Genres

Visitors Review

sme_no_densetsu 2012-05-26 00:16:24

Well done film noir with a smoking Lana Turner

"The Postman Always Rings Twice" is based on James M. Cain's famous1934 novel of the same name. In the movie, a drifter (John Garfield)takes a job at a roadside restaurant and falls for the proprietor'syoung wife (Lana Turner). Before long, she persuades him to murder herhusband so that they can be together.The two leads, Garfield & Turner, are integral to the movie's success.Their chemistry suggests sexual attraction mingled with disdain, whichis the ideal mix for the way that the story unfolds. The supportingcast is mostly undistinguished, except for Hume Cronyn, who stealsevery scene he's in.Tay Garnett's workmanlike direction is more than adequate but thescript seems to stumble a bit from time to time. I can't say that thescore made much of an impression on me either but it must have beenpassable at least.Ultimately, "The Postman Always Rings Twice" is a worthwhile film noirbut not one of the best examples of the genre. I can't compare withCain's novel since I haven't read it but I suspect that the book isbetter. In any case, the movie is certainly worth a look, despite someimperfections.

didi-5 2012-05-25 09:13:27

well, that's class

Say what you like about Lana Turner's acting ability, that's probably notwhat the studio hung on to her for! The scene which sticks in everyone'smind who has seen this movie is the one where she drops the lipstick, letsit roll across the floor to John Garfield's feet, then the camera pans upher lily white costume to see the turbaned Cora. Now, that's sexy. JessicaLange and Jack Nicholson and their antics amongst the bread rolls in theremake was not!The plot is fairly contrived, from James M Cain's pulp novel about illicitlovers who plot and commit a murder, and what happens after. Cecil Kellawayplays Lana's jovial and cuckolded husband Nick with ease, while Leon Amesputs in a familiar but well-played bit as the couples' lawyer. Others inthe cast making less of an impact are Hume Cronyn and AudreyTotter.I have to give John Garfield his due though. His career was cut short fartoo soon and it is always great to see him on the screen. A thoughtfulactor who sticks in the mind long after the picture is through. This version of 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' is the only one worth yourtime, really. Even if it is to gawk at the much-married drama queenherself.

2012-05-25 04:02:21

Love and lust, love and murder. James M. Cain, John Garfield and Lana Turner make a fine, tawdry story

With platinum hair, dark eyelashes and pouty lips, Cora Smith is a slut to dream about. Or maybe she's just an ambitious, dissatisfied wife, married to Nick, the fat older owner of a greasy roadside diner. Or maybe all those banked flames of hers are getting too much fresh oxygen from tough, dumb Frank Chambers, who drifts into her life and watches Cora's lipstick roll across the diner floor to his feet. It doesn't matter. Fate is walking slowly down the highway toward Cora and Frank. Nothing is going to change what passion and murder will bring them, and the twist of ironic justice sets them up for a great ending. There are so many good things about this movie. The four obvious ones start with the story by James M. Cain. We're talking hot lust, dumb love and the kind of ironic inevitability that always comes in first-class noirs. There's the cynical display of the legal process, not quite corrupt -- what does justice have to do with the law? -- but rewarding to those who can best manipulate it. There's Lana Turner as Cora, no actress, but who makes believable the kind of blood-thumping single-mindedness that can turn a not-so-smart drifter into a willing participant in murder. She can offer sex and she can offer love, and neither we nor Frank is sure which has any truth. Frank will settle for the sex, but then he realizes with Cora he might have both. And there's John Garfield as Frank in a perfect performance as this flawed, gullible sap who thinks he can commit murder and call it love. All he wants is Cora on a hot night. He winds up wanting Cora for eternity, and is comforted that she'll be there for him.Do many people remember John Garfield now? He made a name on Broadway and an even bigger name in Hollywood. He was a committed liberal who was ruined during the Commie witch-hunts. By the late Forties he couldn't find work in Hollywood. All those studio heads who made money from his films didn't want to touch him. He was no Communist, just too liberal for the frightened suits. Garfield's film career was in tatters. He was a first-class actor but naive when it came to politics. He couldn't understand what was happening to him. He died of heart failure in New York in 1952 while trying to reestablish himself on the stage. He was 39. To see just how good he was, watch his reaction shots in this movie...when he first sees Cora...when he has to get in the car next to Nick right after he's smashed Nick's skull with a bottle...when at the end of the movie he reads Cora's note and listens to the DA. Garfield's last major movie was Force of Evil in 1948. These two films demonstrate just how powerful a screen actor John Garfield was and how much this nation lost through expediency and intimidation.The DVD transfer is just fine. Among the extras is a fine documentary about Garfield.

