Noir Watch: The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)

Watched: 05/27/2026

Format:  Noir Alley / TCM on DVR

Viewing:  Second or third

Director:  Lewis Milestone

I'd been meaning to return to this one for years, but then it was hosted on TCM's Noir Alley by Eddie Muller and Ms. Rosie Perez.  Fifteen years and a whole lot more Liz Scott and Stanwyck under my belt, and I imagine my view of the movie is a bit different now.

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) is a twisted, black-hearted melodrama that is one of those movies that is likely to make one a real fan of Barbara Stanwyck if you weren't already (and I am).  It's a movie with more twists and turns than you'd expect, while still delivering a finale that feels completely earned and the only way this could end.

In 1929, a young-teen named Martha Stevens - a daughter of the powerful Ivers family - is trying to run away from home with Sam Masterson - a dirty kid from the wrong part of town.  They're caught and Martha is brought back to her domineering aunt, who seems to hate her while also needing to protect her - and not liking that Martha has a will of her own.  Martha is paired with Walter O'Neil, a teacher's child, who knows he must go along with Martha for a chance at some of her fortune.

During a power outage and as Martha is about to once-again escape, something horrible happens on the stairs and her aunt is killed - definitely in part because of Martha.  Walter, of course, sees the whole thing and help cover for her.

17 years later, Walter (Kirk Douglas) and Martha (Stanwyck) are married and living in the mansion when Sam (Van Heflin) returns to town.  Before reuniting with Walter and Martha, Sam meets Toni (Lizabeth Scott) and the two click like no one's business.  

But soon Sam is back meeting with Walter and Martha who think he could or will blackmail them.  But old feelings resurface and Martha and Sam rekindle an old spark while Walter - who if he's cut out loses everything (and maybe that's okay?) - tries to run Sam out of town.  Meanwhile, Toni, who thinks she's finally found someone who could care for her, is unsure what to do.

Van Heflin is a bit under-discussed* as an actor, and he's so good here.  There are no real right answers for his character, Sam, just bad and worse options once he's reconnected with Martha, and Van Heflin plays it just right - a man who is smart, but maybe a bit impulsive, and has this girl from his past throwing herself at him?

Kirk Douglas is in an early role, and it's odd to see him cast as sort of the weakling, mentally and physically.  But he pulls it off, reminding you he actually is a solid actor to start with.  And manages to make Walter menacing in his way.

I'm on record as maybe not the world's biggest Lizabeth Scott fan.  But she does have some roles that I think she works well in - and this is top of the heap.  I completely buy her in this part.

SPOILERS

But Stanwyck has a juicy part and she absolutely sinks her teeth into it.  Her Martha Ivers Smith O'Neil is many things and we even know what made her that way.  She's a tempest hidden under the surface.  And it comes out in fascinating ways.  What she really wants seems to shift, but that's just the way she is - not letting in on what she really needs.

I'm just never, ever disappointed in Stanwyck in anything, and would maybe agree with Muller that she's about the best in American film.

This one is worth putting on and sticking with it.  It's a shame it seems like it's mostly a genre-junky's favorite and isn't better known.  I think folks would love it.

*the kids seem to not know what the word "underrated" means, so I'm not using that word right now