Misplaced Pages

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 04:41, 20 December 2012 editBeyond My Ken (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, File movers, IP block exemptions, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers263,286 edits →Notes← Previous edit Latest revision as of 12:05, 22 December 2024 edit undoSporkBot (talk | contribs)Bots1,244,917 editsm Remove template per TFD outcome 
(242 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|1946 film}}
{{Infobox Film
{{Infobox film
| name = The Strange Love of Martha Ivers | name = The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
| image = StrangeLoveofMartha.jpg | image = StrangeLoveofMartha.jpg
| image_size = 215px | caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = ]{{efn-lr|name=haskin|Director ] temporarily took over directorial duties while Lewis Milestone joined a Hollywood strike, though he is not credited.<ref name=tcmart/> Producer ] also reshot some sequences with Milestone's approval.<ref name=afi>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/24985|work=]|publisher=]|title=The Strange Love of Martha Ivers|access-date=June 2, 2023}}</ref>}}
| caption = movie poster
| director = ] | producer = ]
| writer = ]{{efn-lr|In addition to Rossen, ] served as an uncredited cowriter.}}
| producer = ]
| writer = John Patrick ''(story)''<br>]<br>] ''(uncredited)'' | based_on = {{based on|"Love Lies Bleeding"|]}}
| starring = ]<br>]<br>]<br>] | starring = <!--Per poster billing-->{{Plainlist|
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| music = ] | music = ]
| cinematography = ] | cinematography = ]
| editing = Archie Marshek | editing = ]
| studio = Hal Wallis Productions
| distributor = ] | distributor = ]
| released = July 24, 1946 ''(US)'' | released = {{film date|1946|06|13|London|1946|07|25|New York City}}
| runtime = 116 minutes | runtime = 1hr 56min
| country = United States | country = United States
| language = English | language = English
| budget = | budget =
| gross = $3.25 million (US rentals)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/variety165-1947-01#page/n54/mode/1up|title=60 Top Grossers of 1946|magazine=]|date=January 8, 1947|page=8|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
| gross =
}} }}
'''''The Strange Love of Martha Ivers''''' is a black-and-white ] released in the United States in 1946, starring ], ], ] and ] in his film debut. '''''The Strange Love of Martha Ivers''''' is a 1946 American ] ] film directed by ] and starring ], ] and ]. ] appears in his film debut. It follows a man who is reunited with his childhood friend and her husband; both the childhood friend and her husband believe that the man knows the truth about the mysterious death of the woman's wealthy aunt years prior. The screenplay was written by ] (and an uncredited ]), adapted from the short story "Love Lies Bleeding" by playwright ].


Though Milestone is the film's sole credited director, ] temporarily took over directorial duties during production while Milestone participated in a Hollywood set decorators' ], and the film's producer, ], also directed reshoots with Milestone's approval.
The movie is based on the short story "Love Lies Bleeding" by playwright ], using the pseudonym Jack Patrick, and was produced by ]. The screenplay was written by ] and ], who was not credited, and was directed by ]. The film was entered into the ].<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4225/year/1947.html |title=Festival de Cannes: The Strange Love of Martha Ivers |accessdate=2009-01-06|work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref>


''The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' was entered into the ]<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4225/year/1947.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102220653/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4225/year/1947.html|archive-date=January 2, 2013|url-status=dead |title=Festival de Cannes: The Strange Love of Martha Ivers|work=]}}</ref> and premiered in London in June 1946, before opening in New York City on July 25, 1946. It received largely favorable reviews from critics, and received an ] nomination for ]. In 1974, the film entered the ] because the claimants did not renew its ] in the 28th year after publication.
In 1974, the film entered the ] due to the copyright claimants failure to renew the ] in the 28th year after publication.<ref>{{cite conference |last=Pierce |first=David |date=March 29, 2001 |title=Legal Limbo: How American Copyright Law Makes Orphan Films |conference=Orphans of the Storm II: Documenting the 20th Century |url=http://www.sc.edu/orphanfilm/orphanage/symposia/audio/index.html |conferenceurl=http://www.sc.edu/filmsymposium/archive/orphans2001/programfr.html |format=mp3 in "file3" |accessdate=2012-01-05}}</ref>


