STUFF YOU GOTTA WATCH - The Postman Always Rings Twice

THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE

(1946)
With Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn, Audrey Totter, Alan Reed
Directed by Tay Garnett
Black and White
Reviewed by JL

In the manner of DOUBLE INDEMNITY, THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE is a prototypical film noir that does its own variation on the let's-kill-my-husband plotline. Lana Turner is the femme fatale who runs a diner with her kindly old schlub of a husband; John Garfield is the young drifter who decides to stay around the joint for more than just a hamburger. Garfield and Turner play out their Macbeth & Wife schemes, all the while threatening to ignite the celluloid with the intensity of their passion. The first shot of Turner alone would be enough to make this one a classic. - JL

WHAT'S IN A TITLE?

Reportedly, James M. Cain, author of the original novel, chose the title THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE for his book because of the numerous times his manuscript had been rejected by publishing houses. Those rejection notices would be delivered by the postman, who, we guess, always rang Cain's bell twice.