Of course, true star of "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers " is sensational Barbara Stanwyck and after watching the movie again, I gulped her paperback biography written by certain Al DiOrio.
It is typical movie celebrity biography, very well researched, with tons of informations about every single step Stanwyck made in Hollywood, however actress was a famously protective about her private life so we don't really get a glimpse of the person behind the screen. If written today, author would probably engage a little bit more into this aspect but back in 1984. apparently this kind of fan publication was good enough - not that Stanwyck was a boring subject, far from it. She never was a great beauty of classic Holywood type, never won an "Oscar" (except decades later, honorary) and mostly appeared as Bette Davis clone who somehow successfully made a transition on TV but she was a great screen presence, according to the book was hard working and ambitious and at the end was the only actress ever who came from silent era and was working as late as in 1980s ("Dynasty").
Watching her again last night, I was mesmerized as always with her acting - Stanwyck was a great natural actress though her schtick were always "tough broads" with a heart of gold, audience could somehow always feel there is a human protected somewhere inside. The book is very informative about the huge scope of her acting work (comedy, musicals, dancing, film noir, western, TV soaps) though it quickly glosses over what made her such a person. Surely there must have been more to tell, judging from her hard climb from growing like an orphan in Brooklyn to a position of highest paid actress of 1940s but author is more focused on her professional life and who knows, maybe this was all there was for Stanwyck who found her life purpose in constant work, long after financially she was secured for life.
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