Nora Moran, a young woman with a difficult and tragic past, is sentenced to die for a murder that she did not commit. She could easily reveal the truth and save her own life, if only it would not damage the lives, careers and reputations of those whom she loves.
Direction
Expressionist flashbacks that Pre-Code Hollywood rarely dared
Acting
Zita Johann's haunted, resigned devastation
Editing
Hallucinatory montage ahead of its time
Director
Phil Goldstone
Zita Johann
Nora Moran
John Miljan
Paulino
Alan Dinehart
District Attorney John Grant
Paul Cavanagh
Governor Dick Crawford
Claire Du Brey
Mrs. Edith Crawford
Sarah Padden
Mrs. Watts
Henry B. Walthall
Father Ryan
Harvey Clark
Mr. Moran
Aggie Herring
Mrs. Moran
Cora Sue Collins
Nora Moran, as a Child
Joseph W. Girard
Captain of Detectives
Ann Brody
Matron
Otis Harlan
Mr. Moran
Syd Saylor
Miller - Jake's Friend - 2nd Drunk
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Zita Johann was fresh off The Mummy (1932) — this was her attempt at serious dramatic prestige, and she fought the studio for the role.
Pre-Code films could show sexual threat and moral complexity that vanished after 1934 — Nora's 'noble' sacrifice reads as masochistic propaganda to modern eyes.
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