奇爱疑云

　　Onarainynightin1928inaPennsylvaniafactorytowncalledIverstown,MarthaIvers(JanisWilson),thirteenyearsold,istryingtoescapefromtheguardianshipofherwealthy,domineeringaunt.Herfriend,thestreet-smart,poorSamMasterson(DarrylHickman),comesforherthroughherbedroomwindow,butMartha&#39sauntcatchesthem.WhileSamslipsoutunnoticed,MarthahitsMrs.Iversonthehead,causinghertofalldownthelongstaircaseanddie.ThoughSamsawnothing,theeventwaswitnessedbyWalterO&#39Neil(MickeyKuhn),thesonofMartha&#39stutor(RomanBohnen),knownasMr.O&#39Neil.MarthaliesabouttheincidenttoMr.O&#39Neil,andWaltersupportsher.[5]　　Mr.O&#39NeilsuspectswhathappenedbutpresentsMartha&#39sversionofeventstothepolice,thatanintruderisresponsiblehemakesuseofhisknowledgebyhavinghermarryhisson.Whenthepoliceidentifyaformeremployeeoftheauntasthemurderer,thetwoO&#39NeilsandMarthahelpconvicthimheispunishedbyhanging.[5]　　Eighteenyearslater,theolderO&#39Neilhasdied.Walter(nowplayedbyKirkDouglas)isthedistrictattorney,whileMartha(BarbaraStanwyck)hasusedherinheritancefromheraunttobuildalargebusinessempire.Theirmarriageisone-sidedhelovesher,butshedoesnotlovehim.　　Sam(VanHeflin),nowadrifterandgambler,stopsinthesmalltownbychancetohavehiscarrepairedafteranaccident.Whilewaitingforrepairs,athisoldhome,nowaboardinghouse,hemeetsAntonia&quotToni&quotMarachek(LizabethScott),whohasjustbeenreleasedfromjail.Sheislaterpickedupforviolatingherprobationbynotreturningtoherhometown.SamgoestoseeWalter,toseeifhecanusehisinfluencetogetherreleased.　　WalterisconvincedSamhasreturnedwithblackmailinmind,givingWalteramotivetorunSamoutoftown.WhenMarthareactswithjoytothenewsofSam&#39sreturn,Walter&#39sjealousyprovidesanadditionalmotive.WalterforcesTonitosetSamup.Samisbeatenanddrivenoutoftown,butheistootoughtobeintimidated.Whenallelsefails,Waltermakesahalf-heartedattempttokillSamhimself,butiseasilydisarmed.Marthatheninadvertentlyblurtsoutthecouple&#39sfearsofblackmail,whichprovetobegroundless:Samsayshedidnotwitnessthedeath.Marthabreaksdownandlamentsthatheleftwithoutherallthoseyearsago,takingwithhimheronlychanceforloveandfreedom.　　Samistornbetweenhisoldloveandhisnew.AlthoughheeventuallyforgivesToniforbetrayinghim,heandMarthaspendanidyllicdaytogether,rekindlinghisfeelingsforher.　　WalterarrangestomeetSamtofinallysettlematters.BeforeSamarrives,WaltergetsdrunkandMarthafindsoutaboutthemeeting.WhenWalterfallsdownthestairsandisknockedunconscious,MarthaurgesSamtokillhim.SaminsteadbringsWalteraround.MarthapullsoutagunandthreatenstoshootSamin&quotselfdefense&quotasanintruder.However,SamgamblesthatWalterwillnotbackupherstoryheturnshisbackonherandleaves.　　Walterembracesandkisseshiswifethenhepointsthegunathermidriff.Oddlyrelieved,sheputsherhandoverhishandonthetriggerandpresses.Assheisdying,shedefiantlystateshernameisnotMarthaIvers,butMarthaSmith.Outside,Samhearstheshot.Herunsbacktowardthemansion,butseesWalter,holdingMartha&#39sbody,shoothimself.SamandTonidriveawaytogether.