The Postman Always Rings Twice [1946] [DVD]
Even under the heavy censorship of 1946 Hollywood, Lana Turner and John Garfield’s libidinous desires burn up the screen in Tay Garnett’s adaptation of James M. Cain’s torrid crime melodrama. Platinum blond Turner is Cora, a restless sexpot stuck in a roadside diner married to mundane middle-aged fry cook Nick Smith (Cecil Kellaway) when handsome drifter Frank (Garfield) blows her way. It’s lust at first sight, a rapacious desire that neither can break off, and before long they’re plotting his demise–but in the wicked world of Cain nothing is that easy. Garnett’s visual approach is subdued compared to the more expressionistic film noir of the period, but he’s at no loss when he films the luminous Turner in her milky-white wardrobe. She radiates repressed sexuality and uncontrollable passion while Garfield’s smart-talking loner Frank mixes street-smart swagger and scrappy toughness with vulnerability and sincere intensity. Co-star Hume Cronyn cuts a cold, calculating figure as their conniving lawyer, a chilly character that only increases our feelings for the murderous couple, victims of an all-consuming amour fou that drives their passions to extremes. –Sean Axmaker, Amazon.com
Review by Miguel M. Santos for The Postman Always Rings Twice [1946] [DVD]
(4 / 5)
Rating:
An unusual product of 1940s MGM, more known then for their musicals and melodramas, this is one of the quintessential film noirs, along with “The Maltese Falcon” and “Double Indemnity”. John Garfield is a drifter who ends up in road side dinner and falls for the sexy, seductive wife of the boss (Lana Turner). Together they decide to kill her husband.Lana Turner, a platinum blonde almost always in a virginal white (only changes to black in three key scenes) is sexier than ever, and has an amazing chemistry with Garfield. Her introduction alone is worth the price of the DVD. The plot is very good and the performances, not only from the leads but also the supporting cast are great. The print is very good, although not perfect, but one hardly expects that from a 60 year old film. The DVD also includes a documentary on Garfield, the trailer and an introduction to the film.
Review by Henry Ireton for The Postman Always Rings Twice [1946] [DVD]
(4 / 5)
Rating:
This is a good film not a great film. The direction at points is lazy and the dialogue not as quick and witty as in some of the hollywood greats (Double Indemnity, His Girl Friday) but that is made up for by the enjoyable ride that the director and writers take you on. The sexual tension between Cora and Frank is explicit and even more tense for the reason that it isn’t betrayed- the fact that this film was made during the era when Hollywood was restricted in its ability to film sex gives it an interesting tension. A modern version might be tempted to show Cora and Frank having sex. But because this version can’t, we are in the position of the characters, we can see a relationship brim with sexuality but we don’t see it articulated on screen. Hence our frustration like theirs advances through the picture- until the inevitable resolution. The scenes in court are wonderful- between the two lawyers with the cynicism of the system laid bare- possibly the point where the script rises to heights of humour seen in other films of the period. The culmination of the film rather lets it down with schmaltz but overall this is an excellent good film- it won’t make you ponder any great questions that it raises, it won’t infatuate you with its world but it will entertain you, amuse you and interest you for the time you view it. Its definitely a film that can become a family friend if not a teacher of great truths.
Review by for The Postman Always Rings Twice [1946] [DVD]
(5 / 5)
Rating:
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.” Wheras 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.
Review by Christopher Vowles for The Postman Always Rings Twice [1946] [DVD]
(4 / 5)
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This tale of adultery and murder makes you guess at the passions involved. Sexuality is hinted (we are in 1946, after all) but the desperation of the lead couple’s feelings is adeptly portrayed. The language of film and the formula for plot does indeed date this movie: I doubt it could go over really big with modern audiences. But if you’re a movie fan, you’ll dial in to the times and fall into the plot. I did.
Review by T. S. Hughes for The Postman Always Rings Twice [1946] [DVD]
(5 / 5)
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I know that loads of people have reviewed this great film, but here’s my take on it. I bought this film a little while back as over the last couple of years I have really really got into Film Noir, and I suppose really got into John Garfield movies and John Garfield obviously, amongst many others. Well, I have watched this a good few times since I bought it, and I love it more each time. For me, it has to be one of the most atmospheric, thrilling, sort of sleazy and downright nasty films I have ever seen. Notwithstanding that this film is over 60 years old now, it is very upfront in its themes of lust, betrayal and nastiness, and its perhaps criticism of some aspects of American life, such as how people can drift in and out of situations in American life.
I won’t bother going over the plot particularly as other reviewers have done that well already, but suffice to say that John Garfield’s character is a drifter looking for work and ends up at a diner finding work, run by a mismatched couple, and ends up falling for the wife, as she falls for him. They come to the conclusion that they want to bump off hubby and then live happily ever after. Doesn’t work out quite like that though. Then things do get really nasty and mean. I want to say that I have found the music throughout this film some of the most wonderful and atmospheric music I have ever heard on any film score; it IS wonderful and one of the reasons, among others, why I keep going back to the movie. And the acting is great, and the plot is also good too. For me, this is one of the most outstanding film noirs.