The Postman Always Rings Twice
(B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
Based on James M. Cain's sizzling thriller novel about lust, deceit & murder, 1946's 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' (directed by Tay Garnett) is a film noir classic. Drifter Frank Chambers (John Garfield, superb) arrives at a quiet California roadside gas station/diner in the seaside town of Twin Oaks where he meets drop-dead gorgeous Cora (Lana Turner, in one of her iconic roles), the much younger wife of restaurant owner, Nick Smith (Cecil Kellaway). In a classic introductory shot, her lip stick rolls on the floor towards Frank, with the camera panning up past her legs & white shorts to see that she is quite the knock-out; Frank instantly falls for her. This all sets the bubbling-beneath-the-surface sexual tone of the rest of the movie.
After worming his way into a job at said diner, Frank & Cora embark on a torrid, if also deadly love affair; cooking up nefarious plans to end her marriage by way of an 'accident', seize Nick's assets, & ride off in the sunset together. After several botched attempts to break free {including an electrocution in a bathtub that goes all wrong}, they are forced to put their amorous fireworks and an ensuing honeymoon on hold after being diverted into the arms of suspicious D.A., Kyle Sackett (Leon Ames), who is hot to convict, and a corrupt attorney (Hume Cronyn) with designs to woo & snag Cora. A plentitude of twists, turns, romantic entanglements & betrayals ensue, with our main couple realizing that no bad deed ever really goes unpunished.
This classic works on just about every level. The story itself is involving, well-wrought and, the two lead characters are quintessential noir in every sense of the word. Although these 1940s films never showed actual sex onscreen, you can feel the heat btwn. these two; white hot chemistry. There's even a fleeting shot of Garfield using his tongue during one of their kisses that somehow got past the Hays Production Code, haha. John Garfield became a big star with this movie and, it is easy to see why. He may be short in stature {like a James Cagney}, but he packs a winning punch of sex appeal, toughness & vulnerability. His Frank may be crude & manipulative, but he also gets in way too deep with similarly conniving, highly ambitious Cora.
As Cora, Lana Turner proved that she was more than a pretty face; showing darker sides of her acting craft that she hadn't prior. The author was impressed by her portrayal, and Turner always thought that if she were to get Academy recognition at all, that it could've been from this performance, and not necessarily for 1957's wildly popular Peyton Place. Also stellar is Cecil Kellaway as Cora's older, fussy cafe proprietor hubby who seems fairly clueless about what's going on around him. The screenplay here brings out the novel's strong sense of doom, gloom & desperation. And Sidney Wagner's black-&-white cinematography lends us some indelible images throughout; his camera use of California's coastline aids the proceedings, as well.
You know, Cora & Frank are quite the star-crossed lovers. Cora always wanted something 'more' in life; something greater than what she is. But she was never able to attain it. And Frank ultimately seemed too weak-minded to see how distorted his judgment had become. Their passion was always tinged with violence. Their love was filled with suspicions. Despite being hell bent on 'making it work', they brought out the worst in each other and, are not able to escape their fate. I admire this film greatly, while also acknowledging that I may not love it as much as most others. Edgy relationships, unforeseen tensions & unbridled morbidity near the end put a sour taste in my mouth. Still, this sultry romance/thriller is something to behold.
After worming his way into a job at said diner, Frank & Cora embark on a torrid, if also deadly love affair; cooking up nefarious plans to end her marriage by way of an 'accident', seize Nick's assets, & ride off in the sunset together. After several botched attempts to break free {including an electrocution in a bathtub that goes all wrong}, they are forced to put their amorous fireworks and an ensuing honeymoon on hold after being diverted into the arms of suspicious D.A., Kyle Sackett (Leon Ames), who is hot to convict, and a corrupt attorney (Hume Cronyn) with designs to woo & snag Cora. A plentitude of twists, turns, romantic entanglements & betrayals ensue, with our main couple realizing that no bad deed ever really goes unpunished.
This classic works on just about every level. The story itself is involving, well-wrought and, the two lead characters are quintessential noir in every sense of the word. Although these 1940s films never showed actual sex onscreen, you can feel the heat btwn. these two; white hot chemistry. There's even a fleeting shot of Garfield using his tongue during one of their kisses that somehow got past the Hays Production Code, haha. John Garfield became a big star with this movie and, it is easy to see why. He may be short in stature {like a James Cagney}, but he packs a winning punch of sex appeal, toughness & vulnerability. His Frank may be crude & manipulative, but he also gets in way too deep with similarly conniving, highly ambitious Cora.
As Cora, Lana Turner proved that she was more than a pretty face; showing darker sides of her acting craft that she hadn't prior. The author was impressed by her portrayal, and Turner always thought that if she were to get Academy recognition at all, that it could've been from this performance, and not necessarily for 1957's wildly popular Peyton Place. Also stellar is Cecil Kellaway as Cora's older, fussy cafe proprietor hubby who seems fairly clueless about what's going on around him. The screenplay here brings out the novel's strong sense of doom, gloom & desperation. And Sidney Wagner's black-&-white cinematography lends us some indelible images throughout; his camera use of California's coastline aids the proceedings, as well.
You know, Cora & Frank are quite the star-crossed lovers. Cora always wanted something 'more' in life; something greater than what she is. But she was never able to attain it. And Frank ultimately seemed too weak-minded to see how distorted his judgment had become. Their passion was always tinged with violence. Their love was filled with suspicions. Despite being hell bent on 'making it work', they brought out the worst in each other and, are not able to escape their fate. I admire this film greatly, while also acknowledging that I may not love it as much as most others. Edgy relationships, unforeseen tensions & unbridled morbidity near the end put a sour taste in my mouth. Still, this sultry romance/thriller is something to behold.