The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) – Review

Adapted from a book, The Postman Always Rings Twice is a classic slow paced noir thriller featuring a forbidden romance and deadly twists. While it does not move at the modern pacing, the story is solid and the movie is well done.

Hitchhiking down to San Diego from San Francisco, Frank Chambers (Garfield) is dropped off on a side road outside of Los Angeles. The driver asks why he is looking for new places, new people and new ideas. Frank responds that he didn’t like past jobs, and maybe the next one is what he has always been looking for. He notes a help wanted sign on the restaurant behind him and says maybe his future will begin right now!

The driver pulls off, only for a motorcycle siren to blast as the cop blasts past Frank and pulls over his former helper. The cop was unhappy with a car stopped in the roadway, but the officer quickly backs off when the driver is revealed as a local District Attorney. Certainly, this won’t come up again.

The restaurant owner Nick (Kellaway) has work and knows of some other local auto work, which Frank has experience with. Frank quickly meets local hottie Cora (Turner), and the two share a moment. Too bad she is married to Nick, or is it…?

From here, the crime tale kicks off and nefarious plots are formed. The thrills of the 40s are on full display in this film, which features a moody story and killer noir turns. The small-town stetting can barely contain these players, and who makes it out alive is anyone’s guess. Cora is fun to watch as she gets what she wants, and the movie explores some interesting aspects of the era. While the film is a bit slow to get moving, the time spent helps flesh out the small cast of characters, which makes what follows even more devious.

Just remember the age-old adage, “Stealing a man’s wife: that’s nothing. Stealing a man’s car: that’s larceny!” Ahhhh, with lines like that you can almost taste the 40s.