Nora Prentiss (1947) Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

The noir genre was extremely popular with producers. They could make a noir for a small budget and they were so popular that they could make a nice profit. That is why there were so many produced during the 40s and 50s.

Female lead film noirs are not so much a dime a dozen. But there have been some really good one including, Bette Davis in Dead Ringer, Joan Crawford in Sudden Fear and Barbara Stanwyck in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers.

Well, in 1947 Ann Sheridan starred in the film noir Nora Prentiss. Now for the 77th anniversary of the film's release, the good folks at Warner Archive Collection have restored and released this film on Blu-ray!

Synopsis: A respected doctor (Kent Smith) fakes his death, deserts his family, throws away his career and drive himself to the edge of madness -- all for the love of saloon singer Nora Prentiss (Ann Sheridan). From the opening shot of a media circus engulfing a handcuffed mystery man to the final scene of a scarred face peering from a cell window, Nora Prentiss ensnares viewers in its atmospheric world of sex, violence, shady motives, seedy nightclubs, and claustrophobic lensing by master cinematographer James Wong Howe (Hud, Body and Soul) that makes the camera a vital character in the drama. A harrowing twist ending adds another layer of shadow to this smoky, moody, totally absorbing film noir.

Nora Prentiss is a film where arguably Ann Sheridan and Kent Smith turn in their greatest performances in their careers. Nora is great as the femme fatale and Smith's performance as the doctor whose life is in the downward spiral is spectacular.

Vincent Sherman who is probably best known for his films Mr. Skeffington (1944) and The Young Philadelphians (1959) directs this melodrama that has all the earmarks of a noir. We see the crime elements, the moody B&W cinematography, and the doomed love affair. It is all on full display here.

Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray transfer of Nora Prentiss is 1080p and is presented in 1.37:1 aspect ratio. The audio track is a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono sound mix. Finally, there is the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Here is another wonderful looking Warner Archive restoration. The black and white picture has been lovingly restored to beautiful quality. The picture is crisp and clean with wonderful detail. The audio track is clear with no hiss or pops. Warner Archive has done it again with another gorgeous restoration. But this Blu-ray also has some cool bonus features, take a look!

* The Big Snooze (1947) Elmer Fudd walks out of a typical Bugs cartoon, so Bugs gets back at him by disturbing Elmer's sleep using "nightmare paint."

* So You Think you're a Nervous Wreck (1946) Joe McDoakes is full of fears and phobias, but his most deeply-rooted psychic disturbance is fear of his boss. He has a dream and sees himself as besting his boss and establishing himself as the boss of his own super-deluxe office.

* Original Theatrical Trailer

Joe McDoakes shorts are gems and are always a welcome addition to any Blu-ray, but throw in a classic Bugs Bunny cartoon and a trailer to go with a wonderfully restored film noir, and you go a tremendous Blu-ray release. And that is exactly what you have here with Nora Prentiss.

If you love film noir as much as me, head over to MovieZyng or Amazon and order your copy of Nora Prentiss. It will make a great addition to your noir collection.