The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Tags: murder

Plot synopsis:
On a rainy night in 1928 in a Pennsylvania factory town called Iverstown, thirteen-year-old Martha Ivers (Janis Wilson) tries to run away from the guardianship of her wealthy, domineering aunt with her friend, the street-smart, poor Sam Masterson (Darryl Hickman), but is caught and brought home. Sam comes for her, but Martha's aunt hears her calling to him. While Sam slips out unnoticed, Mrs. Ivers starts beating Martha's cat with her cane. Martha wrestles it away from her and strikes her brutally, causing her to fall down the stairs and die. The event is witnessed by Walter O'Neil (Mickey Kuhn), the son of Martha's tutor (Roman Bohnen). Martha lies about the incident to Walter's father, and Walter backs her up.
Mr. O'Neil suspects what happened, but presents Martha's version of events to the police, that an intruder is responsible; with his leverage he makes Martha marry his son. When the police identify a former employee of the aunt as the murderer, the two O'Neils and Martha help convict him; he is hanged.
Seventeen or eighteen years later, the elder O'Neil is dead. Walter (now played by Kirk Douglas) is the district attorney, while Martha (Barbara Stanwyck) has used her inheritance from her aunt to build a large business empire. Their marriage is one-sided; he loves her, but she does not love him.
Sam (Van Heflin), now a drifter and gambler, stops in the small town by chance to have his car repaired after an accident. While waiting, he goes to look at his old home, now a boarding house. There he meets Antonia "Toni" Marachek (Lizabeth Scott), who has just been released from jail. She is later picked up for violating her probation by not returning to her hometown. Sam goes to see Walter to see if he can use his influence to get her released.
Walter is convinced Sam has blackmail in mind. When Martha reacts with joy at seeing Sam, Walter also becomes jealous. Walter forces Toni to set Sam up. Sam is beaten up and driven out of town, but he is too tough to be intimidated. When all else fails, Walter makes a halfhearted attempt to kill Sam himself, but is easily disarmed. Martha then inadvertently blurts out the couple's fears of blackmail, only to learn that Sam did not witness the death. Martha breaks down and laments that he left without her all those years ago, taking with him her only chance for love and freedom.
Sam is torn between his old love and his new. Although he eventually forgives Toni for betraying him, he and Martha spend an idyllic day together, rekindling his feelings for her.
Walter arranges to meet Sam to finally settle matters. Before Sam arrives, Walter gets drunk and Martha finds out about the meeting. When Walter falls down the stairs, Martha urges Sam to kill her unconscious husband. Sam instead brings Walter around. Martha pulls out a gun and threatens to shoot Sam in "self defense" as an intruder. Sam tells her it would work ... if she can get Walter to corroborate her story. He then turns his back on her and leaves.
Walter embraces and kisses his wife; then he points the gun at her midriff. Oddly relieved, she puts her hand over his hand on the trigger and presses. As she is dying, she defiantly states her name is not Martha Ivers, but Martha Smith. Outside, Sam hears the shot. He runs back toward the mansion, but sees Walter, holding Martha's body, shoot himself. Sam and Toni drive away together.

Review: What connects this melodrama with noir films like the perfectly named OUT OF THE PAST, THE KILLERS (in which the hero explains that he is doomed because, "I did something wrong, once"), and many others is the theme that one mistake, one "reckless moment," can seal your fate forever.The three children are Sam Masterson, a streetwise kid from the wrong side of the tracks; Walter O'Neil, a timid, obedient boy whose father is ambitious for him; and Martha Ivers, the orphaned heiress to a steel mill, who lives miserably with her aunt (Judith Anderson, in Mrs. Danvers mode).
The highly-charged triangle becomes a quadrangle with the addition of Toni Marachek, a young woman just out of jail whom Sam picks up and befriends.THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS is a conventional studio product, lacking the expressive camera-work or atmospheric settings that noir usually offers.
But by the end it's clear that Martha and Walter have become twins, warped by their shared guilt (they both took part in prosecuting an innocent man who was hanged for the murder), while Sam and Toni share a fundamental decency and the capacity to look ahead to a fresh start.Nice girl Toni is there to provide eye candy and a potential happy ending for Sam, but she gets a lot of screen time, too much in fact for her one-note character.
A powerhouse cast is assembled for "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers."  It's a treat to watch this able quintet at work, making for an engrossing film experience.Barbara Stanwyck is at her peak--sure, confident, and unfailing.
Its stately pace and prosperous look give it a dated, ponderous feel, quite unlike the rough sleekness of film noir, though there's an unmistakable echo of Double Indemnity  Stanwyck's performance as Martha Ivers reworks  hers as Phyllis Dietrichson, right down to the concluding love-death tableau.
