The Postman Always Rings Twice is a 1934 novel by James M. Cain that was made into three movies. The story is about a drifter who goes to work at a diner of a husband and wife. The wife and drifter have an affair. The wife is tired of her situation married to a man she does not love working at a diner that she hates. She and the drifter scheme to murder the husband in order to get the insurance and start a new life.

The 1943 Italian film entitled Ossessione (Obsession) was directed by Luchino Visconti and starred Clara Calamai and Massimo Girotti. Cain was not credited as the author of the story.

The 1946 film starred Lana Turner and John Garfield as the deviant couple, Cecil Kellaway, and Hume Cronyn. It was directed by Tay Garnett.

The 1981 remake, based on a screenplay by David Mamet and directed by Bob Rafelson, starred Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange.