SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

ScoobyWell Great visuals, story delivers no surprises

Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Aubrey Hackett While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

canuckteach I like (many) pre-code movies, simply because you never know what might happen. Quite a contrast to the formulaic stuff that was produced after 1935 (approx.) and, for those who think the 'Hayes' code is dead, the assembly-line production of rom-coms since 1990 rigidly stick to the same drivel: about 20 minutes from the end, a disagreement causes the intended couple to split, but miraculously re-unite by the final curtain. Nauseating.Sins of Norah Moran is a bit melodramatic in places, esp. in the early going, but Majestic Studios (one of the so-called 'Poverty Row' film-makers, who rented space and equipment from the mainstream guys to keep costs down) weaved a melancholy tale here of a sad-sack orphan who grows up only to have the 'system' beat her down. She stands accused of murdering a former co-worker at the circus (he sexually assaulted her - a modern screenplay might have her nominated for Congress), and facing a death sentence. Her recent 'governor' boyfriend probably did it, but will Nora blow the whistle? I was struck by how the 'governor', a married man, cavorts so openly with this pretty young girl - were the 'Press' so under control during this era or was there just so much of this 'running-around' going on that the gov could hide in plain sight?In time, he sees her at a 'kept' home every Friday & Monday - it kind of blows up when his wife finds a stack of unsigned love letters. The script makes no effort to condemn Nora or the Governor for their dallying, but, of course, it's poor Nora who will face severe consequences when the villain is suitably dispatched. Dang it-where's Perry Mason when you need him?But that's pre-code: anything can happen. That's what makes it so interesting. Great camera work & use of flashbacks & voice-overs. Experimental. Unorthodox. Compelling. Kudos to TCM for reviving interest in this era. 8/10

Michael_Elliott The Sin of Nora Moran (1933)** 1/2 (out of 4)Nora Moran (Zita Johann) is in prison about to die in the electric chair. We then hear about her troubled life, which has her in that spot. After leaving her job as a circus performer, the young woman meets a politician and soon after he's married they carry on the relationship, which leads to a murder that Nora is convicted of.THE SIN OF NORA MORAN seems to have picked up a few fans over the past few years because it's rather racy poster started going around social media and then more fans started to look for the film. The new cult following that the picture has earned is understandable and especially when you consider that these Pre-code films are more popular than ever. There's no question that this movie is far from a classic but at the same time there's no doubt that it's entertaining enough to where film buffs will want to watch it.The film's biggest problem is that it's obviously working with a small budget and director Phil Goldstone really doesn't bring much flare to the film. The cinematography is quite flat and there's a certain cheap feel all over the picture but there's still some stuff that works well. I thought the screenplay was good for the most part as it works as what would eventually become known as a film noir. The screenplay also keeps you off guard as to what really happen the night that Nora was arrested.The film also benefits from Johann being so good in the title role. She's certainly very attractive and fits the role nicely and also manages to deliver a full performance. The supporting cast includes John Miljan, Alan Dinehart and Paul Cavanagh as well as Henry B. Walthall in a brief part.

JohnHowardReid Based on a stage play entitled "Burnt Offering" by newspaperman turned press agent (for Webber and Fields, Chauncey Olcott and many others), W. Maxwell Goodhue, this is, to say the least, an amazing film noir. Its complex narrative structure anticipates many of the famous classics including Citizen Kane. Nor is the direction by Phil Goldstone (a "B" movie producer who directed only two sound movies of which this is the first) in any way lacking. In fact, it's very inventive, as is the darkly noirish cinematography of Ira H. Morgan (who co-photographed the fabulously spectacular "When Knighthood Was in Flower" in 1922 but whose career declined in the sound period where, except for an occasional "A" like Chaplin's Modern Times, he worked almost exclusively in Poverty Row. He managed to chalk up over 200 credits in all before his death in 1979). The acting too is highly creditable, particularly by Zita Johann in the title role, John Miljan as one of the most repulsive villains ever seen in a movie, Claire Du Brey as the self-centered, antagonistic Mrs. Crawford, and Paul Cavanaugh as the charming but disappointingly weak-willed governor. The only not-so-hot performance is offered by the normally thoroughly professional Alan Dinehart who seems unsure how to play his role. As a result, he simply rattles off his lines and is often unconvincing. In all, however, The Sin of Nora Moran is a must-see item for every film noir fan. Available on an excellent Alpha DVD.

earlytalkie Here is a decent film from Majestic Pictures from 1933. Zita Johann plays a girl in desperate circumstances who gets embroiled in a murder. The structure of this film is quite unique for it's genre. The direction by Phil Goldstone and the performances are excellent. Many offbeat touches are present and there is a decent music score, rare for a little poverty row production like this. Films like this make me appreciative of the little studios that put these out. This probably played small houses or the bottom half of a double bill. It really is well done and the brief running time (just over an hour) goes by pretty quickly. The print I saw running on YouTube was decent, with good picture and sound. The clever montages and effects really add to the enjoyment of this film.