The always-great Barbara Stanwyck is at her sultriest as Martha, and Van Heflin is incredibly sexy and masculine as Sam. Watching this movie, you wouldn't think Kirk Douglas, who plays the weak-willed, alcoholic Walter, would soon become a bigger star than Heflin and play the tough, romantic hero parts like Sam Masterson.
This movie, more than most of its era, trades in shades of gray; the "bad" characters, Martha and Walter, have reasons for the evil they do, while the "good" characters, Sam and Toni, are no angels--he's a decorated war hero, but he makes his living by gambling and once killed a man in self-defense, while she just got out of jail.
Due to a car accident, Van Heflin has to return to his home town in "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers," and walks into a world full of blackmail and murder.
Now he returns to find Walter (Kirk Douglas) is the drunken district attorney and married to Martha (Barbara Stanwyck), the richest woman in town - Iverstown is, after all, named after her family.
On the next morning, Antonia is arrested for violation of probation, and Sam decides to pay a visit to Walter O'Neil (Kirk Douglas), now a successful district attorney and married with the wealthy Martha Ivers (Barbara Stanwyck), to ask him to release Antonia.
When Walter sees Sam, he believes Sam wants to blackmail Martha and him, and his misunderstanding leads the former friends to tragic revelations about the fatal night and discloses dirty secrets about the couple Martha and Walter."The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" is an amazing underrated film-noir.
Kirk Douglas is great in his debut, but Van Heflin and Lizabeth Scott steals the movie with their performances and chemistry.
It is a difficult role, but Douglas retains the wimpish quality of Walter from start to finish, also depending on the actions and control of his unbalanced wife.Towering performances, a gloomy soundtrack, and dark cinematography make this feature dazzle as one of the best 'film noir' genre produced in the 1940s.Lizabeth Scott in particular gives a commanding performance, which generates interest, glamour and suspicion.
An engrossing and creative film-noir, "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" offers an interesting and unpredictable story with quite a bit of commentary about its characters.
Van Heflin gives a particularly memorable performance, with plenty of help from Barbara Stanwyck and a very young-looking Kirk Douglas.The story is very well-conceived, showing first a tumultuous series of events in the youth of its main characters, and then showing how their adult lives are still shaped by things that happened long ago.
We have powerful woman, played by already legendary Barbara Stanwyck, in the kind of role that she was best at, and about a weak man with a heart, her husband, Kirk Douglas, the really sympathetic side of the actor in his first movie role.
Barbara Stanwyck and Kirk Douglas got top billing on the VHS and DVD boxes I've seen but the real stars of this movie are Van Heflin and Lizabeth Scott, the likable albeit corrupt two of the foursome.
The film exudes star power - featuring the legendary Barbara Stanwyck, the chronically under-appreciated Lizabeth Scott, veteran Van Heflin and a very young Kirk Douglas.
Contrary to the opinions of some of the reviewers here on IMDb, Lizabeth Scott played the young, naive, but not exactly innocent Toni to the hilt, and was easily the most sympathetic character in the lot.Sam Masterson (Heflin), a drifting but successful gambler, meets a very beautiful young woman who has just been released from prison and wants very badly to build a new life for herself (Scott).
The chemistry between Scott and Heflin is very good, and their budding romance is entirely believable despite its pithy evolution.Sam wanders back into his home town after more than a decade's absence, and looks up two of his childhood friends from the other side of the tracks - Martha (Stanwyck), a near-miss childhood sweetheart who has inherited about half of the town, including its only major industry, and Walter O'Neil (Douglas) her weak-willed social climbing coward of a husband, who has become the town's D.A. The last night this trio was together, in their teenage years, Martha's aunt was murdered by Martha herself, and Martha and Walter now fear Sam's reason for returning.Martha Ivers is one of the better-played psychos of 20th century film.
He does not sacrifice characterization or plot, and the director and editor do a very nice job of creating a fluid pace for the film, but the shifting sands of a couple of the lead characters' personalities can be a little jarring at times.Despite this minor problem, the film is a solidly entertaining and well made noir melodrama with a great cast and an excellent premise.
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is directed by Lewis Milestone and stars Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott and Kirk Douglas in his film debut.
Heavily reliant on dialogue and unappealing characters, the film revels in the cruel streak that pulses right through the running time.Stanwyck (on wickedly chilling form) plays Martha Ivers, the center piece of an explosive trio that also comprises the two men who possibly saw her club her wealthy aunt to death when they were children.
Barbara Stanwyck excells as the wealthy,cruel and dominating woman who has a strangle hold on a small town.In an early role for Kirk Douglas who plays the cowardly D.A husband of Stanwyck(a real departure from the tough roles he would play later in his career) Douglas thinks that Stanwyck`s old lover( a solid role for Van Helfin)has returned for only one reason.....blackmail.
