The Affairs of Martha (1942)

In the ordinarily tranquil town of Rock Bay, Long Island, a whirlwind of gossip grips the elite Seacove Drive when news breaks that a mysterious servant has penned a tell-all book, unveiling the secrets of the family she serves from a kitchen-eye-view. This revelation sends shivers down the spines of both housewives and maids, who, despite their shock, recognize their symbiotic need for each other. Amid the chaos, the town's high society families scramble in desperation to keep their skeletons firmly tucked away in the closet, fearing their household could be the one under scrutiny. However, the Sommerfield family breathes easy, blissfully unaware that the author is none other than their own junior maid, Martha Lindstrom. Martha, with her heart brimming with affection for the family, has crafted a heartwarming tale, carefully sidestepping any embarrassing revelations, such as Mrs. Sophia Sommerfield's guilty pleasure of reading "true-confession" magazines or young Miranda's habit of outsourcing her club reports to Sophia. Martha's motivation for her literary endeavor isn't fame but the affections of the Sommerfield's son, Jeff, an anthropologist whom she secretly married in a haze of alcohol-fueled spontaneity the night before he departed on a year-long field trip. Since then, Jeff has financially supported Martha, urging her to annul their hasty union, a request she ignored, clinging to the dream of a fairy tale ending. The plot thickens when Jeff returns home unexpectedly, finding Martha still a part of the family and their marriage intact. However, he's not alone. He brings with him a fiancée, fueling the fires of an already complex situation. Despite the compatibility of Jeff and "Sylvia" on paper, reality paints a different picture, suggesting that Jeff's feelings for a certain maid might run deeper than he realizes.

The Affairs of Martha is a comedy movie featuring Marsha Hunt and directed by Jules Dassin.

The Affairs of Martha is currently streaming on TCM.