The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M Cain

Posted by Riklaa on February 2, 2014 at 5:04pm

The Postman Always Rings Twice
by James M Cain
adapted by Charlotte Greig
Duration: 57 minutes
BBC Radio 4 Saturday Drama 30th November 2013
128kbps/44 kHz Joint Stereo  52.1 Mb mp3

An amoral young tramp. A beautiful, sullen woman with an inconvenient husband. A problem that has only one grisly solution–a solution that only creates other problems that no one can ever solve. First published in 1934 and banned in Boston for its explosive mixture of violence and eroticism, The Postman Always Rings Twice is a classic of Roman Noir.


Frank Chambers, a young drifter in 1930s California, stops at a diner and is offered a job. The owner is Nick Papadakis, and his much younger, beautiful wife, Cora. There is immediate sexual chemistry between Frank and Cora, and they begin a passionate affair. Cora is tired of working at the diner, and of her husband, so they decide to murder Nick and start a new life together. The plan is to hit Nick over the head and make it look like he drowned in the bath. But the plan goes wrong, and soon everything starts to unravel.

It established James M. Cain as a major novelist with an unsparing vision of America’s bleak underside, and was acknowledged by Albert Camus as the model for The Stranger.

CAST

Frank Chambers - Ronan Summers
Cora Papadakis - Samantha Dakin
Nick Papadakis - Chris Pavlo
Sackett - Kerry Shale

Directed by Kate McAll




The Postman Always Rings Twice

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Tags: Classic, Crime, Murder, Noir
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Replies

  • Robert Johnson February 16, 2014 at 10:37pm

    Absolutely bloody wonderful.

    Thanks for this Rick.

    Robert Johnson

  • Anson (Bob) Roberts February 5, 2014 at 11:47am

    The 1993 SNT version:

    http://goo.gl/pCB3fz

    Bob

    • WWB > Anson (Bob) Roberts February 10, 2014 at 12:55pm

      Thanks Bob and Thanks Rick.  I will compare the two as well.

    • Riklaa > Anson (Bob) Roberts February 5, 2014 at 2:03pm

      Many Thanks Bob.  -----------------------------------------  R

  • Gayle Crane February 4, 2014 at 11:27am

    Many thanks for this one, Rick!

  • abby February 3, 2014 at 7:33am

    Thanks again, Rick!!

    • Riklaa > abby February 3, 2014 at 12:35pm

      Bob, I don't have the older one.  If you get a chance would you upload the older one for me.  I would love to also compare the 2.  Thanks!   ------------------------------  R

    • Anson (Bob) Roberts > Riklaa February 3, 2014 at 5:49pm

      I also have the unabridged audiobook, read by Stanley Tucci. Do you want that as well?

    • Riklaa > Anson (Bob) Roberts February 3, 2014 at 6:39pm

      Audiobooks put me to sleep.  For my own enjoyment I am almost totally a Dramatisation  collector and listener.  If the reader is one that can change their voice with the character I enjoy it but the reader has to be as good as the reader of the Rivers of London series in order for me to really enjoy it.  Thank You for the offer but I will pass on the Audiobook.  Others might enjoy it but I am asking for myself today.  Thanks again, the dramatisation will do nicely.  -----------------------------  R

    • David Knight > Riklaa February 23, 2014 at 2:31pm

      I'm with you completely here Rick.  I struggle with readings sometimes. There are exceptions - Anthony Head's Paul Temple readings are very easy on the ear, and I liked some of the Doctor Who actors reading the companion chronicles and the Target novels - but on the whole I'm a drama all-day man. 

      Cheers for this and also cheers to Bob for the SNT version. I'm always pleased to get another SNT!

This reply was deleted.