It's also one of those movies that I'd love to see remade simply so more could see this fascinating story.(Unlike most, I love remakes of very old and terrific movies that too few know - so I sat there thinking of who would play these characters today - that's how good this is - certainly I could see Alec Baldwin or Michael Douglas in the Van Heflin role, Kim Basinger or Glenn Close in the Barbara Stanwyck role, perhaps Edward Hermann in the Kirk Douglas role and Kirsten Dunst in the Lizabeth Scott role).Stanwyck's fire erupts again and again - the woman seethes and it feels very VERY real.
g. Ghosts, A Doll's House): shared secrets; high emotional temperature; intense scenes; slow, inexorable series of revelations; sudden telling images (e.g. the hurt Martha causes to Walter as she disinfects his cut hand, the campfire discovered by Martha and Sam in the woods above the town) etc etc.The script is excellent; the acting, especially from Heflin and Stanwyck, terrific; Rosza's highly wrought music (significantly absent from the first long scene between Stanwyck and Kirk Douglas) lifting the whole thing onto an operatic level that really only Almodovar these days is capable of sustaining.All in all, an exceptionally fine example of a noir melodrama..
Lewis Milestone directed this melodrama that stars Barbara Stanwyck as Martha Ivers, who, as young girl, killed her evil aunt(played by Judith Anderson) and involves her two boyfriends Walter O'Neil and Sam Masterson.
Many years later, Walter(played by Kirk Douglas in his film debut) is a successful District Attorney, and Martha the power and drive behind him.
When Sam(played by Van Heflin) returns to town, he befriends a young woman(played by Lizabeth Scott) whom have mutual sympathy and attraction, but Sam gets mixed up with Martha and Walter, who have corrupt doings going on, and there still is that long ago murder...
The film's story is basically about the raise and fall of a quite an authoritative woman of rather strong character Martha Ivers, convincingly played by Barbara Stanwyck, the story of whose life we follow throughout the film, beginning with her troubled childhood marked with the dominative presence of a detestable in the eyes of a young girl's aunt (played by Judith Anderson).
Martha's little friend Sam happens to witness all those events and frightened to his bones promptly flees the town only to return there 18 years later to find quite a number of changes beginning with the town's name which is now Iverstown, named so in the honour of its most respectable and influential citizen - Martha Ivers, whose power, as he very soon discovers, is due to her marriage to Walter O'Neal (brilliantly played by Kirk Douglas), a district attorney who belongs to the town most influential family, but in spite of all that finds his weak persona under an utter control of a tough and commanding character of his wife.
Overall The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is quite a notable Film-Noir classic featuring fine acting, a good, Oscar nominated story which follows some of the trademark Film-Noir patterns in a quite a unique way and last but not least the notable music score by brilliant, three times Academy Award winning composer Miklos Rozsa.
There are a few good moments in this noir film from 1946, and it's a fine cast with Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, and Kirk Douglas, but overall it's overwrought, muddled, and I have to say, about 30 minutes too long.
I won't go into details about the story - it must be seen to enjoy properly - but trough the movie we actually feel a little bit of sympathy for Stanwyck who was caged in this prison of marriage hoping to escape somehow one day.Her role is negative in "moral" sense and still Stanwyck manages to appear human under that cold posture.Acting is excellent - Kirk Douglas is weak alcoholic bowing in presence of strong wife but cruel otherwise, Stanwyck tough as nails and scared little girl in presence of love of her life, Van Heflin our good-guy-with-a-past who hides a good heart under tough exterior (and he can fight too, not afraid of any policemen or detectives sent to scare him away) and there is a excellent supporting role for Lizabeth Scott who is here as his love interest, balance for cruel Martha Ivers.
Anti-heroic Heflin, steadfast Barbara Stanwyck (as Martha Ivers), and distilled Kirk Douglas (in his film debut, as Walter O'Neil) are amazingly convincing as the grown-up trio of teenagers who crossed paths on the day Ms. Stanwyck's wicked aunt (Judith Anderson) was viciously bludgeoned to death.
The great cast is stylishly directed by Lewis Milestone, with beautiful cinematography by Victor Milner.******** The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (7/24/46) Lewis Milestone ~ Van Heflin, Barbara Stanwyck, Kirk Douglas, Lizabeth Scott.
As a child, Stanwyck murdered her domineering aunt (Judith Anderson, superbly menacing but with far too little screen time) while her friend (Douglas's character) looks on; the boy she really likes (Heflin) takes off into the night, never to return.