Alex da Silva 2012-05-24 13:05:14

Man Wanted

John Garfield (Frank) drifts into a small town and gets work at acafé/diner run by an unlikely husband and wife team, Cecil Kellaway(Nick) and Lana Turner (Cora). Garfield and Turner have an attractionfor each other that reaches a dangerous level and we follow theconsequences of their actions...The cast are all good - my favourite is Hume Cronyn who plays "ArthurKeats", a very cunning lawyer, and he steals the show in every scenethat he is in. Lana Turner is also a very cool customer and one of herbest moments occurs after she has just been kissed by Garfield for thefirst time. Instead of the customary slap in the face that we are allexpecting, she just re-applies her make-up and walks past him. How coolis she?As for the story, you need to suspend belief on a few occasions. Firstof all, it is just completely impossible to believe the marriagebetween fat, old Kellaway and young, attractive Turner. Even lessdifficult to take in is the willingness on Kellaway's part to encouragethe much younger, better-looking and better suited lover for Turner tospend as much time possible as he can with her. WHAT!!? This Kellawaycharacter is INCREDIBLY stupid. Another corker of an idea is to haveGarfield and Turner plan to kill Kellaway by throwing some marblesunder him so that he will slip and kill himself. This is getting prettystupid now, isn't it?There are some memorable scenes but the ending is rather too convenientand the final scene has some rather forced dialogue to try and justifythe film's title. Overall, it's an entertaining film that is a littlelong but deserves another look.

2012-05-22 13:50:06

Kisses With Dreams In Them....

Lana Turner and John Garfield hunger for something more in Tay Garnett's glossy soap opera noir, "The Postman Always Rings Twice." Based on James M. Cain's lusty potboiler, Turner is fantastic as the manipulative yet vulnerable Cora Smith and Garfield excellent as the drifter who can't get Cora or her dreams out of his blood. Turner is like a white creme, icy cold on the surface but burning hot and deep with desire underneath. Cora is a girl aware of her looks and effect on men. Since she was 14 she's had to argue with men about it. But she didn't have to argue with Nick Smith (Cecil Kellaway), a much older man Cora marries for security, not love. When drifter Frank Chambers (Grafield) shows up to fill the help wanted sign at the Twin Oaks Diner Nick and Cora run, she discovers she can't live without love or passion. Cora is a smouldering vision in white when Frank first sees her, a room full of gas that only needs a spark to ignite. Frank knows he can sell anything to anybody and begins to fan the flames when he talks Nick into getting a neon sign for the diner Cora wants. Cora has big dreams for the diner and wants to be somebody. She tries in her own way to resist what is going to happen between she and Frank but deep down knows that all the things she married Nick for and clings to are the things she really wants with Frank. Cora lets him kiss her once then stays away, working Frank into an internal frenzy of desire. After a midnight swim in the ocean they get a week alone and their fate is sealed, the gas ignited and burning out of control. It is Cora who lets Frank's lust simmer until he loves her and wants her so much nothing matters, not even what stands in the way of them and Cora's dreams. Garfield is excellent as a guy who knows he's signed on for a one way ride to nowhere but can't help himself, because the mere thought of sharing the ride with Cora tips the scales. There is a tricky D.A. (Leon Ames) onto them after a botched first attempt to live out Cora's dreams fails and only a crafty defense attorney, portrayed with zeal by Hume Cronyn, gets Cora off when they finally succeed. But an insurance policy Frank didn't know about causes distrust and the results are Cora and Frank on the outs again. But they are chained to each other. Jealousy and a blackmail attempt gone awry bring them back to the beach where they were happy. A dangerous swim to prove their trust in each other restores their love and they are happy and dreaming once again. They may be able to atone for their sins even, unless fate has other plans.... Turner gives an icy hot performance here, with many long takes between she and Garfield as they are drawn to each other like moths to a flame. Much is made of director Tay Garnett framing Turner in sexy white outfits throughout the film. Her best scene, however, and the one in which she is the most strikinginly beautiful, she is dressed in a black bathrobe. Cora is in the kitchen caressing a knife and agonizing over her dreams and what needs to be done to make them come true. When Frank walks in on her, her voice catches, her reluctance to follow through real. She tells Garfield in a quivering voice, "If you really loved me." Whereas Wilder's Double Indemnity was a dark noir of twisted passion and greed set in Claifornia, Garnett's The Postman Always Rings Twice uses the bright sunshine and beaches of L.A. County in the 1940's to create a soap opera noir, a shining blonde Turner and a reluctant drifter Garfield at its center. A must for Turner fans and good pick for fans of this genre who want to watch a glossy noir.

