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IMDbPro

The Postman Always Rings Twice

  • 19461946
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
21K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,939
99
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
Home Video Trailer from MGM
Play trailer2:28
1 Video
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaFilm-Noir
A married woman and a drifter fall in love, then plot to murder her husband.A married woman and a drifter fall in love, then plot to murder her husband.A married woman and a drifter fall in love, then plot to murder her husband.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
21K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,939
99
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Tay Garnett
    • Writers
      • Harry Ruskin(screen play)
      • Niven Busch(screen play)
      • James M. Cain(based on the novel by)
    • Stars
      • Lana Turner
      • John Garfield
      • Cecil Kellaway
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Tay Garnett
    • Writers
      • Harry Ruskin(screen play)
      • Niven Busch(screen play)
      • James M. Cain(based on the novel by)
    • Stars
      • Lana Turner
      • John Garfield
      • Cecil Kellaway
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 174User reviews
    • 71Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    The Postman Always Rings Twice
    Trailer 2:28
    The Postman Always Rings Twice

    Photos123

    Lana Turner and John Garfield in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
    Lana Turner and John Garfield in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
    Leon Ames, Lana Turner, and John Garfield in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
    Lana Turner, John Garfield, and Don Anderson in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
    Leon Ames and John Garfield in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
    Lana Turner and Cecil Kellaway in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
    Lana Turner and John Garfield in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
    The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
    The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
    The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
    Jeff York in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
    William Halligan in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lana Turner
    Lana Turner
    • Cora Smith
    John Garfield
    John Garfield
    • Frank Chambers
    Cecil Kellaway
    Cecil Kellaway
    • Nick Smith
    Hume Cronyn
    Hume Cronyn
    • Arthur Keats
    Leon Ames
    Leon Ames
    • Kyle Sackett
    Audrey Totter
    Audrey Totter
    • Madge Gorland
    Alan Reed
    Alan Reed
    • Ezra Liam Kennedy
    Jeff York
    Jeff York
    • Blair
    Philip Ahlm
    • Photographer
    • (uncredited)
    John Alban
    • Photographer
    • (uncredited)
    Don Anderson
    Don Anderson
    • Orderly Pushing Wheelchair
    • (uncredited)
    Morris Ankrum
    Morris Ankrum
    • Judge
    • (uncredited)
    King Baggot
    King Baggot
    • Courtroom Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    Betty Blythe
    Betty Blythe
    • Customer
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Bradley
    • Man
    • (uncredited)
    Wally Cassell
    Wally Cassell
    • Ben
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Chefe
    • Headwaiter
    • (uncredited)
    Dick Crockett
    Dick Crockett
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Tay Garnett
    • Writers
      • Harry Ruskin(screen play)
      • Niven Busch(screen play)
      • James M. Cain(based on the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      James M. Cain was so impressed with Lana Turner's performance he presented her with a leather-bound copy of the book inscribed, "For my dear Lana, thank you for giving a performance that was even finer than I expected."
    • Goofs
      When Cora opens the cash register to leave a note, the bill in the register is a Confederate one-dollar bill.
    • Quotes

      Cora Smith: It's too bad Nick took the car.

      Frank Chambers: Even if it was here we couldn't take it, unless we'd want to spend the night in jail. Stealing a man's wife, that's nothing, but stealing a man's car, that's larceny.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening and ending credits are shown over the hardcover book of the same name.
    • Alternate versions
      Also available in a computer colorized version.
    • Connections
      Edited into Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)
    • Soundtracks
      She's Funny That Way
      (1928) (uncredited)

      Music by Neil Moret

      Lyrics by Richard A. Whiting

      Played on guitar and Sung by Cecil Kellaway

    User reviews174

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Weak-ish Noir
    This film has all the ingredients of classic noir without actually being a very good movie.

    The biggest problem I had with the film was that the characters are an unconvincing blend of naivety and cunning. One minute they're suckered by an old man running a burger bar, the next they're foiling a blackmail plot hatched by corrupt lawmen and wielding guns like they're hardened gangsters.

    The ending is equally unconvincing, with the protagonist happily latching onto his death sentence as some kind of salvation that gives him moral certainty in the amoral noir world he's been floundering in. It's as if this is a noir made by people who were anti-noir.

    Noir will always involve a clash between innocence and experience but it's not convincingly handled here. It isn't the first noir I'd make that complaint against, either - things like SHadow of a Doubt and Night of the Hunter have a similar unreal atmosphere.

    In my opinion the best noir is both believable and hellish; like The Third Man, Double Indemnity, Notorious or Chinatown.
    helpful•46
    36
    • watkins39
    • May 6, 2006

    FAQ3

    • What does the title mean?
    • How was James M. Cain's book received?
    • What did Fred Allen write after he received a copy of the book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 6, 1946 (Australia)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bar-B-Q
    • Filming locations
      • Norwalk, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,683,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White(original release)
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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