The Strange Love of Martha Ivers Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" from HD Cinema Classics boasts an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.30:1 aspect ratio, derived from 35mm elements housed in the Library of Congress. While the press release highlights their restoration efforts, the actual result is mixed. The restoration process primarily addressed scratches and other visible damages, yet failed to effectively manage contrast and grain. The heavy use of DNR (Digital Noise Reduction) diminishes fine object detail, leading to a somewhat waxy appearance with occasional blooming whites. The contrast swings between being too low and excessively high in various scenes, indicating an inconsistent treatment.

Despite these drawbacks, this release shines in some areas for a public domain title. The overall picture is lush, clear, and mostly clean, with minimal evidence of print damage — though faint vertical lines and snowiness do appear sporadically. The black levels are rich and inky, which is crucial for the film’s noir aesthetic, and the gray scale variance adds depth to the picture. However, missing frames around the one-hour mark and some scenes appearing rougher and softer showcase the transfer's inconsistency. Whites exhibit occasional blooming, while mild aliasing is noticeable in certain shots.

Overall, while the transfer has its share of faults, including extensive DNR application and inconsistent contrast, it remains one of the more commendable public domain remasters to date. Film noir aficionados and enthusiasts of classic cinema, including Barbara Stanwyck's fans, will find the effort reasonably satisfying despite its imperfections.

"The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" presents its audio through a Dolby Digital 2.0 mono mix. While the track is lossy, it remains serviceable for this classic film. The soundtrack boasts a decent fullness in the midrange, although the highest frequencies can sometimes sound clipped. Dialogue consistently stands out as clear and comprehensible, avoiding the shrill or tinny textures typical of older titles, which facilitates an engaging viewing experience.

Despite some minor flaws such as occasional pops, crackles, and brief dropouts, the overall audio quality is respectable. The presentation is free of the usual hiss and surface noise that plague many public domain films. The score by Miklos Rozsa, while constrained by the limitations of the format, still delivers a broad dynamic range with impactful highs and lows. Atmospherics like rain and sound effects such as gunfire are subtle and crisp, effectively complementing the movie's dramatic sequences. Although a lossless audio track would have been preferable to fully appreciate Rozsa's composition, the provided Dolby Digital 2.0 mono track admirably enhances the film's vintage charm.

The extras section of the Blu-ray release for "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" offers a limited but notable selection of supplementary materials. Unfortunately, the commentary track by noir expert William Hare is a letdown, characterized by numerous pauses, inaccuracies, and a general lack of preparedness. Hare’s narration often veers into describing on-screen action with minimal insightful analysis, diluting the value for avid noir enthusiasts. On a more positive note, the disc features a restoration demonstration that provides impressive split-screen comparisons, illustrating the meticulous process employed to enhance the film's visual quality. Additionally, the fabricated trailer falls short of capturing the authentic 1940s promotional flair but nonetheless adds historical context.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary by William Hare: Unfocused and under-researched discussion of the film.
• Restoration Demonstration: Split screen showcasing before-and-after restoration.
• Theatrical Trailer: A recreated trailer for this release, not the original theatrical trailer.

"The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" holds a unique position within the noir genre, often overshadowed by more renowned titles like "Double Indemnity" and "The Maltese Falcon." Directed by Lewis Milestone, the film is bolstered by intense performances from its ensemble cast, including Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, and Kirk Douglas in his film debut. The narrative kicks off with a gripping prologue that sets the stage for a dark tale of murder, manipulation, and unrequited love. The plot centers around Martha Ivers, a scheming woman who accidentally kills her oppressive aunt during a blackout. Witnessed by the young Walter O'Neil, both characters concoct a lie that binds them together over two decades of guilt and ambition, culminating in a tense reunion with Martha's childhood friend, Sam Masterson.

Fast forward to 1946, Sam returns to Iverstown, inadvertently rekindling old obsessions and uncovering long-hidden secrets. Stanwyck shines as the calculating Martha, her commanding presence reminiscent of her role in "Double Indemnity." Van Heflin brings a rough-edged charm to Sam, while Douglas portrays the beleaguered Walter with surprising vulnerability. The film weaves a complex web of morally ambiguous characters navigating a post-war landscape brimming with paranoia and deceit. Screenwriter Robert Rossen's detailed script illuminates their neurotic struggles and twisted ambitions, painting a vivid picture of societal decay.

This HD Cinema Classics release, sourced from 35mm elements housed at the Library of Congress, offers a newly restored version that enhances the film's stark visuals and atmospheric nuances. Despite its long-standing public domain status, which relegated it to bargain bins for much of its history, this high-definition debut promises to attract a fresh audience, eager to rediscover the film's intricate layers of seduction and subterfuge. With its iconic performances and nuanced storytelling, "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" remains a potent entry in the film noir canon.

"The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" is a compelling slice of mid-century film noir, stylishly directed by Lewis Milestone and featuring strong performances from Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, and Kirk Douglas. Though it doesn't reach the iconic status of classics like "Double Indemnity" or "The Postman Always Rings Twice," its dark and twisted narrative still has much to offer fans of the genre. The film weaves together complex storylines involving greed, betrayal, and redemption, making for an engrossing, if somewhat convoluted, viewing experience.

In this Blu-ray release from Film Chest, the video and audio quality are commendable, especially for a public domain title. However, the restoration techniques employed by Film Chest leave room for refinement, as the transfer occasionally falters in providing the pristine clarity and sharpness that modern audiences have come to expect. Despite these minor technical shortcomings, the overall presentation is adequate and serves as a sufficient placeholder until an official HD master can be produced by Paramount or potentially released by Olive Films.

For enthusiasts of film noir, "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" is a worthy addition to their collection. Its intricate plot and nuanced performances ensure that it remains an engaging watch, even if it falls short of the genre's upper echelon. This release by Film Chest is a laudable effort to revive a lesser-known gem from Hollywood's past, but one can only hope for a more polished restoration in the future.

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is neat little potboiler featuring some great performances, though it somehow misses that higher tier of noir that Martha's more or less contemporaries like Double Indemnity or The Postman Always Rings Twice attained. Perhaps the problem is instead of a couple plotting away, Martha features a quartet, and there are simply too many overlapping storylines to give the film the pared down focus that is usually a central selling point to noir. This Film Chest offering is another in the label's attempt to resurrect some lesser known catalog titles from the distant past, and while the label is to be commended for bringing attention to these underappreciated films, they need to take another look at some of their restoration techniques. This release might spur Paramount into creating an HD master of its own (if it hasn't already), which would seem to be a perfect sort of release for Olive Films to handle.