2012-05-22 09:12:17

Double Crossings

This is the third time I've seen this film, but this time I understand moreabout the intensity and emotions involved with the lovers, John Garfield andLana Turner. Their love was boundless and provacative, but each wasemotionally paranoic and destructive. Lana's husband was in the way;admirably played by Cecil Kellaway; a great character actor! After he ismurdered, what follows are destructive patterns for both lovers. The doublecrossings of the lawyers (played by other great character actors Leon Amesand Hume Cronyn), will make your heads swim. Recommended for all those wholove a good murder mystery, only it's no mystery to theaudience.

2012-05-19 20:55:22

Careful what you purchase

This review is from: The Postman Always Rings Twice DVD (1946) John Garfield, Lana Turner (DVD) The pictured item was not at all what I expected, the pictured item did not have the Japanese writing that was clearlyexhibited on the cover and on the spine of the DVD, The picture quality was sub standard and therefore a disappointment.There really was no way to know that this was some sort of Japanese import or bootleg DVD based onthe picture shown on Amazon. I won't be purchasing any more DVD's from Amazon.

fedor8 2012-05-19 10:29:46

At least there is no Jessica Lange in this one.

The moment we see Lana Turner, the Hollywood diva, appear in the movie,she looks just like what she is: a Hollywood diva. She looks and isdressed as though she'd just come back from a country club in BeverlyHills where she was playing a game of tennis, and looks nothing likethe wife of an old guy on some off-road diner. And Garfield talks andacts like a gangster in a 30s movie. Still, once one gets past theunlikely and extremely glamorous look of Turner (which is a nice thingotherwise), and Garfield's somewhat clichéd acting, the film getsinteresting; there are plenty of twists and unexpected developments tokeep continual interest for nearly two hours. The car-accident at theend is too coincidental and overly dramatic. Not necessarily weakerthan the remake (which I've seen too long ago and I can't remember muchof - apart from Nicholson humping Lange on the kitchen table (a scenethat later inspired many Michael-Douglas-humping-a-female-co-starthrillers)) but looks less realistic, which isn't surprisingconsidering that it's a 40s film.

LDRose 2012-05-19 06:41:56

Superior film noir

Lana Turner and John Garfield generate sparks in this excellent crimethriller. Turner plays Cora Smith, a restless young waitress married toa much-older man who runs the roadside diner. Garfield plays FrankChambers, a drifter who turns up at the diner and is captivated byCora. Cecil Kellaway is great as Cora's naive husband Nick, whose mainconcern is the diner. The fact that it is filmed in black and whitehelps create the suspenseful atmosphere and highlight Cora's strikingcream outfits. This is far superior to the 1981 remake, for although itwas made under a strict production code, it smolders with desire andtension and is an unforgettable classic.

2012-05-18 17:14:55

Cleaned up story

The James Cain novel was a gritty tale about a drifter who lands a job at a greasy spoon run by a Greek with a slatternly wife. The love or lust affair between the drifter and the wife is animalistic and turns to murder.This movie would have none of that. The Greek becomes a man named Smith, and the whory wife becomes Lana Turner with perfect blond hair, perfect makeup, very nice clothes. Ms. Turner supposedly said once that she would rather lose a valuable earring than be without her makeup in public. That fits. In 1946 Hollywood just couldn't present a female star looking other that glamorous. As an aside, I will admit that Ms. Turner looked fine.The greasy spoon diner becomes a rather fashionable looking restaurant. And the producer even felt the need to provide a lame explanation of how the title somehow fit with the story.

richard-n 2012-05-18 06:00:56

Hired hand has an adulterous affair with the wife of a gas station owner who collaborate to murder him.