==Plot== ==Plot==
]
On a rainy night in 1928 in a Pennsylvania factory town called Iverstown, Martha Ivers (Janis Wilson), a young girl yearning to escape from the guardianship of her wealthy, domineering aunt, is caught trying to run away with her friend, the street-smart, poor Sam Masterson (]).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=91604 | title=Overview for The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) | publisher=] | accessdate=2008-02-17}}</ref>
On a rainy night in 1928 in a ] factory town called Iverstown, thirteen-year-old Martha Ivers tries to run away from the guardianship of her wealthy aunt, Mrs. Ivers, with her friend, the street-smart, poor Sam Masterson. She is caught and taken home, where Martha's tutor, Walter O'Neil Sr., presents his timid son, Walter Jr., as the one responsible for Martha's capture. Walter privately tells Martha that despite what his father said, he was not the one who sent authorities on her track, and would never betray her. His father claimed this in order to ingratiate himself with the aunt. Scolded by her aunt, Martha defiantly states her name is not Ivers, but Smith, her father's name.


During a power failure, Sam comes for her, but Martha's aunt hears her calling to him from downstairs. While Sam slips out unnoticed, Mrs. Ivers starts beating Martha's kitten with her cane. Martha wrestles the cane away from her aunt and strikes her across the head, causing her to fall down the stairs, accidentally killing her. When the power comes back on, Martha lies about the incident to Walter Sr. Even though Walter Jr. saw everything, he backs her up. The greedy Walter Sr. makes it clear to both Walter Jr. and Martha that he knows what happened but that as long as he and his son stand to benefit, he will play along. Sam leaves town.
Martha is taken home. Later that night, Sam comes for her and they agree to escape again, right after Martha retrieves some belongings from the attic. When her beloved cat gets loose in the house, Sam goes to retrieve it, but Martha's aunt hears the commotion. Sam slips out unnoticed but Mrs. Ivers catches up with the cat on the staircase. When she attacks the pet with her cane, Martha intervenes and accidentally kills her aunt. This is witnessed by Walter O'Neil (Mickey Kuhn), the son of Martha's tutor (]). Martha lies about the incident to Mr. O'Neil, and Walter supports her.


Seventeen years later, in 1946, Walter Sr. is now dead, and Walter Jr. is now Iverstown's ] and is married to Martha, who has used her inheritance to expand the Ivers milling empire. Their marriage is one-sided; he loves her, but Walter knows she does not love him, and knows that all she wants is control.
The greedy Mr. O'Neil suspects what happened, but presents Martha's version of events to the police, that an intruder is responsible. He then uses his power over Martha to move into the mansion and take control of her life; years later, he blackmails her into marrying his son by forcing her to testify against an innocent man, resulting in his execution.


Sam, having been a soldier and itinerant gambler while he was away, drives into the small town by chance and, after an accident, leaves his car to be repaired. While waiting, he goes to his old home, now a boarding house. He meets Antonia "Toni" Marachek, who has just been released from jail. She misses her bus, and they spend the night in adjoining rooms in a hotel. She is later picked up for violating her ] by not returning to her hometown. Sam asks Walter to use his influence to get Toni released.
Eighteen years later, Walter (now played by ]) is the ], while Martha (]) used her inheritance from her aunt to build a large business empire. However, their marriage is one-sided; he loves her, but she doesn't love him. Sam (]), now a drifter and gambler, stops in the small town by chance when he crashes his car and has to wait for it to be repaired.


Walter is convinced Sam has ] in mind. When Martha reacts joyfully to seeing Sam, a jealous Walter forces Toni to set him 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 half-hearted attempt to kill Sam himself but is easily disarmed. Walter inadvertently blurts out his fears of blackmail, only to learn that Sam had not witnessed the death.
At his old home, now a boarding house, he meets Antonia "Toni" Marachek (]), who has just been released from jail. She is later picked up for violating her ] by not returning to her hometown. Sam goes to see Walter, to see if he can use his influence to get her released.


Through old newspapers Sam learns that Walter Sr. had presented Martha's version of the 1928 ] to the police: that an intruder murdered Martha's aunt. With that leverage, Walter Sr. had made Martha marry his son. When the police identified a former employee of the aunt as the murderer, the two Walters and Martha helped convict him, and he was hanged. Only Walter junior has any qualms about this, which he still has, but the other two, particularly Martha, were too strong for him to go against them.
Walter worries that Sam has returned with ] in mind. When he observes his wife's joyful reaction to the news, he has an additional motive for running Sam out of town. He forces Toni to set Sam up. Sam is beaten and driven out of town, but he is too tough to be intimidated. When all else fails, Walter makes a half-hearted attempt to kill Sam himself, but is easily disarmed. Martha then inadvertently blurts out the couple's fears, but they prove to be groundless: Sam never witnessed 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. Sam is torn between his old love and his new one with Toni. Although he eventually forgives Toni for betraying him, he and Martha spend an idyllic day together, rekindling his feelings for her. Martha breaks down and laments that he left without her all those years ago, taking her only chance for love and freedom with him.


