* * * SPOILER ALERT * * *

Nervous nellie rod-man Nick/John Garfield holds up a payroll and kills a copper. To avoid the police, he takes the plunge, where he swims into Peg/Shelley Winters. Having never seen or touched a woman before, Nick almost blows it. Needy Peg relents and allows the incel to take her home, where Nick continues his charm campaign by confessing to committing the robbery while holding Peg’s family hostage. Sweaty paranoia ensues.

+++

If you haven’t seen it, The Postman Always Rings Twice is classic Garfield. He co-starred with Lana Turner. The lipstick rolling on the floor introduces the pair. Only in film noir should they never have met.

John Garfield died too young at 39. Blacklisting and HUAC threats probably didn’t help.