On a rainy night in 1928 in a Pennsylvania factory town called Iverstown, Martha Ivers (Janis Wilson), thirteen years old, is trying to escape from the guardianship of her wealthy, domineering aunt. Her friend, the street-smart, poor Sam Masterson (Darryl Hickman), comes for her through her bedroom window, but Martha's aunt catches them. While Sam slips out unnoticed, Martha hits Mrs. Ivers on the head, causing her to fall down the long staircase and die. Though Sam saw nothing, the event was witnessed by Walter O'Neil (Mickey Kuhn), the son of Martha's tutor (Roman Bohnen), known as Mr. O'Neil. Martha lies about the incident to Mr. O'Neil, and Walter supports her.[5] Mr. O'Neil suspects what happened but presents Martha's version of events to the police, that an intruder is responsible; he makes use of his knowledge by having her marry his son. When the police identify a former employee of the aunt as the murderer, the two O'Neils and Martha help convict him; he is punished by hanging.[5] Eighteen years later, the older O'Neil has died. Walter (now played by Kirk Douglas) is the district attorney, while Martha (Barbara Stanwyck) has used her inheritance from her aunt to build a large business empire. Their marriage is one-sided; he loves her, but she does not love him. Sam (Van Heflin), now a drifter and gambler, stops in the small town by chance to have his car repaired after an accident. While waiting for repairs, at his old home, now a boarding house, he meets Antonia Toni Marachek (Lizabeth Scott), who has just been released from jail. She is later picked up for violating her probation by not returning to her hometown. Sam goes to see Walter, to see if he can use his influence to get her released. Walter is convinced Sam has returned with blackmail in mind, giving Walter a motive to run Sam out of town. When Martha reacts with joy to the news of Sam's return, Walter's jealousy provides an additional motive. Walter forces Toni to set Sam up. Sam is beaten and driven out of town, but he is too tough to be intimidated. When all else fails, Walter makes a half-hearted attempt to kill Sam himself, but is easily disarmed. Martha then inadvertently blurts out the couple's fears of blackmail, which prove to be groundless: Sam says he did not witness the death. Martha breaks down and laments that he left without her all those years ago, taking with him her only chance for love and freedom. Sam is torn between his old love and his new. Although he eventually forgives Toni for betraying him, he and Martha spend an idyllic day together, rekindling his feelings for her. Walter arranges to meet Sam to finally settle matters. Before Sam arrives, Walter gets drunk and Martha finds out about the meeting. When Walter falls down the stairs and is knocked unconscious, Martha urges Sam to kill him. Sam instead brings Walter around. Martha pulls out a gun and threatens to shoot Sam in self defense as an intruder. However, Sam gambles that Walter will not back up her story; he turns his back on her and leaves. Walter embraces and kisses his wife; then he points the gun at her midriff. Oddly relieved, she puts her hand over his hand on the trigger and presses. As she is dying, she defiantly states her name is not Martha Ivers, but Martha Smith. Outside, Sam hears the shot. He runs back toward the mansion, but sees Walter, holding Martha's body, shoot himself. Sam and Toni drive away together.
小时候的青梅竹马看见女主杀人就跑了,另一个男孩包庇她跟她结婚,青梅竹马回来了她还以为可以再续前缘,想让青梅竹马杀掉深爱自己的丈夫,可青梅竹马早爱上别人了不干。这个故事说明,既不能自以为是惦记前任,又不能相信枕边人。果然是黑色爱情故事。
超级好看!Sam和Toni就是江湖儿女,好喜欢这一对,Sam这么有魅力的男主其实在老片子里不少见。Martha超级好看而且眼熟,原来是Double Indemnity的女主,Walter是Michael Douglas的老爸!最后的结局其实几多反转,但是合情合理完全没有为转而转的感觉。
绕啊绕也绕不出的怪圈。。。。Sam和那个姑娘的感情线太无聊了。。。尤其是在Missy和道格拉斯的对比之下。。。
Kirk Douglas的好莱坞首秀,演了个被爱情蒙蔽双眼,包庇杀人凶手,还试图滥用职权除掉男主角的小男人,这和他后来的角色反差可太大了。故事略松散,儿时玩伴意外回到小镇,却被以为是利用18年前的凶杀案敲诈勒索,一句话没说就把真相全招出来了,间接导致了结局的自我毁灭。和其他的黑色电影一样,其中是有宿命论的意味在的,但整体确实没什么意思,人物之间的互动也不足。
道格拉斯起初拒绝出演,经过多年的努力好不容易在舞台生涯上稍有起色,他并不想去好莱坞,他想成为一名真正的戏剧演员。在他的印象里电影演员都是高大、俊俏帅气的男演员,很明显自己并不符合这一标准。然而来自好莱坞的诱惑一直都是有力而且致命的,道格拉斯再三考虑之后还是决定出演了[奇爱疑云]。