NORA PRENTISS

NORA PRENTISS (1947), falls squarely into the sub-genre of "women's noir" films of the '40s and '50s. Like such other entries as MILDRED PIERCE (1945), DAISY KENYON (1947) and HARRIET CRAIG (1950), NORA PRENTISS is a first rate little noir that features the oh-so-sexy Ann Sheridan in the title role. 

Nora is a singer in a San Francisco nightclub. She has a chance meeting with respectable Dr. Talbot (Kent Smith), after a slight automobile accident outside of his office. Talbot is soon madly in love with Nora and she does nothing to dissuade his interest. Trouble is, he's a family man with a wife and two children (a boy and a girl). But the affair continues with Talbot desperate to find some way to leave his wife and flee San Francisco with Nora to start a new life in some other city.

The way out drops (literally) into his office one night when one of his terminally ill patients stumbles into Talbot's office seeking help. Talbot is too late the save the man who, as fate (and the screenplay) would have it, is a near perfect physical double for Talbot. Talbot stages a fiery automobile accident that leaves the dead man burned beyond recognition but not before Talbot sprinkles the death scene with some of his personal belongings. 

The result? Talbot is officially dead and he and Nora head to New York City for their new life together. But things don't go as planned and a wicked third act plot twist sends Talbot spiraling into a deadly web of his own making, while Nora stands by him, faithful to the end. 

Directed by Vincent Sherman and shot by the legendary cinematographer James Wong Howe, NORA PRENTISS looks great. Sheridan, in a bit of a comeback role, commands the film from start to finish, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was more than just a pretty face. She's no femme fatale however, in fact, none of the characters in the film are really evil, it's only Talbot who makes a series of very wrong choices. Smith, who also starred in THE CAT PEOPLE (1942) and CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE (1944), does a fine job as a decent man who finds himself caught in a never ending nightmare. Bruce (ALLIGATOR PEOPLE) Bennett, adds support as Talbot's medical partner while Robert Alda (father of Alan), is a sympathetic night club owner who carries a torch for Nora.

Don't let the title fool you. NORA PRENTISS is not a generic "women's picture" It's a full bore film noir from start to finish.

Highly recommended.