Lechuguilla

(2012-04-27 18:03:45)

A Glamorous Spider And Her Tangled Web

A rebellious drifter named Frank (John Garfield) happens onto a ruralhamburger joint, managed by a jovial old man named Nick (CecilKellaway). Nick wants to hire Frank. And in Frank's mind, an addedincentive would be Nick's beautiful wife Cora (Lana Turner). Thusbegins the story.I have two big problems with this film: the script and the casting. Thesetup starts slow and lasts too long. In the middle Act interest picksup a little, despite some improbable coincidences. But later we'reintroduced to confusing legalities, compounded by contrived twists. Andthe ending contradicts the darker tone of earlier sequences.Much of the plot is a tangled web of this and that, held togetherentirely by the three lead characters. It's like the writers sortedthrough dozens of script drafts, couldn't decide; then in frustration,hurriedly wrote a final draft that was a compromise of the previousversions.John Garfield is well cast and does a fine job. But someone other thanKellaway would have been better in the role of Nick. Much, much worsethan the casting of Kellaway, however, was the casting of glamorousLana Turner, as Cora. Turner, with her blonde hair and glossy facade,is not at all convincing either as Nick's wife, or as a young, spiderybeauty stuck in a two-bit hamburger joint. Further, her acting isawful. She doesn't act so much as she ... poses for the camera, in abid to show off her glamour for future starring roles. Her presenceseriously detracts from the story.I think Audrey Totter, who plays a minor role, would have been fine asCora. So too would have been Ida Lupino. Indeed, almost anyone wouldhave been better than Turner, even Broderick Crawford in a wig.Critics regard this film highly. I'm not sure why. About the only thingto recommend it is the performance of John Garfield.

(2012-04-27 08:09:21)

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.

(2012-04-19 07:29:44)

One of the best

I watched both 1946 version and 1981 version. In general both versions are good, but I much more like this 1946 version. First of all, the 1946 version exactly coincides with the novel the film based on. Secondly the actress and the actor in this version are extremely suitable for the characters. On the contrary, the actor in the 1981 version seems a little too old. The end in the 1981 version is rash too. However, the 1981 version is in color and has some expose which some people may like.

(2012-04-18 16:25:13)

This is second to none version.

This review is from: The Postman Always Rings Twice (DVD) A masterpiece was due to the original as well as the powerful combination of charismatic persona, Lana Turner and John Garfield, Impressive acting, fine directing. Lana Turner plays typically calculating femme fatale. However mysterious sensual unique. Postman as doom-ridden victim, John Garfield delivery catastrophe while the harvest of evil affairs causes inevitable retribution. This is a serious crime drama, but the other side a cynical justice drama.

(2012-04-10 19:43:30)

DVD Quality Very Good

This review is from: The Postman Always Rings Twice (DVD) If you are worrying about the quality of the transfer to DVD, worry about something else. It looks terrific! The studio used excellent source material. Very few, if any, film scratches. Contrasts good. Audio very good. In short, the studio has done this classic film its just dues in this release. Supplemental material is also interesting. Sometimes we buy DVD's and fine the quality is not as good as our VHS versions. In the case of this release, I think you will be very satisfied. Although it probably could not be called a "digital restoration" (although some studios claim to do this routinely), the transfer has obviously been handled carefully from very good source material. I've not commented on the movie itself, but it goes without saying that this classic is a must-have for film-noir fans.

bkoganbing

(2012-04-10 08:11:26)

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

After looking at The Postman Always Rings Twice and comparing it withother works of James M. Cain, I'm walking away with the thought thatthe man must have been a misogynist. Though at this point in time Caincertainly was at the high point of his career. Imagine having back toback film successes with Double Indemnity, Mildred Pierce, and ThePostman Always Rings Twice.But what a view of women these films portray. The comparison withDouble Indemnity and Postman is really almost too obvious. A weak andopportunistic man and a tramp of a wife drift into an affair and thenthey decide to kill the husband. And neither of them can live with theterrible secret of it all. They've even got the same kind of doggedgumshoe after them for Lana Turner and John Garfield it's DistrictAttorney Leon Ames and Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray have EdwardG. Robinson.With Pierce though it's a little more difficult, but think of AnnBlyth's character as a Turner/Stanwyck in training. No doubt had shenot done her foul deed early on in life she would have grown up to bethe same kind of ice dame as these other two. Lana Turner on a loan out from MGM plays for the first time a reallybad girl, later on she would play more. Usually up to this time sheplayed 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 justabout anything to possess this one, even murder.John Garfield was two films away from ending his long term WarnerBrothers 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 beengood for the older Bogey who most would have seen as too street smartand not so hormone driven as Garfield.Hume Cronyn has a neat role as a sleazy, but very effective defenseattorney. One of the best roles of his early career.The Postman Always Rings Twice is one great and sordid tale of murderand betrayal. Even operating within the Code it still conveys a reallytwisted view of humanity.Courtesy of James M. Cain who probably didn't think too much of womenin his view of the world.

