dr. Segert arrives at Magnus Barring's home without his wife. Torsten arrives later that day. He pressures Anna to go through with what she promised to do. When Torsten gets impatient with Anna's delays he takes matters into his own hands forcing Anna and Gustaf to try to save Lars-Erik.

Thoughts

Most of this story is told in flashback. Anna is on trial for murder. Anna and several witnesses tell their stories. It isn't clear who was murdered. I thought at first that it was Lars-Erik but then I realized that Torsten also wasn't present in the court room.

One of the witnesses was played by Donald Meek. It isn't a very large role. He is the first witness called to testify. I've seen him in a few other films including Stagecoach (1933) and You Can't Take It with You (1938). 

I thought this movie was quite good. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I thought that the performances of Joan Crawford and Conrad Veidt were both excellent. I love how he goes from being the man who brings her out of her shell to the one who wants her to kill a child.