The Postman Always Rings Twice is a 1981 film adaptation of the 1934 novel by the same name by James M. Cain. The film was produced by Lorimar and originally released theatrically in North America by Paramount Pictures. This version, based on a screenplay by David Mamet and directed by Bob Rafelson, starred Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange. The film was shot in Santa Barbara, California. Frank Chambers , a drifter, stops at a rural California diner for a meal, and ends up working there. The diner is operated by a young, beautiful woman, Cora Smith , and her much older husband, Nick Papadakis... , who is an immigrant from Greece. Frank and Cora start to have an affair soon after they meet. Cora is tired of her situation, married to a man she does not love, and working at a diner that she wishes to own and improve. She and Frank scheme to murder Nick in order to start a new life together without her losing the diner. Their first attempt at the murder is a failure, but they eventually succeed. The local prosecutor suspects what has actually occurred, but does not have enough evidence to prove it.
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| Release date: | March 20, 1981 |
| Directed by: | Bob Rafelson |
| Rated: |  |
| Runtime: | 122 Minutes |
| Producer: | Bob Rafelson, Charles Mulvehill |
| Editor: | Graeme Clifford |
| Music by: | Michael Small |
| Cinematography: | Sven Nykvist |
| Screenplay by: | David Mamet |
| Adapted from: | The Postman Always Rings Twice |
| Genre: | Thriller |