The Strange Love of Martha Ivers Barbara Stanwyck

(aka 'Love Lies Bleeding" or "Meaningful Glances ')

directed by Lewis Milestone
USA 1946

"You may be through with the past, but it sure ain't through with you."

In Lewis Milestone's classic Film Noir we open in the rain - 1928, where a feisty young heiress named Martha Ivers is thwarted in her attempt to run off with her friend Sam Masterson - a street-smart kid from the wrong side of the tracks. Her forced return home and his fatal goodbye produce the inadvertent murder of her aunt covered up by Martha and her young gold-digging friend, Walter.

We bounce ahead 18 years where Walter (Kirk Douglas), now the D.A., and Martha (Barbara Stanwyk) live a loveless marriage - initiated by their perjured testimony that let an innocent man hang for their deed. Sam (Van Heflin in one of his best roles) returns to the small town and befriends honorable ex-con Toni (a fetching Lizbeth Scott), to unravel the dark convoluted past of his childhood friends.

Pure Film Noir that builds steam with each scene. Kept buoyant with excellent performances. Wonderful! out of

Gary W. Tooze

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 24th, 1946

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DVD Comparison:

Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC

(Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC	Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:55:40	1:55:52
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.64 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.4 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 1.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	None	English and none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Image Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • none DVD Release Date: April 5th, 2005 Keep Case Chapters: 9	Release Information: Studio: Paramount Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • none DVD Release Date: October 25th, 2005 Double Lock Keep Case Chapters: 14

Comments:

ADDITION: - Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC - Oct 05' - What a blessing - the Paramount DVD looks excellent ! There are some minor scratches but it is 'night and day' next to the old, washed out, pale and out-of-print Image Entertainment disc. The new Paramount is s shade cropped on some edges. Decent menus and optional subtitles at a reasonable price. Lizbeth Scott's 'come hither' looks are even more enticing!

*****

We understand that the only existing print has some nitrate decomposition and hence the film's appearance will probably not improve much. There are also a few missing segments. However, the DVD could have been better - it is non-progressive, no subtitles and no extras. The audio is also weak with odd fluctuations in volume. Sadly, this may be the best DVD of this classic Film Noir ever available barring a full reconstruction, which will doubtfully ever happen. It is quite watch-able through a tube and luckily the noir genre is very forgiving for its 'beaten', older films. It only seems to add to the atmosphere. This is a great film and this DVD, although the film is Public Domain, is likely to become out-of print quickly. It is likely that this Image /Hal Roach DVD betters the other editions quite substantially. I recommend that you buy while you can.

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

Subtitle Sample on Paramount (no subs on Image Entertainment DVD)