MovieChat Forums > Cause for Alarm! (1951) Discussion > I Can Believe the Postman

I Can Believe the Postman

posted 11 years ago by 398
2 replies | jump to latest

Some doubt that any postman is likely to be that officious. I think he could.

I few years back I was renewing my driver's license. In my state when you go in for renewal they take your old license (although it is of course not expired) and give you a form which explains you are a licensed driver. Your new license comes in the mail about a month later. This form, a full page thing, is your proof of ID and driving eligibility in the meantime.

Well, to make a long story short, I put this form in the glove department so it would always be in the car when driving.

Before my new license arrived, I went to the grocery store and while there picked up a bottle of wine for purchase. I didn't have my license when they asked for it. I inquired why they needed it. The answer was to prove my age. I had to be over 21 to purchase wine.

Now I am past 70. I thought this a bit much, but having no alternative, I put the wine back and went all the way out to the car to get the paper proof I am over 21.

Yeah, I can believe everything that Loretta went through with the postman.

[–] Ironman54 9 years ago

Yep, been there also. And it amazes me that anyone would make you go through that at your age. I think the idea of the 'build up' before she put the question to the mail man was to show us that he was this sort - a busy body pain in the a** no doubt envious of Barry, who gets the chance to flaunt his authority ... I think anyone whose been in a motor vehicle office before knows the type.

[–] jellyree 9 years ago

The Mail Carrier was not being officious.

But he was also wrong, not only could he not give her the letter, he would not have been permitted to give it to her husband either.

Once the carrier has picked up the mail it is "in the system". Only a postal inspector, or maybe the postmaster could retrieve it.

But he certainly was portrayed as an unsympathetic character; whining about the mail, the heat, and how late he was, all the while talking everyone's arm off.