This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

The tagline could just as easily have read 'There's no-one better than Barbara when she's bad' and here Miss Stanwyck is as bad as can be. When not beating her aunt to death she's doing all she can to make sure her weak, alcoholic husband is re-elected DA while cheating on him with her childhood sweetheart. Lewis Milestone's "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" is an overheated melodrama of small town corruption full of rotten characters and Barbara is the most rotten of all with hubbie Kirk Douglas not far behind. Van Heflin is the good guy who used to be a bad boy and Lizabeth Scott is the shop-soiled girl he falls for, (she's the film's weakest link). Milestone directed from a Robert Rossen screenplay and it's reasonably entertaining if a little convoluted. We could also be doing with a bit more of Stanwyck though both Heflin and Douglas, in his first film, are excellent and there's a nice supporting turn from Judith Anderson as the aunt who gets it. No classic then but very watchable.

(Flash Review)Try to think of the most demented way to spark up a romance and this may be hard to match. This story is about trying to live or cope with having sent an innocent man to death for a crime they committed as teenagers. An unusual relationship was spawned from that incident and 18 years later and together they assume the only other person who may have witnessed it has returned home after all that time to blackmail as they now have amassed wealth and notoriety. How much does this person know if anything? Why have they returned now? Were they bonded into love from their lies of their crime? Much of the story ties itself together toward the end so the film keeps you wondering the whole time. Nice lighting and music. The acting was solid. Unique overall story. Better than most screenplays today.

It's 1928 Iverstown, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Ivers runs the town and dominates her niece Martha Ivers. She tries to run off with Sam Masterson from the poor side of town but is betrayed by friend Walter O'Neil. Sam comes back to see Martha. Her aunt starts beating her cat and she hits her aunt sending her down the stairs to her death. Martha lies and Walter backs up her lie. They think Sam had witnessed it. He rides the circus train out of town. It's 1946. Martha (Barbara Stanwyck) is now married to district attorney Walter (Kirk Douglas). He's advancing in politics. She's the cold, ruthless owner of most of the town. He's haunted by the man hung for her aunt's death but she callously dismisses his fears. He's hopelessly in love with her but she does not reciprocate. Sam is now a drifter, gambler, and veteran. He has a car accident while passing through town and gets involved with Toni Marachek. She's thrown in jail for violating parole. He asks Walter for help but Walter wonders if he wants more.Screen legends Barbara Stanwyck and Kirk Douglas are together but Van Heflin and Lizabeth Scott are equal co-leads. This is Douglas' debut. Stanwyck comes in after thirty minutes. Their combination has an electricity. Van Heflin has a blander character actor look. Scott has an angular beauty that works well with old fashion noir. Their chemistry isn't quite as electric and their side of the story is less compelling. For fans of movie stars, this sparks whenever the legends get to play. I would have preferred less melodrama and more noir. Douglas is terrific with his twists and turns. His scenes are the best.

It's great to see this film again after years of no-see. I remembered it was a good film but watching it all these years later I have to say it's a great movie - one of the best films of the 1940s - nominated for an Oscar award but should have won the award.The story is well written and very suspenseful - as it unfolds, the more suspense it builds towards a fantastic ending which I will not ruin for first time viewers nor those who haven't seen this one in years and would like to again.Outstanding casting with brilliant performances. Great set designs and costuming (mainly the ladies). The directing and cinematography are top of the line as well. Why didn't this film win an Oscar? This is a highly recommended film for a reason - it's really fantastic.10/10