Walter arranges to meet Sam to finally settle matters. Before Sam arrives, Walter gets drunk and Martha finds out about the meeting. When she urges Sam to kill her husband, Sam's love for her is extinguished. He leaves the guilt-ridden couple to contemplate the wreckage of their lives. Before he goes, he gives Walter back his gun and turns his back on him, but Walter does nothing. Martha picks up the gun, but she cannot fire either. Walter gets drunk and arranges to meet Sam to settle matters. Martha finds out about the meeting. When Walter drunkenly 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 could get Walter to corroborate her story. Saying he does not believe she will shoot him, Sam turns his back on her and leaves.

After Sam leaves, Walter embraces Martha and they share one last kiss; then he points his 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, as Sam is walking away, he hears the shot, and turns to start back toward the house, but then seconds later sees, through a window, Walter shoot himself. Sam realizes it's too late to do anything and departs. He returns to the motel and is surprised to find Toni. They drive away from the town together. Martha drops the gun and Walter picks it up. Walter thinks she still loves Sam. Martha says she was afraid Walter would leave her. He embraces and kisses her. Just like nothing ever happened. Walter pulls out the gun and points at her midriff. She puts her thumb over his finger 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 toward the mansion and sees Walter holding Martha's body. Walter then shoots himself. In the final scene, Sam and Toni drive away from Iverson. Sam says to Toni, "Don't look back."


==Cast== ==Cast==
{{Cast list|
*] as Martha Ivers
*] as Sam Masterson * ] as Martha Ivers
*] as Antonia "Toni" Marachek ** ] as young Martha Ivers
*] as Walter O'Neil. * ] as Sam Masterson
*] as Mr O'Neil, Walter's father ** ] as young Sam Masterson
*] as Mrs Ivers * ] as Antonia "Toni" Marachek
* ] as Walter O'Neil
*Janis Wilson as the young Martha Ivers
*] as the young Sam Masterson ** ] as young Walter O'Neil
* ] as Mrs. Ivers
* ] as Mr. O'Neil
* ] as Bobbi St. John
* ] as Hotel clerk
* ] as Detective #1
* ] as McCarthy
* ] as Sailor (uncredited)
* ] as Gallagher (uncredited)
* ] as John (uncredited)
}}


==Production==
'''Cast notes:'''
===Development===
*This film marked Kirk Douglas' screen debut. Producer Hal B. Wallis was on his way to New York to look for new talent when ] suggested he look up her old drama school classmate, Issur Demsky, later to be renamed Kirk Douglas.
The film was adapted from the short story "Love Lies Bleeding" by playwright ], the rights to which were acquired by screenwriter ] for a sum of $35,000.{{sfn|Dick|2014|p=122}}
*Future film director and producer ] has an uncredited bit part as a sailor who hitches a ride with Sam.

===Casting===
Barbara Stanwyck was cast in the title role following her lead in ]'s film noir '']'' (1944).{{sfn|Callahan|2012|p=151}}

The film marked the screen debut of Kirk Douglas,{{sfn|Dick|2014|p=131}} who was recommended to producer ] by ] and ], who suggested that Wallis attend a play which featured Bacall's old drama school classmate, Issur Demsky, who later took the name Kirk Douglas.<ref name=tcmart>{{cite web|author=Arnold, Jeremy|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/91604/The-Strange-Love-of-Martha-Ivers/articles.html|title=The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)|date=October 28, 2003|work=]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210231949/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/91604/The-Strange-Love-of-Martha-Ivers/articles.html|archive-date=December 10, 2017}}</ref> Douglas later wrote in his autobiography that Van Heflin was very helpful to him in his first time on a film set.{{sfn|Douglas|2007|p=21}} In contrast to his later, tougher roles, Douglas plays an alcoholic weakling. According to Tony Thomas, "it assured Douglas his future in films".{{sfn|Thomas|1991|pages=33–36}} Future film director and producer ] had an uncredited bit part as a sailor who hitches a ride with Sam.<ref> ]</ref>

