A Woman's Face (1941)

7.2Approved107 minDirector: George Cukor

1941 film by George Cukor

A Woman's Face is a 1941 American drama film noir directed by George Cukor and starring Joan Crawford, Melvyn Douglas and Conrad Veidt. It tells the story of Anna Holm, a facially disfigured blackmailer, who, because of her appearance, despises everyone she encounters. When a plastic surgeon corrects this disfigurement, Anna becomes torn between the hope of starting a new life and a return to her dark past. Most of the film is told in flashbacks as witnesses in a courtroom give their testimonies. The screenplay was written by Donald Ogden Stewart and Elliot Paul, based on the play Il était une fois... by Francis de Croisset. Another version of the story, a Swedish production, was filmed in 1938 as En kvinnas ansikte, starring Ingrid Bergman.

Advertising for the film appears in a photograph by Robert Frank. One of the images of Crawford used in the advertising later was included in the album artwork for The Rolling Stones album Exile on Main St. (1972).

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is A Woman's Face about?
A Woman's Face (1941) — Anna Holm is a blackmailer, who because of a facial scar, despises everyone she encounters. When a plastic surgeon performs an operation to correct this disfigurement, Anna becomes torn between the hope of starting a new life, and a return to her dark past.
Is A Woman's Face based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is A Woman's Face scary?
Content rating: Approved. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.