Recently I wrote about the movie "The Act of Violence" and here's that guy again - Van Heflin (whom I always call Van Helsing) - its a great fun to recognize all those actors mingling from one movie to another and playing together. This time he is surrounded with some of all-time great actors and script is first rate, truly great movie.
"Strange love of Martha Ivers" must be one of my all-time favorite movies ever - one of those truly classics that I return to from time to time and watch in awe, always finding new details and enjoying it immensely. It has everything - b&w beautiful picture with lots of shadows, thunders, lighting, immoral characters, beautiful houses, shabby hotels, detectives, criminals, delightful slang expressions of the time, excellent actors and brilliant script. I could live in this movie.
After a long absence, Van Heflin stumbles by accident in his hometown (driving drunken sailor who is uncredited future director Blake Edwards!) where his unexpected return raises alarming suspicion of local big fish (Kirk Douglas in his first movie role!) now married to Heflin's old flame. Kirk Douglas and Barbara Stanwyck live in marriage from hell, one of those strange, sadistic relationships made only for the sake of appearance and their scenes are frightening and fascinating to watch - Stanwyck is cold as ice towards her intellectually inferior husband but he is snake as well. Stanwyck composure falls apart when she sees Van Heflin who is simply amused, while Douglas watches from a side, knowing her too well and understanding she is slipping from his grasp. I won't go into details about the story - it must be seen to enjoy properly - but trough the movie we actually feel a little bit of sympathy for Stanwyck who was caged in this prison of marriage hoping to escape somehow one day.Her role is negative in "moral" sense and still Stanwyck manages to appear human under that cold posture.
Acting is excellent - Kirk Douglas is weak alcoholic bowing in presence of strong wife but cruel otherwise, Stanwyck tough as nails and scared little girl in presence of love of her life, Van Heflin our good-guy-with-a-past who hides a good heart under tough exterior (and he can fight too, not afraid of any policemen or detectives sent to scare him away) and there is a excellent supporting role for Lizabeth Scott who is here as his love interest, balance for cruel Martha Ivers. However, this is film noir so even Lizabeth Scott is not exactly goodie goddie, she also has dark past and her own secrets however Van Heflin is ready to overlook this and take her under his wing the way she is, bruised butterfly and all. For years I have been fascinated with Scott's acting and role in this movie and although she is only a supporting role here, I always loved her. In fact, sometimes I watch the movie because of her - I admit its impossible to overshadow Barbara Stanwyck but Scott is darn close. Great movie, truly a classic.
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