The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)

Directed by Lewis Milestone

It seems old-fashioned and slow at first.  Just hang in there, because it pays off in the end.  You need to be very careful about reading too much plot info beforehand on this one because it is easily spoiled.  It's about a man who returns to the town where he grew up.  His childhood friends are now of prominent status in the town, but they don't seem so happy to see him.  Barbara Stanwyck plays a powerful business woman which is an unusual role for a woman at this time.  But of course Stanwyck is always great in these "tough broad" types.  Kirk Douglas puts in a very strong performance in this, his screen debut.