Nora Prentiss (1947)

Quiet, organised Dr Talbot meets nightclub singer Nora Prentiss when she is slightly hurt in a street accident. Despite her misgivings they become heavily involved and Talbot finds he is ... See full summary »

Director:

Vincent Sherman

Writers:

Paul Webster (story), Jack Sobell (story)

Stars:

Ann Sheridan, Kent Smith, Bruce Bennett

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ann Sheridan	...	Nora Prentiss
Kent Smith	...	Dr. Richard Talbot aka Robert Thompson
Bruce Bennett	...	Dr. Joel Merriam
Robert Alda	...	Phil Dinardo, Cafe Owner
Rosemary DeCamp	...	Lucy Talbot
John Ridgely	...	Walter Bailey, Heart Patient
Robert Arthur	...	Gregory Talbot
Wanda Hendrix	...	Bonita 'Bunny' Talbot
Helen Brown	...	Miss Judson, Talbot's Nurse
Rory Mallinson	...	Fleming, Talbot's Lawyer
Harry Shannon	...	San Francisco Homicide Lieutenant
James Flavin	...	District Attorney
Douglas Kennedy	...	NYC Emergency Room doctor
Don McGuire	...	Truck Driver who Hits Nora
Clifton Young	...	Policeman arresting Truck Driver

Storyline

Quiet, organised Dr Talbot meets nightclub singer Nora Prentiss when she is slightly hurt in a street accident. Despite her misgivings they become heavily involved and Talbot finds he is faced with the choice of leaving Nora or divorcing his wife. When a patient expires in his office, a third option seems to present itself.

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Plot Keywords:

woman | nightclub singer | heart attack | heart failure | birthday party | 

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Taglines:

Would you keep your mouth shut if you knew Nora Prentiss?

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 February 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Sentence

Filming Locations:

Ferry Building, San Francisco, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sheilah Graham reported that Ann Sheridan had an infection in one ear during production, and during the final shots of the film, could only be photographed from one side.

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Goofs

During the trial, the D.A. remarks to the jury that the defendant did not testify. Since a defendant in a criminal case has a constitutional right not to testify, a prosecutor cannot make any reference to the exercise of that right. The judge would have declared a mistrial even if the defense lawyer (as in the movie) did not move for one.

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Quotes

Nora Prentiss: [driver and cop looking at her legs] I've been examined already!

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Connections

Featured in Okay for Sound (1946)

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Soundtracks

Who Cares What People Say?
Music by M.K. Jerome
Lyrics by Jack Scholl
Sung briefly by Ann Sheridan while Nora and Talbot dance
Also sung by Ann Sheridan at the Sea Gull Cafe

User Reviews

"I'm Willing to Die Remembering This"

Awfully frank thriller about a chance meeting between a doctor working late one night and a singer who gets a bad scrape in a minor accident hooking up into a extra-marital(for the doctor) relationship that heads South in a hurry. Kent Smith, the male lead from Cat People and Curse of the Cat People, plays Dr. Talbot rather nicely I thought. He portrays a man who has worked hard his whole life and sacrificed his "life" for his job and family. Ann Sheridan plays the genuinely nice singer who appeals to the doctor not only because of her beauty but her ability to see him for who and what he is. She does a phenomenal job in what really is a complex role. The rest of the cast is pretty decent. Bruce Bennett may come off miscast as a doctor, but Robert Alda as a night club owner and Rosemary DeCamp as Talbot's wife both excel. While not really a mystery - or a very ingenious one as we know what is going on early on, this picture really depicts what at once seems quite harmless and its transformation into something very harmful. Director Vincent Sherman is more than adequate behind the camera. Some might say this really isn't film noir - I can see some of their points - but this is noir all the way for me: the suggestive black and white cinematography, the voice-over narrator, the man being changed by the "dame," and the ending that is bittersweet. The biggest problem with Nora Prentiss is the title. Ann Sheridan was the box office grab - and this grabbed a lot of tickets - but she is not the star of the movie nor is her character the central character. Kent Smith is the star and a more appropriate title should have been selected. Hmmm...maybe, "The Cheating Surgeon" or "The Doomed Affair." Definitely needs more thought!