The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is a 1946 American film noir drama directed by Lewis Milestone from a screenplay written by Robert Rossen (and an uncredited Robert Riskin), based on the short story “Love Lies Bleeding” by playwright John “Jack” Patrick. Produced by Hal B. Wallis, the film stars Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott and features Kirk Douglas in his film debut.

The film was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival. 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
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, domineering aunt, Mrs. Ivers, with her friend, the street-smart, poor Sam Masterson. She is caught and brought home where Martha’s tutor, Walter O’Neil, presents his timid son, Walter Jr., as the one responsible for Martha’s recovery. 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 it away from her and strikes her across the head, causing her to fall down the staircase and die. When the power comes back on, Martha lies about the incident to Walter. Walter Jr. saw everything, but backs her up. The greedy Walter 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.

In 1946, the elder Walter is now dead. 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 that she does not love him.

Sam, now a former soldier and itinerant gambler, drives into the small town by chance and, after an accident, leaves his car to be repaired. While waiting, he goes to look 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 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 is convinced Sam has blackmail in mind. Sam learns that Walter’s father presented Martha’s version of the 1928 accidental murder to the police: that an intruder murdered Martha’s aunt; and that with his leverage he 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.

When Martha reacts with joy at 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 halfhearted attempt to kill Sam himself, but is easily disarmed. Martha then inadvertently blurts out the couple’s fears of blackmail, only to learn that Sam did not witness 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 one with Toni. 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 Walter 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 can get Walter to corroborate her story. Sam turns his back on her and leaves.

Walter embraces and kisses Martha, then points the 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, Sam hears the shot. He runs back toward the mansion, but sees Walter, holding Martha’s body, shoot himself. Sam and Toni drive away together.

Cast
Barbara Stanwyck as as Martha Ivers
Van Heflin as Sam Masterson
Lizabeth Scott as Antonia “Toni” Marachek
Kirk Douglas as Walter O’Neil
Judith Anderson as Mrs. Ivers
Roman Bohnen as Mr. O’Neil
Darryl Hickman as Sam Masterson as a child
Janis Wilson as Martha Ivers as a child
Ann Doran as Bobbi St. John
Frank Orth as Hotel Clerk
James Flavin as Detective #1
Mickey Kuhn as Walter O’Neil as a child
Charles D. Brown as McCarthy
Blake Edwards as Sailor (uncredited)
Robert Homans as Gallagher (uncredited)
Olin Howland as Newspaper Clerk (uncredited)