When the Film Noir Meets the Tragedy

The movie
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is a 1946 American film noir. Lewis Milestone directed it. The main actors are Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott and Kirk Douglas (introducing).

The film participated to the 1947 Cannes Film Festival.

Sam Masterson (played by Heflin) was a soldier. Now he is a gambler. After a car accident, he drives his car to a small factory town (Iverstone).

Seventeen years earlier he had left this place for good, as a young poor boy.

At that time he had a friendship with the then 13 years old Martha Ivers. She lived in a mansion with her wealthy aunt, and Walter Jr. O’Neil, the son of Martha’s tutor.

One night Martha accidentally caused her aunt’s death. Walter noticed the scene. Yet, Sam, who was near the scene, he didn’t see anything.

Nothing was revealed to the authorities. On top of that, the two Walters and Martha made an innocent man been convicted for the murder.

Sam, while waiting for his car to be repaired, visits his old home, which now is a boarding house. He meets Antonia “Toni” Marachek (played by Scott), who has just been released from jail. He soon falls in love with Toni.

Later, he learns that Martha (played by Stanwyck) has inherited her aunt’s fortune. In addition, she is married to Walter Jr (played by Douglas), now a district attorney.

He pays a visit to them. We soon realize that Sam and Martha still have feelings to each other. However, Martha is afraid that Sam returned to blackmail her. She thinks that he saw her aunt’s death.

The scene
After a conflict among Martha, Walter and Sam, the latter leaves their mansion. Walter thinks that Martha still loves Sam. He embraces and kisses her, while he pulls out a gun pointing at her. She puts her thumb over his finger and pulls the trigger.

Outside, Sam hears the shot and returns to the mansion. At that time Walter shoots himself.

The scene can be seen as a catharsis in this tragedy.

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers certainly deserves a leading place in any cinephile library.

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