Just about the finest noir you will ever experience.Lana Turner is superband gives her finest performance as the frustrated wife of an olderhusbandwho falls in love with the hired hand played by John Garfield.Awell-scripted,well-directed and superbly-acted tale of deceit,adultery,lying and murder which must surely rank as one of the best 100U.S.films ever made.Not to be missed or ommited from any filmlibrary.

2012-05-17 17:33:37

Film Noir Circa 1946

Director Tay Garnett's adaptation of James M. Cain's THE POSTMAN ALWAYS PLAYS TWICE holds up well after sixty years. In spite of the restraints the director had to work with during that period, Lana Turner as Cora Smith and John Garfield as Frank, the couple who plot the murder of Cora's husband Nick, still manage to heat up the screen. The sexual chemistry is there and all that late-night frolicking they do at the beach gets right erotic. The film though interesting is less than perfect. It takes a little effort on the part of the viewer to believe that Cora prances around her husband's diner that is hardly more than a greasy spoon-- in the middle of the Depression-- dressed all in white, in a turbin, short shorts, heels and showing her midriff. And only a Hollywood star of the calibre of Ms. Turner would return from a swim perfectly coiffed in a dry swimsuit. Additionally, in the ending minutes of the film Garfield hits the viewer over the head in a wordy explanation, just before he is to be executed, of what the title of the movie really means.That a sixty-year-old movie is still watched and enjoyed, however, for more reasons than just its camp effect speaks volumes for it. This is not a bad way to spend two hours of your evening.

Cajun-4 2012-05-15 16:48:51

Over rated.

Doesn't live up to its reputation as classic Noir.Rather flatly handled andlacking suspense, with a mawkish ending. However it is a good example of the1940's slick movie making and far better than the 1981 remake. Garfieldgives a strong performance.

PeterRoeder 2012-05-15 11:15:32

Excellent story

I have not seen the new version but I must say I was very captivated bythis one. It must have inspired David Lynch, since the bar is called"Twin Oaks" (Twin Peaks), and I thought the story was really naughtyand imaginative like a Twilight Zone episode and a Hitchcock movie (butclearly different from Hitchcock's style). Anyway, it is amazing that amovie from 1946 can still be so intense and interesting today. Ithought the movie has some interesting moral issues, such as whether itwas OK to kill the old man from the viewpoint of ethics, becauseperhaps they had no other choice and something good could perhaps havecome out of it. I did not know the story. I had just heard about thetitle, and I had heard about James Cain, so when I watched it lastnight from 3.am, it was like watching an amazing and shocking dreamunfold. I guess, if one knows what is going to happen next it is notgoing to be as interesting. Anyway, this movie really seemed to appealto me, and the situation I am in. I am also 33 which must have beenaround the age of "Frank", the male lead character. I think, the movie,as I have said, is more like a fantasy, also because of the scenes bythe ocean, than a real crime story, so what we see here is really astory from the twilight zone, although a real twilight zone episodewould probably have turned out a bit differently, such as Frank wakingup and discovering that in another dimension he had become the husbandthat they set out to kill, or something like that.

Herag Halli 2012-05-15 18:34:06

Incredible Movie

Lana Turner was one of the sexiest stars stirred up with John Garfieldwho was a mixture of Brando,James Dean, and bit of Norman Bates!Garfield was Broadway actor who was hounded by the HOUA and died at theyoung age of 39. The pairing is electric with the suspense as in aBates Motel. Both have acted incredibly well more so Garfield as FrankChambers. Compared to the current crop of actors like Jolie who aregood actors but have not charisma the actresses of the '40s hadincredible screen presence and wore fashions so well. They were classon their own. The script is a true mystery with so many twists andturns that keeps the audience glued. The casting was good speciallyHugh Cronin. The '40s movies had magic that the newer flicks will evercapture and then we have these Hollywood scum maggot nerds who churnout computerzied animated movies and this has taken out any trace ofmagic left.

