The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)

Canadian screen star Hume Cronyn, on the right, as “Arthur Keats”, with, standing on his left, one of Hollywood’s most sensuous actresses of all time, Lana Turner, as “Cora Smith”, the legendary Hollywood Film Noir ‘Femme Fatale’ in Tay Garnett’s Film Noir crime movie drama adaptation of James M. Cain’s 1934 novel ‘The Postman Always Rings Twice’ (1946). This Film Noir masterpiece was produced by Carey Wilson for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, and the movie also starred Hollywood legend John Garfield as the leading man as “Frank Chambers”, Cecil Kellaway as “Nick Smith”, Leon Ames as “Kyle Sackett”, Audrey Totter as “Madge Gorland”, Alan Reid as “Ezra Liam Kennedy”, and Jeff York as “Blair”. This version was the third filming of this novel, and the first under the title of the novel.

It was previously filmed as ‘Le Dernier Tournant’ (literally “The Last Turning”, but here I would translate it as “The Final Turning”), a French film from 1939, and then as ‘Ossessione’ (“Obsession”), an Italian film from 1943. I find both of these versions to be excellent foreign film noirs, especially the Italian one. I consider all three to be must-see Film Noir.

Hume Cronyn was born in London, Ontario, Canada (in Canada, when one person says “London”, the other usually asks “which one?”). In The States he had an extensive stage career, on Broadway, was famously married to British actress Jessica Tandy, and he appeared in movies from 1943 through 2001. To Baby Boomers he is probably best known for his role as “Joe Finley” alongside his wife Jessica Tandy in the role of “Alma Finley”, his character’s wife, in Ron Howard’s mega-hit ‘Cocoon’ (1985), co-starring an All-Star cast. Remembering Hume Blake Cronyn, Jr. OC [Order of Canada] - (18th July, 1911 - 15th June, 2003) .