The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)

My Review

As remakes go, 1981’s “The Postman Always Rings Twice” has enough drama to keep viewers involved without thinking about the original black-and-white noir thriller of 1946 which featured Lana Turner and John Garfield. Director Bob Rafelson (“The King of Marvin Gardens” 1972) filled this project with good production values, interesting performances, and marvelous writing from the screenplay by David Mamet. It was adapted from the 1934 crime novel of the same name by James M. Cain.

Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange fit the bill as the drifter and restaurant owner’s wife, with John Colicos as Lange’s older, Greek immigrant husband. Superb performances by the trio. Colicos came to prominence as Count Baltar on ABC’s scifi television show “Battlestar Gallactica” (1978-1979). Co-stars include Angelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Michael Lerner, John P. Ryan, William Traylor, and William Newman. The watchable “The Postman Always Rings Twice” was popular at the box office for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Lorimar Productions, Northstar International, and Paramount Pictures. It was filmed in Santa Barbara, California.