===Filming===
] and ]]]
Filming of ''The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' took place at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.<ref name=tcmdetails>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/91604/the-strange-love-of-martha-ivers/#film-details|work=]|title=The Strange Love of Martha Ivers: Film Details|url-status=live|archive-date=June 3, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230603064515/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/91604/the-strange-love-of-martha-ivers/%23film-details}}</ref> Director ] left the film for several days in sympathy with a set decorators' strike which was going on at the time.{{sfn|Callahan|2012|pages=152–153}} In his absence, the film was directed by ], who did not receive screen credit.<ref name=tcmart />{{sfn|Callahan|2012|pages=151-153}} The film's shooting schedule was vigorous, with shoots often lasting 12 hours each day.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/toledo-union-journal/125773928/|work=Toledo Union Journal|page=5|date=May 24, 1946|title="Bedtime Hour" Begins At Noon|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Stanwyck had considerable influence on how she was lit, and was not shy about putting her fellow actors on notice that she did not like to be upstaged. When she saw the coin trick Heflin had learned — at Milestone's suggestion, to show that Heflin's character was a professional gambler — she informed him he should make sure he did not do it during any of her important lines, since she had a bit of business that would upstage him, if she had to. With that she raised her skirt high and adjusted her garter. Heflin is seen rolling a coin on his fingers several times in several scenes.{{sfn|Callahan|2012|pages=151-153}} Kirk Douglas later wrote that Stanwyck was indifferent to him at first, until at one point she focused on him and told him, "Hey, you're pretty good." Douglas, smarting from having been ignored previously, replied, "Too late, Miss Stanwyck," but the two got on well after that.<ref name=tcmart />{{sfn|Callahan|2012|pages=151-153}}

===Post-production===
Six months after the film's release, Milestone gave an interview in which he said he would never work for producer Hal B. Wallis again, because Wallis had wanted re-shoots in order to get more closeups of Lizabeth Scott. Milestone refused, telling Wallis to shoot them himself, and, according to the director, Wallis did.<ref name=AFI>] interview ''Los Angeles Sun Mirror'' (December 8, 1946), reported in "Notes" in the .</ref>

==Release==
''The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' premiered in ] on June 14, 1946.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard/125723569/|work=]|date=June 14, 1946|title=The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (Carlton)|via=Newspapers.com|page=6}}</ref> The audience at the London premiere was reportedly so taken by actress Lizabeth Scott's appearance that they began to mob her before the screening.{{sfn|Dick|2014|p=103}}

The film opened in New York City on July 24, 1946,<ref name=cohn>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle/125723590/|work=]|title='Strange Love of Martha Ivers,' 'Courage of Lassie' Have Premieres|last=Cohn|first=Herbert|via=Newspapers.com|page=5|date=July 25, 1946}}</ref> and its release expanded wide on September 13, 1946.<ref name=tcmdetails/>

The film's advertising campaign consisted only of teasers before its release: Newspapers ran advertisements reading, "Whisper her name!",{{sfn|Callahan|2012|pages=151-153}} while radio spots had a woman repeatedly whispering, "Martha Ivers".

===Critical response===
====Contemporary====
Herbert Cohn of the '']'' wrote: "It is a complex story, but Milestone used each detail to make his characters seem real, their actions not too far-fetched," and went on to praise the leading performances.<ref name=cohn/> John L. Scott of the '']'' praised the performances as raw and "geared toward the material," and added that the film "is not a pretty tale but it holds the attention down to the last scene."<ref>{{cite news|last=Scott|first=John L.|title=Drama of Murder At Paramounts|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/125775707/|date=September 20, 1946|page=9|via=Newspapers.com|work=]}}</ref>

A review published in '']'' noted: "reminding one of a jigsaw puzzle, there are long stretches in ''The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' when it seems as though the director, Lewis Milestone, and Robert Rossen, the author, will not be able to gather in all the pieces of the rambling plot. But they manage it expeditiously, if with less finesse and surprise than one could wish."<ref>{{cite news|title=The Screen In Review; At Loew's Criterion|date=July 25, 1946|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1946/07/25/archives/the-screen-in-review-at-loews-criterion.html|url-status=live|archive-date=June 3, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230603101225/https://www.nytimes.com/1946/07/25/archives/the-screen-in-review-at-loews-criterion.html|work=]}}</ref>

