The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

Compelling noir with Barbara Stanwyck as the eponymous rich bitch whose dark secret threatens to topple her off her ivory tower. Although this was director Lewis Milestone’s only venture into the realm of noir, it remains a classic of the genre.

The film stars Barbara Stanwyck as the title character, a tough, spoiled, willful heiress married to the local D.A., Walter O’Neil (Kirk Douglas), a weak-willed alcoholic. When old friend Sam Masterson (Van Heflin) suddenly returns to town after many years away, he approaches Walter to ask his help with the case of Toni Marashek (Lisabeth Scott), a friend who has been falsely accused of a crime.

Every element seems perfectly in place in this typically guilt-saturated noir, with superb direction from Milestone, a memorable score by Miklos Rosza, and an outstanding performance by Kirk Douglas in his film debut.