Overall Rating:  4.38 out of 5, including 2 reviews
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When These Two Clash…Tension Grows Tighter And Tighter Until Violence Is The Only Answer!
Almost immediately in the wake of the Allied triumph against evil in World War Two came the irresistible urge to culturally examine the dark underbelly of the world around us, resulting in an entire class of seamy black and white motion pictures which came to be known collectively by the French term "Film Noir", or "dark cinema". One of the earliest and certainly one of the best of these classics was the 1946 Hall Wallis production of The Strange Love Of Martha Ivers.
Sporting on of the finest casts of any "film noir", this picture not only starred the well-established Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, and newcomer Lisabeth Scott, but it introduced a young actor named Kirk Douglas - would still be acting in films for over a half century later.
Dame Judith Anderson, in role even more sadistic and more bitchy than her heralded performance in Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca, dominates the first two reels as the cruel stepmother to a rich young runaway adopted daughter, Martha. Caught by the cops (who are obviously owned by the old lady since the name of the town is, after all, "Iverstown") and returned home against her will, she reacts to her stepmother's malignity by brutally committing a murder, which is witnessed by her young boyfriend, Sam, who would grow to manhood (Helflin) without ever realizing what he saw.
Returning from the war, he accidentally wanders into Iverstown thanks to a chance auto accident, and looks up Martha. She is now married to their other childhood friend (Douglas), who is now District Attorney. He, too, knows the secret and lords it over Martha. But he is spineless, and she lords that over him. They immediately assume Sam is in town to conduct a shakedown, and treat him accordingly. After being beaten and having his girlfriend assaulted and threatened, Sam forces a showdown, resulting in one of the most grim finishes to any film noir this side of Out Of The Past.
A riveting film, tightly directed by veteran Lewis Milestone, The Strange Love of Martha Avers is a brilliant signpost on the road to post-war disillusionment and, ultimately, societal suspicion and fear. This immensely important work was preserved just at the verge of decomposition.
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Features:
| Features Not Specified
| Video:
| | Standard 1.33:1 B&W | | Audio: (more info) | ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Mono
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| Studio: Image Ent.
Production Year: 1946
Release Date: 9/26/2000
Length: 118 mins
Rating: NR
| Packaging: Snap Case
Number of Discs: 1
Disc: SS-SL
Item Code: HRS9459
UPC Code: 014381945928
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Overall Rating: 4.38 out of 5, including 2 reviews
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Customer Review
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Great film, flawless print - 4.5 out of 5 (2/5/2001)
Absolutely the definitive version of this Hal Wallis classic. Not a splice in this original negative element adds to the intense excitement of this classic film noir.
Five stars for sure!
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Customer Review
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LATEST FROM HAL ROACH STUDIOS FILM CLASSICS - 4.25 out of 5 (8/23/2000)
Re-establishing the Hal Roach Studios Film Classics line of product that took over the Vintage film market in 1985, THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS is the first of these restored archival epics to be released on DVD. From the same people who brought you the beautiful "Lost Films of Laurel and Hardy" restorations, this original 35mm preservation fine grain presents this epic film in its finest version. Great cast, incredible film noir. Most importantly, if it has the name of the nation's olde
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