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The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946): Film vs Book
Film · 1946 · Directed by Tay Garnett · Starring Lana Turner, John Garfield
About the film
A drifter takes a job at a roadside diner and begins an affair with the owner's wife, and together they plan something terrible.
How close is it to the book?
Loosely based on the bookRules of the day forced the film to soften the book's frankness, so the desire is hinted at more than shown. The plot keeps its shape, but the heat of the novel is turned down.
Read or watch first?
The novel is a short, direct classic that you can finish in a single sitting.
What the book gives you
The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
A tight, lean thriller you can read in one sitting, full of passion and suspense.
Who will like it: Readers who like fast, dark, noir stories with a sharp twist.