Itchload

(2012-04-10 01:59:36)

Very oddly structured movie

I was not expecting a classic film noir along the lines of "DoubleIndemnity" or "Out of the Past" when I put this movie in, and for awhile,Ithought I might have been wrong. Maybe the cover was too cheesy, I'm notsure, but I didn't have extra high hopes for this movie. Then my moodbrightened when it actually started to become very entertaining. I wasn'tbeing blown away, but I did start to enjoy the film noir 101 plot. Thereviewer who noted MGM's dramatic lighting of Turner is right, it'sridiculous, but it does come with the territory I guess. Other than that,things seemed to be moving in place very smoothly.Then an odd thing happened. The movie refused to end. It wasn't that thepace was slow, it moved speedily. Something was always happening, andtherewas plenty of suspense/overblown MGM music blaring out of the speakers atany given moment. But the plot was way too top-heavy. They get caughtdoing the murder. Okay, time for trial, some final irony, then themovie'sover. But it's not! It just kept going. New subplots turned up, bribes,plot twists, double crosses, it just kept happening and happening. It wastoo much. I was literally standing up sweating by the final scene,wantingit to end so much. The problem was, nothing of any substance was given tothe events that kept happening. It was like the screenwriters noted"okay,this happened in the book, but we have to trim it a bit, so we'll make asmall 2 minute scene including it in the movie" and suddenly the movie isfull of these large occurrences given very brief sketched out screen time.Garfield runs off for a weekend in Tijuana with some random women? Whatjust happened? Things just grew too implausible. I realize thatcomplainingthe movie went on too long and claiming that not enough screen time wasgiven to all the events in the second half is hypocritical, but there musthave been ways to flesh things out. I haven't read the book, but Isuspectit's much better than the movie, just based on other reviewer's comments.During the final embarassing "what does God make of all this" speech tothepriest (hey, I thought film noirs where supposed to be existential!), Ihappened to look at the video case and glance at the title. Realizing ithadn't been referenced in the movie yet I stared at the screen andmuttered"out with it" and in return got some over-reaching ramblings concerninghow"he always rings twice, always rings twice" ext. Yikes.I have to say though, the movie had some very good irony and employed aloadof classic film noir tricks (the final outcome must have influenced theCoenBrothers with "The Man Who Wasn't There"), but I can't help believing thebook must have been a lot better. I'd chalk this one up for noircompletists and Golden Age MGM enthusiasts only.

(2012-04-09 15:20:49)

Good back then and good now!

This review is from: The Postman Always Rings Twice (DVD) I watched parts of this movie at age 10. Just purchased it from Amazon and viewed it in it's entirety 60years later.This time i watched acting which came off as not acting at all.I discovered facial expression's on Mr. Garfield and Miss Turner as if they were actually living each scene.Also the scenery was pure nostalgia-- sadly -- a era passed.Wow i didn't know i could write a review so good :)JW

chrisj893

(2012-04-02 14:05:09)

A Classic

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) is a film noir classic that isoften overlooked. The soundtrack is superb and it compliments the feeland vibe of the film very well. The story line is fairlystraightforward with the occasional twist and turn, but there is nodenying the romance that lies beneath the plot. Like with many filmnoirs the lighting in this movie is great, its dark, yet at the sametime one can feel a sense of light perpetuating throughout. One scenein particular that stood out was the scene when Frank, played by JohnGarfield, and Cora, played by Lana Turner, share their first dance. Ina swift one shot scene Frank and Cora dance eloquently to a upbeatsong, the lighting changes constantly and the viewer can feel theloving tension between the two. The editing, directions, writing andcasting were done very well throughout this movie. To create a qualityfilm every piece of the puzzle must be perfect and fit well, this isthe case with The Postman Always Rings Twice, a dazzling film noirclassic.

