Lewis MilestoneThe Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)

"Man is waylaid by chance in old home town, meets a girl down on her luck and a turbulent couple with whom he shares a dark childhood secret. Significant noir melodrama focusing on provocative, intermingling relationships of neurotic love, guilt and fear." - noir expert Spencer Selby

Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott, Kirk Douglas (his first film), Judith Anderson, Roman Bohnen, Darryl Hickman. 115 min.

This item is part of the collection: Film Noir

Director: Lewis Milestone
Producer: Lewis Milestone
Audio/Visual: sound, Black & White
Keywords: Martha Ivers, Lewis Milestone, Stanwyck, Kirk Douglas

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

Write a review Reviews

Downloaded 2,685 times Average Rating:

Reviewer: bestpbx - - April 14, 2008
Subject: Van Heflin is in this, too.

Van Heflin plays the male lead character in this movie, Sam Masterson.
This is a good film. It is in the film noir genre.
The film opens in 1928:
Adolescent Martha feels trapped by an over-bearing and mentally abusive aunt. She plans to run away with a friend named Sam Masterson. But, the mysterious circumstance surrounding the death of her aunt bind Martha to her scheming tutor, Mr. O'Neil and his son, Walter. And, Sam leaves town alone.
Next we are in 1946:
Sam visits his hometown on his way west and learns Martha is married to Walter O'Neil. Walter is now the district attorney. It seems that Martha has higher aspirations for Walter and Walter does what Martha says.
Sam befriends a woman named Antonia Marachek. When she runs into trouble with the local law, Sam goes to his old friend Walter to see if Walter can help Antonia.
Walter and Martha are suspicious of Sam's motives and feel that he is threatening them about the facts of the death of Martha's aunt 17 years earlier.
These three former friends uncover secrets that threaten to bring two of them to ruin.
What happened to Martha's aunt?
Who knows for sure what happened?
What are Sam's true feelings for Marta?
Does he care for Antonia?
Will Walter's plans for higher office be fulfilled?
What holds Martha and Walter's marriage together?

Reviewer: Rybak - - April 14, 2008
Subject: Great

This movie is great in all aspects. Thrilling melodramatic, great acting. Great child actors, brilliant Kirk Douglas, Barbara Stanwyck and Lizabeth Scott.

Reviewer: rq52 - - April 12, 2008
Subject: Hurray more Kirk Douglas films!!!

This film is an interesting one. In Mr. Douglas'
book, "The Ragman's Son"; Kirk tried to get some advice from Stanwyck about acting and she kept ignoring him throughout the making of the picture. Years later when Mr. Douglas was a star, he was at a party and Stanwyck came over to him to ask advice on a film she was in. He smiled and walked away saying. "too late Barbara". I like his style.