NORA PRENTISS (1947)
The Movie
Mid century San Francisco was well represented by the great location scenes in the 1947 movie Nora Prentiss. Back in 2015 CitySleuth researched and found them all but held off posting because the quality of DVDs available at the time was dreadful. Patience paid off - an excellent Warner Brothers Blu-ray has been released and the way is clear for it to be added to ReelSF’s movie list. Well before similarly themed SF movies Vertigo (1958) and Fatal Attraction (1987), the movie follows the downward spiral of a man consumed by obsession. We can thank director William Sherman and his great noir cinematographer James Wong Howe for this engrossing if harrowing tale that ended with an unexpected twist.
The Story
Dr. Richard Talbot (Kent Smith) is a highly respected physician in his community. He lives a comfortable life with his wife and two teenage children in a desirable San Francisco neighborhood until a chance meeting with a nightclub singer (Ann Sheridan) sends his world into a colossal tailspin. Torn between uncontrolled desire for Nora and guilt over commitments to his family he makes a startling decision when a patient suddenly collapses and dies in his office …
The Locations -
The Suspect Panorama from the Fairmont Hotel rooftop, Nob Hill —- Ferry Building, The Embarcadero —- Hall Of Justice, 750 Kearny Street, Financial District/Chinatown
(More coming soon)