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I think Richard Widmark is the most memorable thing about Kiss of Death. It is good, but Widmark is the standout. I want to ask you if you know THE scene from the film, but I am afraid I will spoil it for you if you have never seen it - and you plan to. It is a very well-known scene. My mother always said how scared she was of Widmark (despite the fact that she also strangely thought he reminded of her uncle - they looked nothing alike!) when she was a kid because of that scene. She hated it. But then again, why were my grandparents taking their kids to see movie like that, anyway? 
I agree re Widmark. He was virtually the entire takeaway from an otherwise forgettable movie. It must have been Widmark's first major role, and he didn't hold anything back. Unfortunately his over the top performance is almost unwatchable today. But as a crass, insufferable nasty oaf, his character carved out one of the most memorable bad guys in cinematic history.
I'm a big Victor Mature fan, but he had the thankless task of playing against the Widmark part, to the point where Mature is almost not remembered from the film.
Re "Postman", I loved this wonderful movie. Garfield and Turner were superb individually, and they sizzled together-- only with the hint of kinkiness. It had a lot in common with Double Indemnity, IMO. The 1946 "Postman" to me was a superior film to it's 1981 remake with Nicholson and Lange. The '81 remake benefitted from a more modern technical palate, and of course the acting was brilliant; but the movie went too far out with the relationship, and was too graphic for Doc's taste...
~Doc
Especially his hat. 
