Three childhood friends, Martha, Walter and Sam, share a terrible secret. Over time, the ambitious Martha and the pusillanimous Walter have married. She is a cold businesswoman; he is the district attorney: a perfect combination to dominate the corrupt city of Iverstown at will. But the unexpected return of Sam, after years of absence, deeply disturbs the life of the odd couple.
Barbara Stanwyck
Martha Ivers
Van Heflin
Sam Masterson
Lizabeth Scott
Antonia 'Toni' Marachek
Kirk Douglas
Walter O'Neil
Judith Anderson
Mrs. Ivers
Roman Bohnen
Mr. O'Neil
Darryl Hickman
Young Sam
Janis Wilson
Young Martha
Ann Doran
Bobbi St. John
Frank Orth
Hotel Clerk
James Flavin
Police Detective #1
Mickey Kuhn
Young Walter
Charles D. Brown
McCarthy
Blake Edwards
Sleeping Sailor (uncredited)
Walter Baldwin
Dempsey (uncredited)
Tom Dillon
Police Detective #2 (uncredited)
Bert Roach
Man Waiting (uncredited)
John Kellogg
Joe (uncredited)
Olin Howland
Newspaper Clerk (uncredited)
Gladden James
John (uncredited)
Director
Lewis Milestone
Original Story
John Patrick
Screenplay
Robert Rossen
September 9, 2019
8
It's what the law says isn't it Walter?
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). Robert Rossen and Robert Riskin adapt from the short story "Love Lies Bleeding" by playwright John Patrick (using the pseudonym Jack Patrick). It's produced by Hal B. Wallis, the film is scored by Miklos Rozsa, photographed by Victor Milner, the art design is by Hans Dreier and the costumes come courtesy of multi Oscar winner Edith Head.
Quite a cast, and quite a line up in the back room too, the credits also feature Robert Aldrich & Blake Edwards, taking to four the number of future directors involved in the film. The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is a dark, often perverse melodramatic film noir picture. 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 spied her clubbing her wealthy aunt to death when they were children. After watching another man hang for the murder, Martha inherited the family fortune and has grown into a tycoon type and now holds control over Iverstown. Married to one of the witnesses (Douglas playing weak willed Walter O'Neil), she finds her world knocked out of line when Sam (Heflin superb), the other potential child witness, resurfaces. Now the guilt ridden waters have been stirred...
It's a gripping pot boiler that is tightly directed by Milestone, all the more better for the director choosing to craft the noir elements around the smouldering romantic plot lines. The setting is also classic noir, Iverstown is an on the surface all American peaceful town in nowhereville, but bubbling under the smiley surface is dark political deeds and even darker secrets. Rozsa scores it perfectly, at times jaunty to give the sense of all is well in this Americana, then quick tonal shifts grab the ears as the shadows form around the dislikable characters. Supporting actress Lizabeth Scott is appealing in one of her better roles, while Judith Anderson makes a massive impact in her short stint as the wicked Aunt.
Perhaps a touch too long at just under two hours? This none the less is a highly recommended picture for both the story and the technical nous provided by those that made it. 8/10
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$3,250,000.00