Nora Prentiss (1947)

A doctor (Kent Smith) leads a rather dull life with a wife (Rosemary DeCamp) and two children (Wanda Hendrix, Robert Arthur). When he meets a nightclub singer (Ann Sheridan), it begins a love affair that spirals into deceit, violence and eventually, a murder trial. Despite the film's title (Sheridan's character), the film's protagonist is the doctor. The film has all the elements of a film noir but Sheridan's Nora Prentiss isn't a typical femme fatale. Instead, she's a rather decent woman who does everything in her power to stop the doctor from going off the deep end but he's hooked and his life falls apart around him. Unfortunately, he does everything wrong and bungles it all so we can't drum up much sympathy for him. Indeed, it's more of a case of "you made your bed, now lie in it". In spite of that (and the bland Kent Smith who plays him), the film remains an engrossing femme noir with a sympathetic "fatale" and enough twists and turns to keep you glued to the screen. Directed by Vincent Sherman (MR. SKEFFINGTON). The B&W cinematography by James Wong Howe (THE ROSE TATTOO) and an effective if minor score by Franz Waxman. With Robert Alda, Bruce Bennett, Douglas Kennedy and John Ridgely.