Spoiler alert, there isn’t a postman in this at all, much less one who rings twice.(Not a masterpiece, but I thought Nicholson was sensational in this in full sociopath mode, staring at everyone he meets with those Jack Torrance eyes.)
Cinemas
Directed by Bob Rafelson
The Postman Always Rings Twice
A bleak, dark crime.
Crime
Romance
Drama
Thriller
1981
2h 2m
The sensuous wife of a lunch wagon proprietor and a rootless drifter begin a sordidly steamy affair and conspire to murder her Greek husband.
Where to watch
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Cast & crew
6What people say
Eighties version of the James M Cain novel - it tells essentially the same story as the 1946 film, but somehow manages to do it in a much less interesting way. David Mamet's screenplay heavily emphasises the sexual relationship between the two central characters (which couldn't be done in 1946) but this is at the expense of all the nuance of the plot. The film just sort of simmers along for two hours with barely any tension or suspense. Even the crux of the story - the part where the husband is murdered - is pulled off with little panache. Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange have a good chemistry together, but I don't believe this relationship would lead to murder - not like in the 1946 version where both had clear motives. There's some bizarre stuff in this too - most notably Angelica Huston's inclusion involving big cats. The mock period setting stuff was nice, though I can't see any reason really why the story wasn't just updated for the eighties. Overall, I can't think of anything I prefer of this version over the older film.
i didn't know what tf was going on the whole time HOWEVER in the first 20 minutes there was a legnthy shot of jack nicholson going to town on jessica lange's muff so safe to say i'm pretty shaken up
Common questions
What is The Postman Always Rings Twice about?+
A drifter becomes entangled with a married woman who runs a rural lunch wagon, and the two embark on a passionate, dangerous affair that turns toward murder.
Who directed The Postman Always Rings Twice?+
The 1981 adaptation was directed by Bob Rafelson, a filmmaker known for his contributions to the American New Hollywood movement.
