The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (VHS)

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) stars Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, and Kirk Douglas as childhood friends who meet up years later when Douglas is the town D.A., Stanwyck his unloving wife, and Heflin a drifting gambler. Nerdy Douglas and beautiful Stanwyck are worried that Heflin has returned to blackmail them because he knows she killed her wicked aunt years ago and then colluded with her husband to convict another man for the crime.

Lizabeth Scott turns in the best performance in the film as an ex-con who becomes involved with Heflin. She reminds me of Lauren Bacall and Claire Trevor in this role. She's cool but vulnerable, and one of the few characters who has a heart.

The drama kept me interested and wanting to find out what would ultimately happen, though I felt the filmmakers thought the action was a bit more suspenseful than it really is. The story is bleak. If you like film noir, then you'll enjoy The Strange Love of Martha Ivers. Fans of the stars will also like watching this film. I suggest renting the movie or watching it on TV before buying it.