James M. Cain

Contains three novels and five short stories by American author James M. Cain, including "The Postman Always Rings Twice" about a drifter who embarks on a course of destruction when he falls for the wife of Nick, the genial owner of a roadside cafe.

An intimate portrait of a uniquely independent woman who finds herself newly divorced during the Depression years and struggles to carve out a new life for herself and her family. The story explores Mildred's unreasonable devotion to her insatiable daughter Veda, as well as the complex relationship she shares with the indolent men in her life, including her polo-playing lover Monty Beragon and ex-husband Bert Pierce.

"A rising opera star's life is as turbulent as the on-stage roles he plays in this emotion-swept musical drama based on a James M. Cain novel and filmed almost entirely in Mexico. As the young vocalist who emerges from the obscurity of the vineyards, Mario Lana impressively hoists the lead role onto his wide shoulders. In a dazzling display of the power that made him a sensation of the musical screen, the renowned tenor signs Ave Maria, excerpts from...

Mildred Pierce is a happily married woman with two kids, living in the suburbs of sunny California. She secretly takes a job as a waitress so that she can pay for piano lessons and expensive clothes for her eldest daughter, Veda. Her growing financial independence permits her to open her own restaurant, and eventually a chain of eateries. She has divorced her intolerant first husband, and married well-connected Monte in order to get Veda into high...

Frank Chambers (Jack Nicholson) is a Depression-era drifter who lands at a roadside gas station owned by jolly old Nick Papadakis (John Colicos) and his young, blonde wife Cora (Jessica Lange). Frank and Cora quickly fall in love, and plot Nick's murder. Waiting for wedding bells to ring, the body count rises as their plans are derailed one by one.

Mildred Pierce is a woman who will do anything to satisfy the demands of her spoiled daughter Veda, including divorce, opening her own business, and possibly murder.

Has dialogue ever been more perfectly hard-boiled? Has a femme fatale ever been as deliciously evil as Barbara Stanwyck? And has 1940s Los Angeles ever looked so seductively sordid? When slick salesman Walter Neff walks into the swank home of dissatisfied housewife Phyllis Dietrichson, he intends to sell her insurance, but he winds up becoming entangled with her in a\ far more sinister way. It is one of the most wickedly perverse stories ever told...

Disc 1: The Maltese falcon: Some high-living lowlifes want to get their hands on a bejeweled falcon. Detective Sam Spade wants to find out why and find out who will take the fall for his partner's murder. The big sleep: L.A. private eye Philip Marlowe takes on a blackmail case and ends up wearing out his gumshoes trailing murderers, nightclub rogues, the spoiled rich and more. Disc 2: Ex-tennis pro Tony Wendice decides to murder his wife for her...