writers_reign 2012-05-15 04:50:27

Rogue Mail

1946 was arguably as near as dammit to the mid-point of the era of the'studio system' when regular filmgoers could walk into a movie theatrehalfway through the main feature - and you could do that in the days of'continuous performance' - and tell within seconds just by the 'feel'of the film which studio had produced it. The 'feel' over at MGM wassentiment veering toward schmaltz - Lassie - sophisticated romanticcomedy drama - The Thin Man - and lavish musicals - Anchors Aweigh. In1946 they released among others The Harvey Girls, Love Laughs At AndyHardy, The Courage Of Lassie, Holiday In Mexico, Til The Clouds RollBy, The Thrill Of Brazil and The Postman Always Rings Twice. Hold it.What's that last one doing in there, that belongs at Warners, surely.You tell me. As MGM fodder this was as bizarre as it gets neverthelessthey got it right and turned out a doozy of a noir. Jimmy Cain mighthave written his nouvella with John Garfield in mind except Garfieldwasn't around at the time but he inhabits the part as he inhabitedninetey per cent of his parts. Lana Turner is fine in support as isLeon Ames and Hume Cronyn. Tay Garnett did a swell job of directing.What's not to like.

potato2 2012-05-11 17:06:31

Outstanding film

Sparks ignite when drifter Frank (John Garfield) meets bombshell Cora(Lana Turner). There's no denying the attraction between them but she'smarried, so they begin to think of ways they can get rid of her husbandand live happily ever after.This is a memorable movie thanks to the earthy and charismaticGarfield. He's tough and vulnerable and sees Cora as his one chance toturn his life around. Turner is perfectly cast as the sultry wife;dressed almost entirely in crisp, pure white, she exudes desperationand desire. They make a sensuous couple without showing more than akiss.The acting is superb as is the direction. This is definitely a must-seefor film history fans; it's just as effective today as it was in 1946.

jzappa 2012-05-11 08:06:26

Surprises In the Writing

After watching Mildred Pierce, which to me is frankly chaos, it wasrefreshing to see that James M. Cain has produced some stories that arethat build, take interesting directions, and have lots of wit. Forawhile though, from the beginning until about forty minutes in, I feltlike I was watching the same movie I'd seem so many times with so manydifferent titles. But that's the charm of The Postman Always RingsTwice. It shoots the next act from a different angle, and from there itricochets wherever it ricochets.John Garfield has never been anywhere close to my first pick of leadingman. I don't think he has enough charisma, but he delivers well enoughhere, although still as if his body is encrusted. It's funny. When wewatch old movies, we start criticizing on that breezy, shallow level onwhich people did in the old days. But somehow, that manages to sum upthe flaws in the acting. Again with Lana Turner, who carried her rolewell enough, but with not even half the depth or density of quite a fewother femmes fatale from the 1940s that I could name like BarbaraStanwyck from James M. Cain's own wonderful Double Indemnity or AudreyTotter from Tension. As a matter of fact, Totter has a small role inthis film and has more presence than Turner in those few hardlyblooming moments.The greatest flare of the whole film for me was the part of the storyconcerning the two lawyers played by Hume Cronyn and Leon Ames,friendly competitors who theatrically whip out very cocky displays oftheir talents, despite being a wee bit cavalier with the lives of theirclients. This adds loads of spice to the story and makes it more thanjust a couple on the lam film.The Postman Always Rings Twice is a worthy entry in the film noirsubgenre.

Jon-60 2012-05-09 12:37:39

Why worry? You'll always hear it the second time.

Great, classic romance noir is perfect for fans of doomed romance and doublecrosses.

fleapit_fred 2012-05-08 13:51:56

See you in hell, darling!

MILD SPOILERS AHEADSurprised that no-one else has noted the strand of queasy religiosity thatruns through the last few reels and, remarkably, makes Cora and Frank evenless sympathetic than they were to begin with. Between the pregnant Cora'sbizarre remarks about giving a life back for the one they took and Frank'sspinechilling last wish that he and Cora can be together in death "whereverit is!", they turn from pretty much your standard white-trash alley catsinto truly terrifying self-justified sinners, guilt-free psychopaths.Can't be sure whether this is part of the script's intentions or a misjudgedattempt to inject a note of redemption into the proceedings - probably thelatter - but Frank and Cora make the miserable, nerve-wracked lust-and-moneykillers of Double Indemnity seem quite cuddly in comparison. I've watchedthis film often, and its hard-boiled dialogue and fiendish plot never ceaseto entertain, but its central fascination is absolutely reptilian.Incidentally, can anyone think of a film noir that offers an innocent victimless pity than this one offers Cora's husband Nick?