====Modern assessment====
The film has received acclaim from modern critics. It holds a 100% approval rating on ], based on 10 reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/strange_love_of_martha_ivers|title=''The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' (1946) |work=] |access-date=November 14, 2020}}</ref>

], reviewing the film for '']'', complimented its psychological complexity, writing: "Many noirs create moods of corruption but Robert Rossen's script for ''The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' gives us characterizations of uncommon depth...&nbsp; isn't a detective movie or a standard crime thriller, which helps support the notion that film noir is a style and not a genre. It's one of the best noirs around."<ref name=ericksondvd/>

Dave Kehr from '']'' wrote in a glowing review that the film "is pervaded by guilty-liberal fascination with power and money." And continued by saying "Director Lewis Milestone does little more than accent the hysteria of Rossen's script, though his portrait of the company town, bound in factory grime and feudal loyalty, is nicely done."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/the-strange-love-of-martha-ivers/Film?oid=1052311|title=The Strange Love of Martha Ivers|work=]|last=Kehr|first=David |date=January 1, 2000 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230602101948/https://chicagoreader.com/film/the-strange-love-of-martha-ivers/|archive-date=June 2, 2023}}</ref>

===Accolades===
] received an ] nomination for ].<ref name=Oscars>{{cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1947|title=The 19th Academy Awards |work=]|date=4 October 2014 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330113228/https://oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1947|archive-date=March 30, 2023}}</ref>

===Home media===
In 1974, ''The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' entered the ] because the claimants did not renew its ] in the 28th year after publication.<ref name=ac>{{cite web|work=]|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2012-06-15/dvd-watch/|title=The Strange Love of Martha Ivers|date=June 15, 2012|last=Baumgarten|first=Marjorie|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230603063210/https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2012-06-15/dvd-watch/|archive-date=June 3, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Pascual|2009|p=62}} Because of its public domain status, the film has received numerous home media releases in various formats since.<ref name=ericksondvd/><ref name=ac/><ref>{{cite web|work=]|title=The Strange Love of Martha Ivers: Formats and Editions|url=https://worldcat.org/formats-editions/1259452234?limit=50&offset=1|url-status=live|archive-date=June 3, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230603061137/https://worldcat.org/formats-editions/1259452234?limit=50&offset=1}}</ref>

] released the film on ] on October 25, 2002.<ref name=ericksondvd>{{cite web|work=]|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/18553/strange-love-of-martha-ivers-the/?___rd=1|title=The Strange Love of Martha Ivers|date=November 5, 2002|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230603055722/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/18553/strange-love-of-martha-ivers-the/?___rd=1|archive-date=June 3, 2023|author-link=Glenn Erickson|last=Erickson|first=Glenn}}</ref> The independent distributor HDClassics issued a restored DVD and ] combination set in 2012, though this edition was noted for having middling picture quality and featuring ].<ref>{{Cite web|work=]|title=Strange Love of Martha Ivers Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack|date=June 14, 2012|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/53879/strange-love-of-martha-ivers/|url-status=live|archive-date=June 3, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230603060059/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/53879/strange-love-of-martha-ivers/|last=McQuain|first=Christopher}}</ref> On September 22, 2022, ] released a new Blu-ray edition featuring a ] restoration from the original film elements.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/75378|work=]|title=Strange Love of Martha Ivers (Kino), The|date=September 26, 2022|last=Jane|first=Ian|url-status=live|archive-date=June 3, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230603060251/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/75378}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
* ] * ]

==Notes==
{{notelist-lr}}


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
'''Notes'''

{{reflist}}
==Sources==
*{{cite book|last=Callahan|first=Dan|year=2012|url=https://archive.org/details/barbarastanwyckm00call/page/152|title=Barbara Stanwyck: The Miracle Woman|publisher= University Press of Mississippi|location=Jackson, Mississippi|isbn=978-1-617-03184-7}}
*{{cite book|last=Dick|first=Bernard F.|year=2014|title=Hal Wallis: Producer to the Stars|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|location=Lexington, Kentucky|isbn=978-0-813-15951-5}}
*{{cite book|last=Douglas|first=Kirk|author-link=Kirk Douglas|year=2007|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780470376171|title=Let's Face It: 90 Years of Living, Loving, and Learning|location=New York City, New York|publisher= John Wiley|isbn=978-0-470-08469-4}}
*{{cite book|editor1-last=Pascual|editor1-first=Carlos Periñán|year=2009|title=Revisiting Language Learning Resources|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|location=Cambridge, England|isbn=978-1-443-80867-5}}
*{{cite book|last=Thomas|first=Tony|title=The Films of Kirk Douglas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z6neu4_y238C&pg=PA33|year=1991|publisher=Carol Pub. Group|isbn=9780806512174|location=New York City, New York}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{AFI film|24985|The Strange Love of Martha Ivers}}
* {{imdb title|0038988}} * {{AFI film|24985}}
* {{IMDb title|0038988}}
* {{Tcmdb title|91604}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
* {{Internet Archive film|id=Martha_Ivers}} * {{Internet Archive film|id=Martha_Ivers}}

