Kirk Douglas: The Strange Love of Martha Ivers / On Film / My Dear Secretary

Hollywood Classics

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
This dark melodrama based on the John Patrick story, Love Lies Bleeding, stars Barbara Stanwyck as the wonderfully wicked Martha Ivers, a wealthy and dominating woman who controls a small town after inheriting a large family fortune. She lives with her weakling husband, a district attorney running for mayor, played by Kirk Douglas in his feature film debut-a role that's an unusual departure from his later work. What no one in the town knows, however, is that Stanwyck and Douglas are bound by a dark secret involving murder.

Kirk Douglas: On Film
Hero, villain, boxer, cowboy, artist, slave...these are just a few of the memorable roles Kirk Douglas portrayed with passion and depth in a career that spanned over 80 films. His toothy grin, cleft chin, deep eyes and voice added to the intensity that made him one of the brightest stars in post-World War II Hollywood. His ambition catapulted a life in movie making as an actor but also as a producer, director and novelist that continues today. This documentary takes a closer look at the life of a true Hollywood legend.

My Dear Secretary
My Dear Secretary follows the amorous adventures of Kirk Douglas, as a play-boy writer, and Laraine Day, his secretary who is also a beginning writer. Their farcical antics are greatly supported by cast members Florence Bates, Irene Ryan and especially Kennan Wynn, who practically steals the show as Douglas' roommate. Fans of Douglas will enjoy this lighter side of the multi-talented actor who, incidentally, was eager to do comedy after being in so many serious roles.