The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
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The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is a black-and-white film noir motion picture released in the United States in 1946. The movie is based on a story, titled Love Lies Bleeding by playwright John Patrick (using the [[Wiktionary:pseudonym|pseudonym]] Jack Patrick), produced and brought to the screen by Hal B. Wallis. The screenplay was written by Robert Rossen and Robert Riskin (uncredited), and was directed by Lewis Milestone.
The film opens with a rainy night in 1928, where Martha Ivers, a rich young girl, is caught attempting to run away with her friend, the street-smart, and poor, Sam Masterson. The pair is caught and Martha is sent home. While there, the spoiled Martha prevents her aunt from attacking her cat with a cane by turning the cane on her aunt instead. There are witnesses to the crime committed by the young woman, including Martha's future husband Walter, son of her tutor. Walter and Martha end up fingering a known criminal for the crime instead of taking the blame. Meanwhile, wrong-side-of-the-tracks Sam takes off thinking he's in trouble enough.
Eighteen years later, Distict Attorney Walter (Douglas) and Martha (Stanwyk) live a loveless marriage. Sam (Heflin), now a drifter and gambler, returns to the small town and relights Martha's love for him. While in town, Sam meets up with bad girl blonde Toni (Scott), just released from jail. Walter and Martha fear that Sam knows the truth about the murder years ago and wants to blackmail them.
Main cast
- Barbara Stanwyck as Martha Ivers
- Van Heflin as Sam Masterson
- Lizabeth Scott as Toni Marachek
- Kirk Douglas as Walter O'Neil
Trivia
- Hal B. Wallis was on his was to New York to look for new talent when Lauren Bacall suggested he look up her old drama school classmate, Issur Demsky, better known as Kirk Douglas. This was his first movie role.
- Also cast, future film director and producer Blake Edwards has an uncredited bit part as a sailor who hitches a ride.
External links
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