'Nora Prentiss' is an old fashioned women's picture, directed by Warner Brothers' resident "women's director" Vincent Sherman, and starring Ann Sheridan.
Kent Smith plays a married, well respected San Francisco doctor who has an affair with nightclub singer Nora Prentiss (Sheridan), and then commits a crime in an effort to hide the affair from his wife (Rosemary DeCamp), leading to tragic consequences.
Not on the level of Warner Brothers lavishly produced Bette Davis vehicles earlier in the decade, 'Nora Prentiss' owes whatever interest it holds to Ann Sheridan's sincere performance. She has such a direct personality, so natural and real without any phoniness, you never doubt her convictions for a minute. And she gets to display her lovely singing voice in several musical numbers within the nightclub settings. She deserves better then she gets here, but rises about the quality of the material with her excellent performance.
Kent Smith is less effective as the doctor. Perhaps it's the role, but he's simply not very interesting. Rosemary DeCamp, usually cast in warm, sentimental roles, is quite good as the doctors cold, unloving wife. And Robert Alda is excellent as a nightclub owner in love with Nora Prentiss.
Recommended mostly for fans of Ann Sheridan and old fashioned "womens pictures."
Kent Smith plays a married, well respected San Francisco doctor who has an affair with nightclub singer Nora Prentiss (Sheridan), and then commits a crime in an effort to hide the affair from his wife (Rosemary DeCamp), leading to tragic consequences.
Not on the level of Warner Brothers lavishly produced Bette Davis vehicles earlier in the decade, 'Nora Prentiss' owes whatever interest it holds to Ann Sheridan's sincere performance. She has such a direct personality, so natural and real without any phoniness, you never doubt her convictions for a minute. And she gets to display her lovely singing voice in several musical numbers within the nightclub settings. She deserves better then she gets here, but rises about the quality of the material with her excellent performance.
Kent Smith is less effective as the doctor. Perhaps it's the role, but he's simply not very interesting. Rosemary DeCamp, usually cast in warm, sentimental roles, is quite good as the doctors cold, unloving wife. And Robert Alda is excellent as a nightclub owner in love with Nora Prentiss.
Recommended mostly for fans of Ann Sheridan and old fashioned "womens pictures."