Talk:The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

Martha Smith?

I was just curious why Martha Ivers says her surname is Smith when she is dying. This name does not appear in the rest of the plot. What does she mean by this, can anyone tell me? As written now this is very confusing. KarlFrei (talk) 11:58, 30 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I haven't seen the film in a while, but as I recall, Smith was her real surname. She was forced to change it to Ivers to please her hated aunt, possibly (?) to inherit her aunt's fortune. Clarityfiend (talk) 00:03, 1 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Smith had been Martha's legitimate maiden surname. It's pivotal dialog from Act i:

MARTHA: My name is Smith! The same as my fathers' was.

MRS. IVERS: Your name is Ivers. I've had it changed, legally.

MARTHA: I don't care what you've done.

MRS. IVERS: Your name is Ivers, the same as your mother's was before she was stupid enough to marry that...

MARTHA: Shut up! Shut up!

MRS. IVERS: How dare you!

MARTHA: Shut up!

MRS. IVERS: You've still got his foul mouth.

MARTHA: I won't let you talk that way about my father!

MRS. IVERS: Your father was a nobody, a millhand. The best thing he ever did for you was to die!

MARTHA: I'll kill you!

Rt3368 (talk) 14:45, 15 November 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Cat?

I've always been bothered by the fate of Martha Smith's cat. Does anyone know what happened to it? Sufferin'Succotash (talk) 01:22, 13 February 2012 (UTC)Sufferin' Succotash[reply]

Martha's aunt killed it with her cane. At least she was striking blows with it and the cat was screeching. That's what prompted Martha to take the cane and strike her aunt. 71.93.172.99 (talk) 23:42, 27 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Problems With This Entry

1. There's no mention of the subplot that has Walter and Martha railroading an innocent man to the hangman's noose for the murder of Martha's aunt.

2. In one paragraph, it says Sam is a detective. In another, it says he's a gambler.