* {{tcmdb title|91604}}
<!--spacing-->
* {{Amg movie|47188}}


{{Lewis Milestone}} {{Lewis Milestone}}
{{Robert Rossen}} {{Robert Rossen}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Strange Love of Martha Ivers, The}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Strange Love of Martha Ivers, The}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
] ]
]

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 12:05, 22 December 2024

1946 film
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLewis Milestone
Written byRobert Rossen
Based on"Love Lies Bleeding"
by John Patrick
Produced byHal B. Wallis
Starring
CinematographyVictor Milner
Edited byArchie Marshek
Music byMiklós Rózsa
Production
company		Hal Wallis Productions
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release dates
  • June 13, 1946 (1946-06-13) (London)
  • July 25, 1946 (1946-07-25) (New York City)
Running time1hr 56min
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$3.25 million (US rentals)

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is a 1946 American noir tragedy film directed by Lewis Milestone and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin and Lizabeth Scott. Kirk Douglas appears in his film debut. It follows a man who is reunited with his childhood friend and her husband; both the childhood friend and her husband believe that the man knows the truth about the mysterious death of the woman's wealthy aunt years prior. The screenplay was written by Robert Rossen (and an uncredited Robert Riskin), adapted from the short story "Love Lies Bleeding" by playwright John Patrick.

Though Milestone is the film's sole credited director, Byron Haskin temporarily took over directorial duties during production while Milestone participated in a Hollywood set decorators' strike, and the film's producer, Hal B. Wallis, also directed reshoots with Milestone's approval.

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival and premiered in London in June 1946, before opening in New York City on July 25, 1946. It received largely favorable reviews from critics, and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Writing, Original Motion Picture Story. In 1974, the film entered the public domain in the United States because the claimants did not renew its copyright registration in the 28th year after publication.

Plot

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)

On a rainy night in 1928 in a Pennsylvania factory town called Iverstown, thirteen-year-old Martha Ivers tries to run away from the guardianship of her wealthy aunt, Mrs. Ivers, with her friend, the street-smart, poor Sam Masterson. She is caught and taken home, where Martha's tutor, Walter O'Neil Sr., presents his timid son, Walter Jr., as the one responsible for Martha's capture. Walter privately tells Martha that despite what his father said, he was not the one who sent authorities on her track, and would never betray her. His father claimed this in order to ingratiate himself with the aunt. Scolded by her aunt, Martha defiantly states her name is not Ivers, but Smith, her father's name.

During a power failure, Sam comes for her, but Martha's aunt hears her calling to him from downstairs. While Sam slips out unnoticed, Mrs. Ivers starts beating Martha's kitten with her cane. Martha wrestles the cane away from her aunt and strikes her across the head, causing her to fall down the stairs, accidentally killing her. When the power comes back on, Martha lies about the incident to Walter Sr. Even though Walter Jr. saw everything, he backs her up. The greedy Walter Sr. makes it clear to both Walter Jr. and Martha that he knows what happened but that as long as he and his son stand to benefit, he will play along. Sam leaves town.

Seventeen years later, in 1946, Walter Sr. is now dead, and Walter Jr. is now Iverstown's district attorney and is married to Martha, who has used her inheritance to expand the Ivers milling empire. Their marriage is one-sided; he loves her, but Walter knows she does not love him, and knows that all she wants is control.

Sam, having been a soldier and itinerant gambler while he was away, drives into the small town by chance and, after an accident, leaves his car to be repaired. While waiting, he goes to his old home, now a boarding house. He meets Antonia "Toni" Marachek, who has just been released from jail. She misses her bus, and they spend the night in adjoining rooms in a hotel. She is later picked up for violating her probation by not returning to her hometown. Sam asks Walter to use his influence to get Toni released.

