Movie Review: The Strange Loves of Martha Ivers (1946)

The Strange Loves of Martha Ivers is another not-to-be-missed film noir, of the drama variety. It is based on a short story, ‘Love Lies Bleeding’, by playwright, John Patrick. The story surrounds three imperfect and dysfunctional people, Martha Ivers (Barbara Stanwyck), Sam Masterson(Van Heflin), and Walter O’Neil. The role of O’Neil is played by legendary thespian, Kirk Douglas, in his debut role. The character of Martha Ivers is one of the most interesting roles played by Barbara Stanwyck.

The story begins when the three of them are teenagers, in a small Pennsylvanian town. Martha, the heiress to a large fortune, is under the custody of her cruel, sadistic aunt. Martha’s tutor is doing all he can to get his son Walter, under the good books of Martha’s aunt, so that Walter can wed Martha when the time comes. Rebellious Martha has other plans, and attempts to elope with a young street thug, Sam.

Her plans are unsuccessful and she is apprehended, and brought back to her large mansion. One day, during a power outage, Sam comes by the mansion and calls out to Martha. The evil aunt hears Sam, and in retaliation, tortures Martha’s cat, with her cane.

Martha has a tussle with her aunt and snatches the cane away from her. In a fit of rage, Martha hits her aunt on the head, causing the aunt to fall down the stairs, and die. Sam, who has seen none of this, has run away. Walter’s father threatens Martha that he is aware of what she did. He blackmails Martha, saying that her secret is safe as long as she cooperates with him.

Years pass, and with Walter’s father dead, Martha is now married to Walter. Walter has been elected the DA of the town. Sam, in the meantime has done a stint in the army, and is now a vagabond gambler. As fate would have it, Sam has an accident while he is passing through this very town.

As his car is under repair, Sam has to spend the night at a small hotel, which once was his old home. Here he befriends a young woman and felon, Toni( Lizabeth Scott). The following day, Toni is apprehended for a parole violation. Sam, who sympathizes with Toni, visits the home of Martha and Walter, to plead Toni’s case, unaware of the storm of events, that are to follow.

Sam requests Walter to have Toni released. Walter is afraid that Sam is there, to implicate Martha, in the crime of killing her aunt. He is further incensed, when Martha is happy to see Sam. It is revealed that Walter’s father implicated one of her aunt’s employees to take the fall for the murder of Martha’s aunt. He then had Walter marry Martha. Over the years, despite Walter’s love for Martha, Martha does not reciprocate Walter’s feelings.

Sam’s return rekindles Martha’s love for him and that upsets Walter. He manipulates Toni and comes up with a plan. Toni is released, and meets Sam. The two share a drink at a restaurant when another man shows up, and claims he is Toni’s husband. The man then challenges Sam to a fight, outside the restaurant. When Sam steps out, he is roughed up by thugs and thrown out of town.

Tough Sam walks back to the town and finds Toni trying to board a bus. She confesses to Sam, that Walter had threatened her with jail if she did not go along with his plans. The whole encounter at the restaurant was planned by Walter, Toni tells Sam.

Things get out of control from then on. Sam confronts Walter, who tries to kill him. Sam is too tough for Walter,and easily disarms him of his gun. In the confusion that follows, Martha reveals that she is still in love with Sam.

And Walter, in a moment of weakness, reveals to Sam that he fears that the latter has returned, to blackmail Martha and himself, Walter in the murder of Martha’s aunt. Sam who had no knowledge of the murder, is shocked by these revelations. He is also torn between his feelings for Toni and his love for his old flame, Martha.

How this situation meets its inevitable end, forms the rest of the plot.

Barbara Stanwyck, who is almost tailor-made to play the Femme Fatal puts in another mesmerizing performance. Douglas, Heflin, and Scott do their part to make this an engaging movie.

John Patrick received an Academy nomination for best screenplay. The movie received rave reviews and is featured in many lists of top noir films.

Director: Lewis Milestone

Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Kirk Douglas, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott