MovieChat Forums > The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) Discussion > Isn't Nicholson WAY too old for his role...

Isn't Nicholson WAY too old for his role?

posted 13 years ago by preppy-3
15 replies | jump to latest

I never read the book but I did see the 1946 version. I heard they changed the book considerably (but they had no choice--the Hays Code wouldn't stand for an uncensored version) but Garfield and Turner were great and REALLY had great sexual chemistry. I heard this version is more faithful to the book--but how old IS Frank in the book? Nicholson is a great actor but he seems far too old for his role. Also the "steamy sex scene" on the kitchen table wasn't steamy it all. It came across as pretty violent and VERY unsexy.

[–] mercury4 13 years ago

I agree. Nicholson was too old. I also thought he was miscast. I didn't see him as the stud that shows up and sweeps Cora off her feet. Jessica Lange was too. Jessica Lange was really miscast. She can't even compare to Lana Turner. Lana Turner was perfect for the role. Jessica Lange looks plain next to Lana Turner. I also agree about the so-called "steamy sex scene." I didn't think the movie was hot at all. Not sexy at all. Sleazy maybe. The original had some pretty hot scenes.

[–] preppy-3 13 years ago

I disagree a little with u about Lange. She WAS miscast and not even remotely as sexy as Turner was but she managed to pull off the role. She was a hell of a lot more believable than Nicholson! Thanks for agreeing with me about the sex scene. The 1940s version had a hot scene between Garfield and Turner at the beach. They both had on VERY modest bathing suits and nothing was shown but they still sizzled! The remake had nudity and explicit simulated sex...but it was dull and (as u said) sleazy. With two better actors it MIGHT have worked.

[–] mercury4 13 years ago

With two better actors, I agree, I might have worked. Remember the scene when it's just Cora and Frank home? They get real close, then they think they hear someone at the door and Cora asks Frank if he locked the door. That was a pretty hot scene. The dancing scene was too. That was a good part. The remake didn't have any of that. The only thing I really disagree with you on is Jessica Lange. Lana Turner was the perfect Cora. Jessica Lange doesn't even come close, in my opinion. Actually, back in the day, I could have pictured someone like Sylvester Stallone playing Frank. Stallone was the tough guy type like John Garfield. He could have definitely played the stud that comes into town. Maybe not in 1981, but back in her prime I think Sharon Stone could have played a great Cora.

[–] preppy-3 13 years ago

OK--I don't deny that Turner WAS Cora but I think Lange did an OK job. Maybe I thought she was better than she actually was because Nicholson was SO bad in his role:) Sorry but Stallone can't act. He was OK in "Rocky" but that was about it. And physically I think he would be all wrong for the role. He's all pumped up and considering that Frank was a drifter it would have looked strange. Garfield was perfect--he was handsome and just muscular enough. He also had that tough guy edge which really worked in his performance. Too bad he died so young. VERY interesting suggestion about a younger Stone playing Cora. You know I can see it! Stone can be good and was incredibly sexy (especially in "Basic Instinct"). But she was still an unknown back in 1981 so...

[–] mercury4 13 years ago

Stallone wasn't always all pumped up. There was a time when he was just muscular enough. Later on he started to really look like a body builder. But back in his early Rocky days and even when he made First Blood, he would've looked fine to play Frank. To me, Stallone was the John Garfield tough guy type. I think Stallone would've been perfect to play Frank. I just see Stallone as the tough guy and the young stud that comes into town. His physique would have also fit. Cora was married to this fat old drunk and along comes this young muscular good looking guy. I agree 100%. Jack Nicholson was all wrong. Don't know why they picked him. But I didn't care for Jessica Lange at all. I think she was also too old. She was attractive, but not a knockout. I'm comparing her to Lana Turner. She's not gonna win there lol.

Yeah, Sharon Stone was an unknown back in 1981, but if a remake would have been made after Basic Instinct, I think she would've been the perfect actress to play the new Cora. She probably didn't even look as good in 1981. I don't think she really looked great until Basic Instinct.

I'm glad someone pointed out how wrong Nicholson was and how the movie wasn't hot at all. Thanks for starting this thread.

[–] preppy-3 13 years ago

"I'm glad someone pointed out how rong Nicholsom was..."

LOL No problem mercury:) U know I was trying to think of any actors now and how hot they would be....and I've come up blank! No one could be as hot as Turner and Garfield were:) And (hopefully) we won't get ANOTHER remake!

[–] mercury4 13 years ago

I know. You can't beat the stars from the good old days. Today the actors aren't as tough as they were, they're not as handsome. The actresses aren't as glamorous. Actually, maybe Martin Scorsese could've made a good remake. But knowing him, he would've cast DiCaprio as Frank and God knows who else as Cora.

[–] preppy-3 13 years ago

Scorses doing a remake of "Postman..." THAT would be interesting:) He'd probably add a few bloody beatings and dead bodies (look what he did with "Cape Fear"). DiCaprio is a good actor but in "Postman"...???? Please! He's not handsome enough! Cora I could see being played by Reese Witherspoon and as for Frank I can see Cam Gigandet (he was the evil vampire in "Twilight"). He's young, handsome, buff and CAN act! That would be an interesting pairing.

[–] mercury4 13 years ago

Actually I can picture Kirsten Dunst as Cora. Maybe Ryan Gosling as Frank.

[–] preppy-3 13 years ago

Hmmmm--Dunst is a great actress but I don't think she can project raw sexuality. However Gosling is an excellent choice for Frank.

[–] mercury4 13 years ago

Thanks. I know what you mean about Dunst.

[–] drxcreatures 9 years ago

"DiCaprio is a good actor but in "Postman"...???? Please! He's not handsome enough!" --Martin would put him in it anyway.

http://www.cgonzales.net & http://www.drxcreatures.com

[–] udippel 8 years ago

Agreed. Not.
Nicholson doesn't get it, for a change from his usual brilliance. Lange isn't as sexy, I agree. But if there is anything that makes me feel this remake is better than the original, it is her. Because she is totally convincing as the ambivalent, indecisive women of the original story. the one that marries, without much reason, falls for a drifter, and so on and so forth. That's the only thing that I missed in Lana Turner. With Lange, you won't know to the very last minute, what she wants, how she feels. And that fits totally to the character.

[–] mgtbltp 9 years ago

No, I've just re-watched this and disagree. I forgot how good a remake it is. It's closer in tone to Visconti's Ossessione than the 1946 Garfield - Turner version. It's also devoid of the Hayes Code constrictions and hit you over the head moralizing.

It's a great recreation of the mid thirties and a bit more believable a production in that Joe Colicos is a better Nick Papadakis, and Jessica Lange sizzles as Cora. Jack Nicholson is equal to John Garfield, its a wash there, the only two characters that don't equal or surpass those of the 46 version are Angelica Huston, as Madge (Aurdrey Totter was great and more effective in a much shorter sequence) and Hume Cronyn was slimier than Michael Lerner as the lawyer.

[–] preppy-3 9 years ago

Wow. Talk about disagreeing but to each his own.