Walter is convinced Sam has blackmail in mind. When Martha reacts joyfully to seeing Sam, a jealous Walter forces Toni to set him 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 half-hearted attempt to kill Sam himself but is easily disarmed. Walter inadvertently blurts out his fears of blackmail, only to learn that Sam had not witnessed the death.

Through old newspapers Sam learns that Walter Sr. had presented Martha's version of the 1928 accidental murder to the police: that an intruder murdered Martha's aunt. With that leverage, Walter Sr. had made Martha marry his son. When the police identified a former employee of the aunt as the murderer, the two Walters and Martha helped convict him, and he was hanged. Only Walter junior has any qualms about this, which he still has, but the other two, particularly Martha, were too strong for him to go against them.

Sam is torn between his old love and his new one with Toni. Although he eventually forgives Toni for betraying him, he and Martha spend an idyllic day together, rekindling his feelings for her. Martha breaks down and laments that he left without her all those years ago, taking her only chance for love and freedom with him.

Walter gets drunk and arranges to meet Sam to settle matters. Martha finds out about the meeting. When Walter drunkenly 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 could get Walter to corroborate her story. Saying he does not believe she will shoot him, Sam turns his back on her and leaves.

Martha drops the gun and Walter picks it up. Walter thinks she still loves Sam. Martha says she was afraid Walter would leave her. He embraces and kisses her. Just like nothing ever happened. Walter pulls out the gun and points at her midriff. She puts her thumb over his finger 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 toward the mansion and sees Walter holding Martha's body. Walter then shoots himself. In the final scene, Sam and Toni drive away from Iverson. Sam says to Toni, "Don't look back."

Cast

Production

Development

The film was adapted from the short story "Love Lies Bleeding" by playwright John Patrick, the rights to which were acquired by screenwriter Robert Rossen for a sum of $35,000.

Casting

Barbara Stanwyck was cast in the title role following her lead in Billy Wilder's film noir Double Indemnity (1944).

The film marked the screen debut of Kirk Douglas, who was recommended to producer Hal B. Wallis by Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, who suggested that Wallis attend a play which featured Bacall's old drama school classmate, Issur Demsky, who later took the name Kirk Douglas. Douglas later wrote in his autobiography that Van Heflin was very helpful to him in his first time on a film set. In contrast to his later, tougher roles, Douglas plays an alcoholic weakling. According to Tony Thomas, "it assured Douglas his future in films". Future film director and producer Blake Edwards had an uncredited bit part as a sailor who hitches a ride with Sam.

Filming

Lizabeth Scott and Van Heflin

Filming of The Strange Love of Martha Ivers took place at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. Director Lewis Milestone left the film for several days in sympathy with a set decorators' strike which was going on at the time. In his absence, the film was directed by Byron Haskin, who did not receive screen credit. The film's shooting schedule was vigorous, with shoots often lasting 12 hours each day.

Stanwyck had considerable influence on how she was lit, and was not shy about putting her fellow actors on notice that she did not like to be upstaged. When she saw the coin trick Heflin had learned — at Milestone's suggestion, to show that Heflin's character was a professional gambler — she informed him he should make sure he did not do it during any of her important lines, since she had a bit of business that would upstage him, if she had to. With that she raised her skirt high and adjusted her garter. Heflin is seen rolling a coin on his fingers several times in several scenes. Kirk Douglas later wrote that Stanwyck was indifferent to him at first, until at one point she focused on him and told him, "Hey, you're pretty good." Douglas, smarting from having been ignored previously, replied, "Too late, Miss Stanwyck," but the two got on well after that.

Post-production

Six months after the film's release, Milestone gave an interview in which he said he would never work for producer Hal B. Wallis again, because Wallis had wanted re-shoots in order to get more closeups of Lizabeth Scott. Milestone refused, telling Wallis to shoot them himself, and, according to the director, Wallis did.

Release

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers premiered in London on June 14, 1946. The audience at the London premiere was reportedly so taken by actress Lizabeth Scott's appearance that they began to mob her before the screening.

The film opened in New York City on July 24, 1946, and its release expanded wide on September 13, 1946.

The film's advertising campaign consisted only of teasers before its release: Newspapers ran advertisements reading, "Whisper her name!", while radio spots had a woman repeatedly whispering, "Martha Ivers".

Critical response

Contemporary

Herbert Cohn of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle wrote: "It is a complex story, but Milestone used each detail to make his characters seem real, their actions not too far-fetched," and went on to praise the leading performances. John L. Scott of the Los Angeles Times praised the performances as raw and "geared toward the material," and added that the film "is not a pretty tale but it holds the attention down to the last scene."

