 In 1945 Rossen joined a picket line against Warner Bros , making an enemy of Jack Warner . Rossen signed a contract with an independent production company formed by Hal Wallis , who had previously been Warner Bros. ' head of production . However Rossen wrote only two full scripts for this company , The Strange Love of Martha Ivers in 1946 and Desert Fury in 1947 . In The Strange Love of Martha Ivers Rossen used a short story by John Patrick to introduce the main plot , which was set fifteen years later and which Rossen wrote himself . The relationship between Rossen and Wallis broke down when Rossen received offers from other production companies . 
