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PLOT TWISTER

Today's NYTimes Best 1176 Film was the film version of the James M. Cain novel

The Postman Always Rings Twice

with John Garfield and Lana Turner.

It is an encyclopedia of bad behavior; a classical noir template.

We saw the same story earlier in an Italian version; Obsessione (1942).

The film is famous. It is considered one of the best.

There is no denying that there is a lot to it but the plot twists keep coming back to bite themselves in the ass.

If you can get over that, the acting is quite good. Cecil Kellaway is the husband to be bumped off. A stretch. He and Lana? Come on!

Leon Ames and Hume Cronyn are battling lawyers and the sublime Alan Reed is a thug. Reed seemed to be everywhere when I was a kid; radio, television, movies. I loved the sound of his voice.

His later career was a voice artist and he ended up being the voice of Yogi Bear!

If you just let it all go and sit back and watch the thing the movie works pretty well. It is hard to believe some of it but a little wishing will make it so.

I liked it. I especially enjoyed seeing John Garfield who had a brilliant early career cut short by trouble over his politics and an early death from lifelong heart problems.

Lana Turner is a pretty good actor but you have to overlook the platinum hair and makeup. No hash slinger ever looked like that. Ever.

I will give it a 4 out of Netflix5. It has great pieces yet the whole is wanting.

Labels: best films, noir