The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)

Director:

Lewis Milestone

Writers:

Robert Rossen (screenplay)
John Patrick (story)
(more)

Release Date:

24 July 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir

Tagline:

Fate drew them together... and only murder could part them!

Plot:

A ruthless, domineering woman is married to an alcoholic D.A., her childhood companion who is the only living witness to her murder of her rich aunt seventeen years earlier.

Plot Keywords:

Aunt | Heiress | District Attorney | Tutor | Industrial Town

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

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	...	Sam as a Boy
Janis Wilson	...	Martha as a Girl
Ann Doran	...	Bobbi St. John
Frank Orth	...	Hotel Clerk
James Flavin	...	Detective #1
Mickey Kuhn	...	Walter as a Boy
Charles D. Brown	...	McCarthy - Private Detective
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gene Ashley	...	Man (uncredited)
Walter Baldwin	...	Dempsey - Garage Owner (uncredited)
Bill Burt	...	Man (uncredited)
Gino Corrado	...	Nightclub Waiter (uncredited)
Catherine Craig	...	French Maid (uncredited)
Kernan Cripps	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Sayre Dearing	...	Craps Shooter (uncredited)
Kay Deslys	...	Deputy Elizabeth Baker, Jail Matron (uncredited)
Tom Dillon	...	Detective (uncredited)
William Duray	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Blake Edwards	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Tom Fadden	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Strong Arm Man (uncredited)
Betty Hill	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Robert Homans	...	Gallagher, the Cop (uncredited)
Olin Howland	...	Newspaper clerk (uncredited)
Gladden James	...	John (uncredited)
Payne B. Johnson	...	Bellboy (uncredited)
John Kellogg	...	Joe - Private Detective (uncredited)
Harry Leonard	...	Craps Shooter (uncredited)
Thomas Louden	...	Lynch (uncredited)
Matt McHugh	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)
Al Murphy	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Bob Perry	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Ricky Ricardi	...	Man (uncredited)
Cyril Ring	...	Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
Bert Roach	...	Man Waiting for Friend (uncredited)
Tommy Ryan	...	(uncredited)
Tom Schamp	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Jake, the Detective (uncredited)

Directed by
Lewis Milestone

Writing credits
Robert Rossen		(screenplay)
John Patrick		(story "Love Lies Bleeding") (as Jack Patrick)
Robert Riskin		uncredited

Produced by
Hal B. Wallis	....	producer

Original Music by
Miklós Rózsa		(as Miklos Rozsa)

Cinematography by
Victor Milner		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Archie Marshek

Art Direction by
Hans Dreier
John Meehan

Set Decoration by
Sam Comer
Jerry Welch

Costume Design by
Edith Head

Makeup Department
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Aldrich	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Richard McWhorter	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Harold Lewis	....	sound recordist
Walter Oberst	....	sound recordist

Visual Effects by
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography
Jan Domela	....	matte painting assistant (uncredited)
Gordon Jennings	....	special optical effects (uncredited)
W. Wallace Kelley	....	transparency projectionist (uncredited)
Paul K. Lerpae	....	special optical effects assistant (uncredited)
Irmin Roberts	....	matte painting assistant (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Neal Beckner	....	second camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Eugene Zador	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Hal Wallis Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1946) (USA) (theatrical)
• Kartes Video (1984) (USA) (VHS) (clamshell)
• Lumivision (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Lumivision (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1993) (Finland) (TV)
• Castle Communications (1994) (Finland) (VHS)
• Timeless Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Hollywood Classics (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Laserlight Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Master Movies (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Master Movies (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• United American Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Questar Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Delta Expedition (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Roan Group, The (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Kino Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Delta Expedition (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Diamond Entertainment Group (DEG) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• YLE Teema (2004) (Finland) (TV)
• Madacy Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• St. Clair Entertainment Group (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Passport Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2007) (USA) (all media)
• St. Clair Entertainment Group (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Finnkino (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• St. Clair Entertainment Group (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | USA:Unrated | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hal Wallis Productions

Trivia:

"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on June 30, 1947 with Kirk Douglas reprising his film role.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Toni meets Sam, her cigarette suddenly reappears after she's thrown it away.

Quotes:

Martha Ivers:You've *killed* before, it's in your record.
Sam Masterson:*I* never *murdered*.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kirk Douglas: Video Scrapbook (1994) (V)

Soundtrack:

Strange Love

Star Power to Spare

A powerhouse cast is assembled for "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers." It's a treat to watch this able quintet at work, making for an engrossing film experience.

Barbara Stanwyck is at her peak--sure, confident, and unfailing. Van Heflin's natural talent makes everything he does seem effortless. Kirk Douglas offers a most impressive film debut in what, in retrospect, is an uncharacteristic role. Lizabeth Scott (who seems to me a fascinating cross between Lauren Bacall and Rosemary Clooney) is constantly engaging. Long after her part has faded, Scott's image remains indelibly fixed in the memory. And finally, the great Judith Anderson is on in a strong character role.

Miklos Rozsa's compositional style is remarkable in its adaptablity. Close one's eyes, and the film could well be set a thousand years earlier--or any point in between. Which is to say, it's general, while at the same time, specific.

The writing team headed by Robert Rossen created a slick and saucy script, which holds interest throughout, and Hal B. Wallis was sharp enough to retain this productional team formula for many years. Were the film to have been given a perhaps more poetic--less Gothic--title, it might have enjoyed even greater stature in the annals of the genre.

As it is, "Ivers" is a worthy member of the noir film family.