The Sin of Nora Moran1933

A somewhat untypical melodramatic potboiler with a histrionic performance by Zita Johann. Great gobs of preachy narration is made a little palatable by some interesting film techniques. Many films from this time period (Madame X, Madelon Claudet, etc.) focused on the self-sacrificing female and the craven men who victimized them.

A disappointing film, given the description. I see nothing nothing even remotely surreal about it, more like a generic low-budget piece that relies on over complicated plotting and a few camera tricks rather than good film making.

ATTENTION: SPOILERS. Poor Nora Moran. She was an orphin who got adopted then we see her as a show girl in a circus, and strongly intimated that she was raped by the lion tamer, then she is the mistress of the governor and accidentally kills the lion tamer but gets the district attorney to help her dispose of the body but then she gets caught and confesses and never divulges about her affair with the governor (who wanted to get a divorce and marry her). Now she's on death row and the governor-lover wont, can't, isn't going to commute her sentence. So she gets the chair. The sub-plot about the D.A>'s sister (who is the governors wife) and the love letters is an effective way to tell the story of poor Nora. 3 decent stars.

Really interesting movie - especially for one that was completely unknown to me before I took a chance on it. Narrative structure is very innovative - almost borders on magic realism with some very fantastic elements I thought it was well worth my time.

Excellent twists and turns.

Strange, corny, gripping. The lead actress was very good, a little off -beat.

excellent!!!