(2012-04-02 02:33:01)

The beautiful Lana Turner sparkles in this movie of passion, betrayal and danger!

This review is for the 2004 Warner Brothers DVD.The story begins with a young, hitchhiking drifter named Frank Chambers (John Garfield) being dropped off in front of diner with a sign on the front stating: "Man Wanted". Shortly thereafter Frank is hired by an overweight and socially boring man in his 50's named Nick Smith (Cecil Kellaway). Frank then meets Nick's drop-dead gorgeous wife named Cora (Lana Turner) who is probably half of Nick's age. Over time, Frank and Cora fall for each other, and then plans are made to get rid of Nick. This sets the stage for a turbulent relationship between the two of passion, betrayal and danger.The biggest strength of this movie for me is the blonde bombshell Lana Turner. She arguably gives the sexiest female performance for a film made in this era and radiates with beauty in every scene she's in. Personally I wasn't quite as impressed with John Garfield. He didn't seem that physically imposing for a character of this type especially when he's smacking around a guy twice his size. Hume Cronyn stood out in a masterful supporting role as a criminal defense attorney. The plot had a few interesting twists but I felt the relationship between the two main characters lacked credibility after one betrayed the other towards the end of the movie. The final scene was also weak and anti-climatic in my opinion. But in spite of its problems, if you are a fan of classic film noir movies and like beautiful women, you will find the strengths of the movie clearly outweigh the weaknesses. This movie reminded me a similar movie made in the early '80's named Body Heat - which has a much better plot and ending than this film.The DVD picture quality is decently sharp. It appears that some sloppy restoration was done to some minor scratches in the film (you will notice some fine vertical black lines in early part of the movie). Some tiny specs of film wear are noticed on occasion and at times the picture looks grainy, but the picture presentation is very respectable overall. The DVD has a few bonuses including a short commentary by film historian Richard Jewel, an approximately one hour documentary on John Garfield, plus a trailer and some still photos.Movie: B+DVD Quality: A-

rogerjillings

(2012-03-24 03:18:06)

Drifter gets involved with wife& trouble comes along.

This classic will never be equalled based on James m Cain novel becauseof the chemistry between the stars Lana Turner & John Garfield,the filmseethe with passion,hate,jealousy & revenge.DrifterFrank(Garfield)stops at a roadside diner where he's offered a job bythe owner & meets his wife the voluptuous Cora(Turner),sparks soon flybetween them.The provocative Cora intends to run of with Frank butsalso wants the diner,problem is the husband so murder is on theirminds,interest by the law is always near by & culminates in a greatperformance by their legal ally to clear their names,lots of doublecrosses along the way lead to the final irony.A film noir of the firstclass with great acting all round.

sol-

(2012-03-23 14:09:06)

My brief review of the film

An effective little thriller, the first half of the film is a tad slowto build up, but the second half is powerful, filled with thrills,twists and turns. At times the film is wryly comic with someinteresting ironies, and the acting on behalf of Hume Cronyn and AlanReed is worth watching for. Turner is not really all that believablethough - and neither is most of the plot, plus the story does take awhile to end. But in spite of the problems that I have with it, thefilm contains a number of great moments, and at least for those momentsit is worth watching, and the film by all means improves after thefirst 40 or so minutes.

carvalheiro

(2012-03-19 19:27:23)