One of the iconic classic mysteries, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers stars Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott, Judith Anderson, Roman Bohnen, and introduces a new young actor in his first film: Kirk Douglas.
He asks Walter for help but Walter wonders if he wants more.Screen legends Barbara Stanwyck and Kirk Douglas are together but Van Heflin and Lizabeth Scott are equal co-leads.
He is just drifting through town and decides to look up old friend Kirk Douglas (Walter) who is now married to Barbara Stanwyck (Martha Ivers).
KIRK DOUGLAS is excellent as her spineless husband, who witnessed the crime and VAN HEFLIN does a standout job as the man who comes between the two with his knowledge of Martha's murderous encounter with her wicked aunt (JUDITH ANDERSON).
Scott is a lonely woman with an unfortunate past, although she and Heflin play characters who are only slightly more moral and upstanding than the other two leads.Directed by Lewis Milestone, there is a sense of doom from the start and a film noir ambiance about the excellent B&W photography and the starkness of the melodrama.Well worth viewing.
This film noir is horrible, it features idiotic acting from Elizabeth Scott, a goof leading character named Sam-played by Van Heflin, a overly wicked performance by Judith Anderson.
Martha and Walter (played by Barbara Stanwyck and Kirk Douglas in his first film) have been married for some time and with her millions and strong support, Walter is in line to be the next governor.
Wallis.The cast of this film is unique.Barbara Stanwyck gives a memorable performance as Martha Ivers.Van Heflin is fantastic as Sam Masterson.Lizabeth Scott is amazing as Antonia "Toni" Marachek.Kirk Douglas plays a rare part of a weak man, Walter O'Neil in his first movie.He got the part after his drama school classmate Lauren Bacall suggested Mr. Wallis to look up a guy called Issur Demsky.His character is filled with self-loathing.It can be heard in every word he says, in can be seen in the look of his eyes.Roman Bohnen is great as his father.Judith Anderson is marvelous as Mrs Ivers.Janis Wilson is excellent as the young Martha.Darryl Hickman is terrific as the young Sam.Mickey Kuhn does brilliant job as the young Walter.Blake Edwards is in an uncredited part as the sailor who hitches a ride with Sam.This movie should be a bigger classic than it is.It makes a terrific film-noir, and it is also a great portrayal of alcoholism in Walter's character.I recall having seen the movie once before and now I saw it on DVD and liked it a lot.Start with the dialogue, it's something very special.Like when Kirk says: "There's a thin line between life and death".The scene where the young Martha kills her aunt with a stick after she has attacked her cat is most haunting.The ending is something you won't forget.Walter presses the gun on Martha and shoots her before shooting himself.This movie touches you in a special way.Watch the movie where Kirk Douglas makes his unbelievable debut with an incredible cast..
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946); produced by Hal Wallis Productions and distributed by Paramount Pictures; USA Release Date: July 24, 1946, run time: 116 minutes; directed by Lewis Milestone; written by John Patrick, Robert Rossen and Robert Riskin; costumes by Edith Head; cast - Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott, Kirk Douglas, Judith Anderson, Roman Bohnen, Darryl Hickman, Janis Wilson and Mickey Kuhn.*Spoiler Alert!* One of the many great film-noir movies of the 1940s The Strange Love of Martha Ivers showcases a knockout performance by Barbara Stanwyck and an interesting screen debut for Kirk Douglas.
What makes Ivers unique is that it is one of only a handful of film-noir movies to be nominated for an Oscar.The story opens in Iverstown, 1928, Young Sam Masterson (Hickman) and Martha Ivers (Wilson) are planning to run away together.
Undoubtedly melodramatic as the action here surely is, there's an unmistakeable noir element running right through the film which considerably darkens proceeding leading up to an ending as dark as a black cat in a cellar at midnight.The film starts with a lengthy scene-setting prologue which tells you pretty much all you need to know about the three main adult protagonists, played by Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin and Kirk Douglas, in terms of their characters and future motivations, by showing them as the children they were at the time of the shocking event which sets in motion the train of events and binds them together but which finally catches up with them all 18 years later.
Sam Masterson (Van Heflin) returns to him hometown to find that his childhood friends Martha Ivers (Barbara Stanswyck) and Walter O Neil (Kirk Douglas) are now the power couple that rules over the town.
Actually, the movie is rather better than that, but not that much better.Sam Masterson (Van Heflin) returns to his home town of Iverstown after an absence of 17 or 18 years to find that his teen-aged girl friend, Martha Ivers (Barbara Stanwyk) has married the nerdish Walter O'Neil.
Stanwyck's Ivers is one of her better roles, though Scott as Toni Marachek stands right up to her performance here.Kirk Douglas first screen role as Walter O'Neil is very good considering the quality of the cast he is working with.