A review published in The New York Times noted: "reminding one of a jigsaw puzzle, there are long stretches in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers when it seems as though the director, Lewis Milestone, and Robert Rossen, the author, will not be able to gather in all the pieces of the rambling plot. But they manage it expeditiously, if with less finesse and surprise than one could wish."

Modern assessment

The film has received acclaim from modern critics. It holds a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 10 reviews.

Glenn Erickson, reviewing the film for DVD Talk, complimented its psychological complexity, writing: "Many noirs create moods of corruption but Robert Rossen's script for The Strange Love of Martha Ivers gives us characterizations of uncommon depth...  isn't a detective movie or a standard crime thriller, which helps support the notion that film noir is a style and not a genre. It's one of the best noirs around."

Dave Kehr from Chicago Reader wrote in a glowing review that the film "is pervaded by guilty-liberal fascination with power and money." And continued by saying "Director Lewis Milestone does little more than accent the hysteria of Rossen's script, though his portrait of the company town, bound in factory grime and feudal loyalty, is nicely done."

Accolades

John Patrick received an Academy Award nomination for Best Writing, Original Motion Picture Story.

Home media

In 1974, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers entered the public domain in the United States because the claimants did not renew its copyright registration in the 28th year after publication. Because of its public domain status, the film has received numerous home media releases in various formats since.

Paramount Home Entertainment released the film on DVD on October 25, 2002. The independent distributor HDClassics issued a restored DVD and Blu-ray combination set in 2012, though this edition was noted for having middling picture quality and featuring digital noise reduction. On September 22, 2022, Kino Lorber released a new Blu-ray edition featuring a 4K restoration from the original film elements.

See also

Notes

  1. Director Byron Haskin temporarily took over directorial duties while Lewis Milestone joined a Hollywood strike, though he is not credited. Producer Hal B. Wallis also reshot some sequences with Milestone's approval.
  2. In addition to Rossen, Robert Riskin served as an uncredited cowriter.

References

  1. ^ Arnold, Jeremy (October 28, 2003). "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on December 10, 2017.
  2. "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  3. "60 Top Grossers of 1946". Variety. January 8, 1947. p. 8 – via Internet Archive.
  4. "Festival de Cannes: The Strange Love of Martha Ivers". Cannes Film Festival. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013.
  5. Dick 2014, p. 122.
  6. Callahan 2012, p. 151.
  7. Dick 2014, p. 131.
  8. Douglas 2007, p. 21.
  9. Thomas 1991, pp. 33–36.
  10. "Cast" American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures
  11. ^ "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers: Film Details". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023.
  12. Callahan 2012, pp. 152–153.
  13. ^ Callahan 2012, pp. 151–153.
  14. ""Bedtime Hour" Begins At Noon". Toledo Union Journal. May 24, 1946. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Milestone, Lewis interview Los Angeles Sun Mirror (December 8, 1946), reported in "Notes" in the American Film Institute Catalog entry.
  16. "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (Carlton)". Evening Standard. June 14, 1946. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Dick 2014, p. 103.
  18. ^ Cohn, Herbert (July 25, 1946). "'Strange Love of Martha Ivers,' 'Courage of Lassie' Have Premieres". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. Scott, John L. (September 20, 1946). "Drama of Murder At Paramounts". Los Angeles Times. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "The Screen In Review; At Loew's Criterion". The New York Times. July 25, 1946. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023.
  21. "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  22. ^ Erickson, Glenn (November 5, 2002). "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers". DVD Talk. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023.
  23. Kehr, David (January 1, 2000). "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023.
  24. "The 19th Academy Awards". Oscars.org. 4 October 2014. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023.
  25. ^ Baumgarten, Marjorie (June 15, 2012). "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers". The Austin Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023.
  26. Pascual 2009, p. 62.
  27. "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers: Formats and Editions". WorldCat. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023.
  28. McQuain, Christopher (June 14, 2012). "Strange Love of Martha Ivers Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack". DVD Talk. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023.
  29. Jane, Ian (September 26, 2022). "Strange Love of Martha Ivers (Kino), The". DVD Talk. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023.

Sources

External links


Films by Lewis Milestone
Directed
Screenplays
Films by Robert Rossen
As director
Screenplays
As producer
Categories: