Nora Prentiss *** (1947, Ann Sheridan, Kent Smith, Bruce Bennett) – Classic Movie Review 9991

Director Vincent Sherman’s 1947 black and white film noir thriller Nora Prentiss stars Ann Sheridan as Nora Prentiss, who is undoubtedly a swell girl, but would you fake your own death to be with her?

Kent Smith plays Dr Richard Talbot, a wimpy, married doctor who does exactly that, then takes on a different identity and comes a proper cropper.

Nora Prentiss is a trashy but enjoyably full-throttle film-noir melodrama from Warner Bros, based on two English murder mysteries, with the usual plush trimmings (classy black and white cinematography by James Wong Howe, score by Franz Waxman and production designs by Anton Grot).

Sheridan is superb as nightclub singer Nora Prentiss and adds further oomph with her two songs (‘Would You Like a Souvenir?’ and ‘Who Cares What People Say?’).

Also in the cast are Bruce Bennett, Robert Alda, Rosemary DeCamp, John Ridgely, Robert Arthur, Wanda Hendrix, Helen Brown, Rory Mallinson, Harry Shannon, James Flavin, Douglas Kennedy, Don McGuire, Clifton Young, Brooks Benedict, Al Bridge, Georgia Caine, George Campeau, Eddy Chandler, Clancy Cooper, Gino Corrado, Ralph Dunn, Jack Ellis, Ross Ford, Roy Gordon, Creighton Hale, Charles Jordan, Fred Kelsey, Wilbur Mack, Bill McWilliams, Jack Mower, John Newland, Louis Quince, Adele St Mauer, Richard Walsh and Lottie Williams.

Nora Prentiss is directed by Vincent Sherman, runs 115 minutes, is made and released by Warner Bros, is written by N Richard Nash, based on stories by Jack Sobell and Paul Webster, is shot in black and white by James Wong Howe, is produced by Jack L Warner and William Jacobs, is scored by Franz Waxman and is designed by Anton Grot.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9991

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