Dreadful Depression time and small business for great consequences

"The postman always rings twice" (1946) directed by Tay Garnett was atthe time the third of four later adaptations from the known and famousnovel written by James Cain, explaining just after the economic crisisof 1929 in why democratic values and corrupted minds or institutionswere affected by the lack of capability for change. Whilst if otherfactors were more increased at the time and not as obstacles then inroute even when were in social evolution, but simultaneous too muchslowly for a new deal of the basic and instinctively people. A smallrestaurant near an exterior mountain road at countryside, nowhere inCalifornia during the Depression era, it is the involuntary stage of apassionate turmoil. Isolated from the normality of surviving life, inthese times of unemployment and migration among states, with socialhungry and obliging people taking unthinkable actions. The novel ismuch more rich than the story itself, because of several detailsomitted in this third screening version barely made fourteen yearsafter its first printing in 1932. Two moments are interesting over all in this movie for the viewer, aswhile the employee gives a match for lit her cigarette and another whenthe woman sings with a guitar as if anyway he already belongs to thesame family but in an undercover love affair. The husband is like ahappy drunken man out of his capacity for this kind of marriage, as ifshe was bought like a young woman for the kitchen, as well for this newemployee in such a promiscuity for surviving inside an abandonedrestaurant from the road. Their common conscience is low and theirlives are like that, there for the strange cohabitation and it was notimplied that the scene must be other than it seems to be, without anybravery expelling it to the boring side of any young life, as here bynecessity of things and attraction between ages - him and her out ofcontrol from the owner -, by blood, money and illicit love opportunity. Jumping outside of misery without modern instinct from the husband,barely somnolent and even not autocratic enough to understand that hispity is his condemnation by the new couple of potential and frustratedcriminals. In a kind of fatalism that took the fascination of thisstory of young people, aside the bitter end of the less fortuned at thetime of sensuality, fighting poverty in Twin Oaks random of destiny.Even when in this case circumstances and ethnicity or vulgarity ofhuman backgrounds acted as apparently non sense and where in a magictriangle of characters destiny as a supposed retroactive determinismexplains why institutions were so in debt for Manicheism. FrankChambers was the individual in question and as man without specificqualities he needs an occasional wage and Cora is the young wife of theowner, in a Greek tragedy with two turnabouts and a bitter end.

(2012-03-19 07:12:36)

Only one good scene!

There's only one good scene - the entrance of Lana Turner into the film wearing a white turban, white halter top and white shorts - I don't remember if she had shoes on! Other than that great scene the move draaaaags on and on eventually turning into a dialogue by John Garfield - who is sorry for everything - yeah - he deserves to die - yeah - it's okay if he gets the gas chamber - yeah - "it's great that I should die", "I should die" - "Yeah - show me the gas chamber, I'm ready to go" "Wait for me Lana, I'm on my way" - thank goodness the movie finally ends!

Pongsakorn Phuaree

(2012-03-15 16:52:21)

The Postman Rings Twice

There is the narrator's voice of the main actor to help tell the story,so it is first-person narration, and the movie emphasises the mainactor because it is story about him. However, I think the main actressis more dominant than the actor in the role of performance. Inaddition, there are many background musics that performed almost everyscene of the movie; it makes the story is going on smoothly. Moreover,in the scene that after the main actor made the new sign forrestaurant, they celebrated by playing music and dancing. While themain actor and actress were dancing, it was interesting to see thelight from the sign that opened and closed between dancing. This makesthe dancing more classic. The climax of movie is the point which themain actor and actress would want to kill the own restaurant, so Isuddenly knew the end of the movie would not be happy, but how ? As aresult of, they could become free from accusation.

(2012-03-15 05:16:39)

LUST & THE LAW....

Good adaption of James M.Cain's novel that manages to get the job done considering the censorship restrictions of 1946. Filmed before in 1942 in Italy as "Ossessione" by Luchino Visconti, this version isn't as explicit but features the teaming of beautiful but frustrated Lana Turner and restless drifter John Garfield as the illicit lovers who plot the murder of Turner's friendly but stodgy cafe-owner husband (Cecil Kellaway). Morbid overtones, like the accidental electrocution of a cat ("deader'n a doornail"), set the tone for the couple's plans going awry. Turner is stunning with platinum hair and tight fitting white costumes---the perfect flame to which the moth (Garfield) is uncontrollably drawn. Leon Ames is the dogged DA hot on their trail and Hume Cronyn is a wily attorney for the defense. Of the three films based on Cain's novel, this and "Ossessione" are the best. 40's film lovers will note that Turner truly was gorgeous. The DVD is a good buy for collectors.

