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Revision as of 04:42, 20 December 2012
1946 American film| The Strange Love of Martha Ivers | |
|---|---|
 movie poster | |
| Directed by | Lewis Milestone |
| Written by | John Patrick (story) Robert Rossen Robert Riskin (uncredited) |
| Produced by | Hal B. Wallis |
| Starring | Barbara Stanwyck Van Heflin Lizabeth Scott Kirk Douglas |
| Cinematography | Victor Milner |
| Edited by | Archie Marshek |
| Music by | Miklós Rózsa |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date | July 24, 1946 (US) |
| Running time | 116 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is a black-and-white film noir released in the United States in 1946, starring Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott and Kirk Douglas in his film debut.
The movie is based on the short story "Love Lies Bleeding" by playwright John Patrick, using the pseudonym Jack Patrick, and was produced by Hal B. Wallis. The screenplay was written by Robert Rossen and Robert Riskin, who was not credited, and was directed by Lewis Milestone. The film was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival.
In 1974, the film entered the public domain in the USA due to the copyright claimants failure to renew the copyright registration in the 28th year after publication.
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 (Darryl Hickman).
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 (Roman Bohnen). Martha lies about the incident to Mr. O'Neil, and Walter supports her.
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.
Eighteen years later, Walter (now played by Kirk Douglas) is the district attorney, while Martha (Barbara Stanwyck) 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 (Van Heflin), 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.
At his old home, now a boarding house, 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 worries that Sam has returned with blackmail 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.
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.
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.
Cast
- Barbara Stanwyck as Martha Ivers
- Van Heflin as Sam Masterson
- Lizabeth Scott as Antonia "Toni" Marachek
- Kirk Douglas as Walter O'Neil.
- Roman Bohnen as Mr O'Neil, Walter's father
- Judith Anderson as Mrs Ivers
- Janis Wilson as the young Martha Ivers
- Darryl Hickman as the young Sam Masterson
Cast notes:
- This film marked Kirk Douglas' screen debut. Producer Hal B. Wallis was on his way to New York to look for new talent when Lauren Bacall suggested he look up her old drama school classmate, Issur Demsky, later to be renamed Kirk Douglas.
- Future film director and producer Blake Edwards has an uncredited bit part as a sailor who hitches a ride with Sam.
See also
References
Notes
- "Festival de Cannes: The Strange Love of Martha Ivers". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- Pierce, David (March 29, 2001). Legal Limbo: How American Copyright Law Makes Orphan Films (mp3 in "file3"). Orphans of the Storm II: Documenting the 20th Century. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
{{cite conference}}: External link in|conferenceurl=|conferenceurl=ignored (|conference-url=suggested) (help) - "Overview for The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
External links
- The Strange Love of Martha Ivers at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- The Strange Love of Martha Ivers at IMDb
- The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
- The Strange Love of Martha Ivers at the TCM Movie Database
- Template:Amg movie
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