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The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
10/24
10/24:
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is an interesting film noir picture with classic cinematic elements
that remind me of Orson Welles' work.
At first, I thought Van Heflin wasn't right for the role, but he did get better over time and thus stole
the show. In top form with shades of Double Indemnity,
Barbara Stanwyck is stunning while the oddly wimp Kirk Douglas, in his screen debut, bears an uncanny resemblance to
the kid who played his character earlier. Lizabeth Scott is okay as usual.
"Thoroughness" isn't a word I use to describe any film, but The Strange Case of Martha Ivers is just exactly
that. It's not to say that's good news. The director explored too much by including everything as possible, hence
the long running length of almost two hours. Some of the stuff can be cut out to strike a right balance.
Van Heflin's character made things confusing for a while because it's been a game of "does he like her or the
other one?" Eventually, he became sure of his decision which was the right call. Hence, the story
became deep this way on top of the strong ending.
All in all, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is a well-made film noir picture, and I don't mind seeing
it again later.