In 1928, in Iverstown, the heiress Martha Smith Ivers is caught by the police for the fourth time while trying to runaway home with her friend Sam Masterson. She hates her aunt Mrs. Ivers (Judith Anderson) and while in her room with her tutor's son Walter O'Neil and Sam later, the power runs out and she asks Sam to bring her cat back to the room. When Sam is trying to catch the cat in the dark, her aunt comes to the staircase and Sam hides himself. Mrs. Ivers hits the cat with a stick, Martha pushes her in the staircase and Mrs. Ivers dies. Martha lies to Mr. O'Neil and tells that a man had killed her aunt, and Walter confirms the lie. Eighteen years later, Sam (Van Heflin) is driving in the road nearby Iverstown, but he does not pay attention in a curve and hits his car in a post. He brings his car to a body shop in the industrial town, and while waiting for the repair, he meets the gorgeous Antonia Marachek (Lizabeth Scott) in front of the house where he lived. When Antonia loses her bus to her hometown, she accepts the invitation of Sam for a drink and later she goes to his hotel. On the next morning, Antonia is arrested for violation of probation, and Sam decides to pay a visit to Walter O'Neil (Kirk Douglas),now a successful district attorney and married with the wealthy Martha Ivers (Barbara Stanwyck),to ask him to release Antonia. When Walter sees Sam, he believes Sam wants to blackmail Martha and him, and his misunderstanding leads the former friends to tragic revelations about the fatal night and discloses dirty secrets about the couple Martha and Walter.

"The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" is an amazing underrated film-noir. The flawless story is excellent, disclosed in an adequate pace and developing perfectly the despicable characters. The black & white cinematography is magnificent, and the fatal character of Barbara Stanwyck is one of the most dangerous and manipulative villains I have ever seen in a film-noir. Kirk Douglas is great in his debut, but Van Heflin and Lizabeth Scott steals the movie with their performances and chemistry. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "O Tempo Não Apaga" ("The Time Does not Erase")

While this isn't technically an example of Film Noir (since it isn't a cop or gangster film),it has many, many aspects of Noir and this makes this film much better than the average "soaper" of the day. The film abounds with great Noir sensibilities, such as the camera work, snappy dialog and occasional gripping violence.

The film begins in the 1920s, when the leads are all kids. Martha Ivers is desperately unhappy in her home with her guardian (her aunt). So, with the help of local "bad boy", Sam Masterson, she makes her escape but is soon caught. Against her will she is brought back and its obvious in watching the dynamics between them why Martha ran away--the aunt is very cold and incredibly controlling. Shortly after this, the horrid aunt finds a cat smuggled into the home by Martha and starts beating it to death with her cane!!! Martha, naturally, comes to the cat's rescue and the aunt is accidentally killed in the process. The only witness to this is the weasel-like kid, Walter O'Neil--who keeps her secret for a price! The film then begins again many years later. Martha and Walter (played by Barbara Stanwyck and Kirk Douglas in his first film) have been married for some time and with her millions and strong support, Walter is in line to be the next governor. Rather coincidentally, Sam (Van Heflin) returns to town. He just wants to get his car fixed and continue on his way. However, Martha and Walter THINK Sam knows about the accidental death and are afraid he might talk--especially since there is much more evil the pair have done to cover up for the original event. Sam only comes to their attention after he meets a nice "bad girl" played by Lizbeth Scott. She's in trouble with the law and Sam thinks his part relationship with Walter can straighten all this out, since Walter is currently the District Attorney. Unfortunately, he was totally unprepared for Walter's reaction, as Walter thinks Sam is out to blackmail him! There's certainly a lot more to the plot than this, but telling more would ruin the suspense. However, the plot is truly delicious with so much double-dealing and unexpected evil to spice things up. Stanwyck plays much the same type person she so wonderfully played in DOUBLE INDEMNITY--a cold woman without a soul. Douglas, unexpectedly, plays a guy who is a bit of a wimp and weasel--not exactly what you'd expect based on his later films, but his screen persona was certainly not yet established. Lizbeth Scott, as usual, plays a great "dame". However, the actor who came off best in the film was Van Heflin--in probably his best film. Had the film been made just a few years later, it is likely Douglas might have played the part because it called for a tough and worldly but ultimately decent hero--exactly the sort of guy you would expect Douglas to be. Unfortunately, Heflin's great performance was not to materialize in a major improvement in the types of film roles he would receive and he continued to be a sort of second-tier leading man or supporting actor. It's a real shame, as he was the perfect Noir hero. His lines were suburb but the action scenes (particularly when he slammed Douglas' hand in the desk drawer) were classic.

The bottom line is that this is a terrific film from MGM. Full of twists and turns as well as terrific characters, it's a shame they don't make 'em like the used to.

Martha Ivers, a young girl under the guardianship of her grandmother played by Judith Anderson, tries often to run away, but is brought back every time. Grandma is one powerful autocratic and twisted old woman. One night after Grandma kills the girl's cat, she kills her. Her tutor's son sees the deed and now has blackmail power. Young Martha also thinks someone else has seen the deed, young Sam Masterson who she has a yen for. He actually skedaddled before witnessing anything.

Flash forward several years. Now everyone is grown up. Barbara Stanwyck is Martha and she's married the tutor's son played by Kirk Douglas in his film debut. He's also the District Attorney. And the main action of the film begins as grown up Sam Masterson who is played by Van Heflin comes back to his home town. He's treated rather strangely and it takes him a while to figure out why.

Life has a funny way of working out and Stanwyck has essentially turned into Anderson. Heflin is no real hero here either, he's quite willing to engage in some blackmail. But he's redeemed somewhat by the love of another girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Lizabeth Scott.

The film is memorable for two reasons, the power packed performance of Barbara Stanwyck and the debut of Kirk Douglas. This is a choice Barbara Stanwyck role, a powerful ruthless woman who'll do anything to keep and protect what's hers.

It's odd that Kirk Douglas makes his debut as a weakling, but even stranger that the dynamism that is his screen trademark is so well hidden in this portrayal. This part isn't exactly Spartacus. But Kirk is one capable player.

Heflin and Scott do well in their respective parts, but even though she's only on the screen for the first 15 minutes the one you won't forget is Judith Anderson. Seeing Stanwyck with her machinations later on, you wonder what must have made Anderson such a twisted human being.

The Strange Loves of Martha Ivers is a well plotted melodrama that does credit to all involved.