Jackson Booth-Millard

(2012-03-11 20:52:07)

The Postman Always Rings Twice

I had heard of the Jack Nicholson film, but I didn't know it was aremake of this original, I only found out after spotting it in the book1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, and naturally I had to see ifI agree with this recommendation. Basically Frank Chambers (JohnGarfield) is a drifter who stops off at a diner, and soon ends upworking there, and he starts an affair with the young beautiful dineroperator Cora Smith (Lana Turner) who no longer loves her husband Nick(Cecil Kellaway). Wanting to start a new life together they plot tokill the husband so he is out of the way, and to collect his lifeinsurance and own the roadside diner, their first murder attempt fails.Their second attempt however succeeds when they are in a car, but whenthey try to make it look like an accident Frank is in the car withNick's body when the car tumbles down the hill, so they both end up incourt for murder. Kyle Sackett (Leon Ames) is the local prosecutor whois sure he knows what happened, but he doesn't have the proof to helpthem plead their case, he is however able to make Cora and Frank turnon each other for the crime. She decides however to have a fullconfession written on paper, and she pleads guilt to manslaughter onlyreceiving probation, and after court the couple do patch things up toplan their future together. But then tragedy strikes when Frank isdriving and gets distracted, and Cora dies when the car crashes, andeven though it was an accident he is accused of manslaughter onceagain, having been involved in a purpose made car crash. Frank issentenced to death for the wrong crime of murder on Cora, and hischance for reprieve has been denied, so he is sure he is going to bepunished for a crime he truly did not commit. In the end however theauthorities tell him that he is being sentenced to death in fact forthe murder of Nick, so it is not for killing Cora his love, and hecontemplates about the postman will always ring twice with somethingyou expect, and this happened for him. Also starring Hume Cronyn asArthur Keats, Audrey Totter as Madge Gorland, Alan Reed as Ezra LiamKennedy and Jeff York as Blair. As the Femme Fetale of the film Turneris indeed a great looking but equally dark and mysterious creature thatwill suck the man into doing her will, and Garfield does pretty well asthe man in the plot with her, the scenes between them are cracking, andthe film is full of good sexual chemistry, tense thrill moments andwitty dialogue, it is a very entertaining classic film noir. Very good!

Pamsanalyst

(2012-03-11 06:42:52)

Cain his worst enemy

This is the one Cain novel for which he did the screenplay, and so wehave to suffer through the Production Code ending. Even at my age Ican't remember when the postman rang twice, except maybe at Christmastime when we had two deliveries. Did we really need that scene in thejail cell?The story is told that when Cain watched Chandler adapt DoubleIndemnity, he remarked that the great Raymond came up with ideas thatCain never had an inkling of, changing not just the ending of thatstory, but the voice which told it. Chandler had a low opinion of Cain,but that does not concern this board.That first appearance of Lana should have been the Great Movie posterof the 40's; the white on her forms a triangle that lures the eye. Notfor nothing that this siren was the lover of mobster Johnny Stompanato.The story goes through jarring shifts of gear, some smoothly and othersnot so; Chambers sees Cora off at the station, where fate provides himAudrey Totter sitting in a hot convertible. It is hard to believe therewas no light in the bathroom when Cora attempted to bump off hubby thefirst time; the cat-caused short may have frightened her, but hubby sawnothing. And then there is our Scottish DA, Leon Ames, calling everyone'laddy' and just happening to be on the same mountain road when Nickand Frank fall go over the edge. What we take from the film are images: Turner, of course; Garfield theguy who thinks he knows everything; Hume Cronyn with that cigar as bigas he is; the usual gang of 40's muscle men, always washed up boxersand always 25-50 pounds overweight, and the wonderful Kellaway,strumming his guitar and singing "She's funny that way." It's notperfect, but it's fun to watch.

mariposa-9

(2012-03-07 07:50:13)

ONE OF THE ALL-TIME BEST!

The Dynamic John Garfield and Lana Turner, sizzle in this adaptation ofJames M. Cain's bristling novel of love, betrayal, andmurder.Garfield plays Frank Chambers (a role he was born to play), a drifter, whose"feet are just achin to go places," he spots a sign at a cafe that says "ManWanted," and that's where the fun begins.He meets Cora Smith, a beautiful blonde, silhouetted in the doorway, bathedin white. Chambers is breathless (as we are). This initial sighting of eachother is one of the all-time greats in the history of cinema; it's boilingover with sexual heat, and right from the start, Chambers knows she's hisfor the takingExcept there's one problem: she's married to Nick Smith, an older, jovialman, who seems unaware of his wife's affect on other men.This is the set-up, and to reveal more would be sacralegious. So just holdonto your seats, because TPART is a great ride.

Alex da Silva

(2012-03-07 05:01:01)

Man Wanted

John Garfield (Frank) drifts into a small town and gets work at acafГѓВ©/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.