The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)

• Year: 1946
• Released: 06 Sep 1946
• Country: United States
• Adwords: 1 nomination
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038854/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_postman_always_rings_twice
• Metacritics: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-postman-always-rings-twice
• Available in: 720p, 1080p,
• Language: English
• MPA Rating: Passed
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Film-Noir
• Runtime: 113 min
• Writer: Harry Ruskin, Niven Busch, James M. Cain
• Director: Tay Garnett
• Cast: Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway
• Keywords: based on novel or book, murder, black and white, noir, infidelity,

	7.4/10
	84/100

The Postman Always Rings Twice Storyline

Drifter Frank Chambers arrives at a quiet California roadside restaurant where he meets and falls for drop-dead gorgeous Cora, the wife of restaurant owner Nick Smith. After weaseling his way into a job, the two begin a deadly love affair and cook up plans to end her marriage and start a new life together. After a few botched attempts at a clean break, they are forced to put their honeymoon on hold after being rerouted into the arms of a D.A. hot to convict and a corrupt lawyer with designs on Cora. Frank and Cora thought they packed just enough luck to avoid what should be unavoidable but the duo failed to account for the possible intervention of a formidable force that doesn’t need a badge.

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The Postman Always Rings Twice Movie Reviews

She’s funny that way….

Those movie audiences who think that explicit sexual scenes shown in movies these days make a film sexy, should take a look at this 1946 steamy MGM picture. “The Postman Always Ring Twice” made an impact on the way movies looked at the time, when the censure of the Hays Code dominated what could be shown on the screen for general consumption.

James M. Cain’s novel of the same title was adapted by Harry Ruskin and Niven Busch, two writers that clearly caught all the nuances of the book. Ty Garnett direction made this film a surprise and a star out of the gorgeous Lana Turner, who was at the height of her beauty when the movie was shot. The great camera work of Sidney Wagner made this movie a classic for its sensual look it focused on its female star.

Nick, the older owner of the roadside diner, has married Cora, a woman much too young for him. Cora, who clearly has found her meal ticket, is happy in the way her life has changed. When Frank Chambers arrive at the diner, Cora realizes the mistake she made in marrying Nick; Frank stands in sharp contrast with Nick. Cora’s sexual needs awaken when Frank pays attention to her. As lovers, we realize they are doomed.

Because both Cora and Frank are amateurs, they botch the well laid plans they have for getting rid of Nick. Everything conspires against them because it’s too clear what they have done. They will not be able to get away with the crime, or a life together because unknown to them everyone had seen through them from the beginning.

Lana Turner, whose whole wardrobe is white, made a great Cora. She is heartless, but she is all sexual whenever she is around Frank. This was perhaps was one of the best things Ms. Turner did in the movies. John Garfield, who is so sure of himself, at the start, loses all his will because Cora smolders him and he doesn’t think rationally. Cecil Kellaway is good as the older Nick. Leon Ames, Hume Cronyn are seen in small roles.

“The Postman Always Ring Twice” is a classic of this genre thanks to Ty Garnett’s direction and a brilliant appearance by an inspired Lana Turner.

I love Film Noir,…but wasn’t thrilled with this film

This is one of those films that I just don’t see what others see. While I would agree it’s a decent film with some great moments, it also is very uneven and I can think of many Noir films I like a lot more. Now before I go on there are a couple important things to mention. First, Noir is perhaps my favorite type of film and I have a genuine love for the genre–and having seen so many Film Noir movies I think I have a rather informed opinion. Second, I just saw this film for the second time because I thought perhaps my original assessment for the film was unduly harsh. While I liked it a little more the second time, my opinion didn’t change dramatically.

As far as why I didn’t love the film, I think much of the problem is that casting Cecil Kellaway as the husband of Lana Turner goes WAY beyond just suspending your disbelief to enjoy the film. He was old, drank too much and wasn’t particularly rich or interesting. So, WHY would a lady that looks like Lana Turner marry him in the first place?! And, if she did, of course she’d want to get out of the marriage!! Additionally, the first half of the movie was much weaker than the second. The dialog was pretty sappy and unbelievable between Turner and Garfield until after Kellway returned from the hospital. It just didn’t ring true and didn’t sound like Noir–it needed to be punched up somehow.

For me, the movie improved a lot when the couple were brought to trial for the murder of Kellaway, as Hume Cronin stole the show as the cynical and manipulative defense attorney. He WAS a great Film Noir attorney! And, following his appearance the film just seemed to get a lot smarter. Garfield and Turner’s dialog also improved greatly. While I could not believe they were in love (almost instantly) in the first half of the film, their hatred and contempt was a wonderful antidote to their earlier sappy personalities. And, when they began turning on each other it really took off as a film.

While not a bad film at all, you could certainly do a lot better with a film such as THE KILLERS, DOA or DOUBLE INDEMNITY. Plus, a somewhat similar but underrated film that came out a year later (THEY DON’T BELIEVE ME), is definitely a better take on the adultery and spousal murder theme.

UPDATE: I recently saw a film similar to “The Postman Always Rings Twice” but it handled a very similar story better. In “The Adultress”, you have a story that works better because the husband is far less likable and younger–and you could understand ANY woman hating this vapid existence. Making the viewers more sympathetic towards the wife really helped the story.

It Will Ring In A Sour View Of The Female Of The Species

After looking at The Postman Always Rings Twice and comparing it with other works of James M. Cain, I’m walking away with the thought that the man must have been a misogynist. Though at this point in time Cain certainly was at the high point of his career. Imagine having back to back film successes with Double Indemnity, Mildred Pierce, and The Postman Always Rings Twice.

But what a view of women these films portray. The comparison with Double Indemnity and Postman is really almost too obvious. A weak and opportunistic man and a tramp of a wife drift into an affair and then they decide to kill the husband. And neither of them can live with the terrible secret of it all. They’ve even got the same kind of dogged gumshoe after them for Lana Turner and John Garfield it’s District Attorney Leon Ames and Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray have Edward G. Robinson.

With Pierce though it’s a little more difficult, but think of Ann Blyth’s character as a Turner/Stanwyck in training. No doubt had she not done her foul deed early on in life she would have grown up to be the same kind of ice dame as these other two.

Lana Turner on a loan out from MGM plays for the first time a really bad girl, later on she would play more. Usually up to this time she played wholesome beauties kind of at variance with her private life. Maybe that’s where the real acting came in for her. But you’d do just about anything to possess this one, even murder.

John Garfield was two films away from ending his long term Warner Brothers contract and certainly they gave him a good role to go out on. Originally the part was offered to Bogart, but it wouldn’t have been good for the older Bogey who most would have seen as too street smart and not so hormone driven as Garfield.

Hume Cronyn has a neat role as a sleazy, but very effective defense attorney. One of the best roles of his early career.

The Postman Always Rings Twice is one great and sordid tale of murder and betrayal. Even operating within the Code it still conveys a really twisted view of humanity.

Courtesy of James M. Cain who probably didn’t think too much of women in his view of the world.