Nora Prentiss (1947)

70% of users liked it
(110 ratings)

In this slick melodrama, a sort of film-noir for women, a nightclub singer has an affair with an unhappily married San Francisco doctor. Though the physician desperately wants to leave his wife, he lacks the courage to ask for a divorce. In retaliation, the singer accepts an offer to move East and… More In this slick melodrama, a sort of film-noir for women, a nightclub singer has an affair with an unhappily married San Francisco doctor. Though the physician desperately wants to leave his wife, he lacks the courage to ask for a divorce. In retaliation, the singer accepts an offer to move East and start up a new club in New York. Lost without the singer, the doctor is without option until his partner suddenly dies. With a burst of inspiration, he fakes his own death and flees to New York. Later, he is horrified to learn that his death has been officially declared a homicide, and so he goes into hiding in the singer's apartment. To cope with his fear and the increasing success of his lover, the physician begins drinking heavily. This only makes him paranoid and more depressed and he begins to suspect his lover is having an affair. Upon confronting the "lover," a fight ensues, the doctor wins, and thinking he killed his rival, he takes off -- only to end up in a horrible traffic accident that leaves his face unrecognizable. Though plastic surgery gives him a new identity, it is at that time that he is arrested and sent back to California to stand trial for his own murder. Rather than burden his family with the shock that he is still alive, the doctor insists that his lover keep mum, and he stoically goes to trial where he is sentenced to Death Row. Beautifully photographed by James Wong Howe in typically expressionistic style, the film focuses on the desperation and entrapment of the characters and expresses a true bleak, fatalistic film-noir sensibility which makes this film unique in the genre. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 51 min.
Directed By: Vincent Sherman
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Feb 22, 1947 Wide
Studio: Warner Bros.

Critic Reviews

Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Melodrama com aura noir cuja artificialidade se tornou evidente à medida que o filme envelheceu. De todo modo, Sheridan está linda e Smith cria um personagem trágico e maldito que ainda desperta nosso interesse.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
If you were Nora Prentiss, would you keep your mouth shut?

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

the film synopsis leads one to believe that nora prentiss ruins the life of a respected doctor but as gorgeous as ann sheridan is, she's much too sweet for a femme fatale. this is considered a 'woman's noir' but the story is really that of dr. richard talbot,… More
the film synopsis leads one to believe that nora prentiss ruins the life of a respected doctor but as gorgeous as ann sheridan is, she's much too sweet for a femme fatale. this is considered a 'woman's noir' but the story is really that of dr. richard talbot, consumed by guilt and increasingly paranoid. it's hard for me to see why nora prentiss stands by him when he was too much a coward to simply ask his wife for a divorce. of course that would've been a much less dramatic film
jay n

Ann is very sensual and glam here, this was one of her biggest hits, the story is nothing you haven't seen before but she makes it worth your while.

Cast

            Ann Sheridan as Nora Prentiss

            Kent Smith as Dr. Richard Talbot

            Bruce Bennett as Dr. Joel Merriam

            Robert Alda as Nick Dinardos

            Rosemary De Camp as Lucy Talbot

            John Ridgely as Walter Bailey

            Robert Arthur as Gregory Talbot

            Wanda Hendrix as Bonita Talbot

            Helen Brown as Miss Judson

            Rory Mallinson as Fleming

            Harry Shannon as Police Lieutenant

            James Flavin as District Attorney

            Douglas Kennedy as Doctor

            Don McGuire as Truck Driver

            Clifton Young as Policeman

            Al Bridge as Reporter

            Georgia Caine as Mrs. Sterritt

            Eddy Chandler as Detective

            John Compton as Reporter

            Clancy Cooper as Policeman

            Ralph Dunn as Detective

            Ross Ford as Chauffeur Billie

            Roy Gordon as Oberlin

            Creighton Hale as Captain of Waiters

            Eddie Hart
            
            Tiny Jones as Flower Woman

            Charles Jordan as Clerk at Court

            Fred Kelsey as Turnkey

            Charles Marsh as Bailiff

            Philo McCullough as Warden

            Matt McHugh as Drunk

            Jack Mower as Sheriff

            Lee Phelps as Doorman

            Scott Wallace as Drunk

            Adele St. Maur as Nurse

            Richard Walsh as Bystander

            Bill Williams
            
            Lotta Williams as Agnes

            John Ellis as Doorman

            Fred Johnson as Newspaper Man

            John Newland as Reporter

            George Campeau as Man

            Gertrude Carr as Mrs. Dobie

            Ramon Ros as Reporter

            Dave Fresco as Newsboy

            John Elliott as Chaplain

            Dean Cameron as Rod the Piano Player

            Rosemary DeCamp
            
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