The Sin of Nora Moran (1933) PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD

[@robertstock8489]

One of the best "little known movies" I've ever seen. The cinematography is well ahead of its time, the direction is subtle & carefully crafted, the acting intense & convincing. Zita Johann is as good here as in "The Mummy," both low-budget but powerful films.

[@vidimur1977]

The mummy wasn't low budget.

[@bigm383]

I’ve looked everywhere for Zita Johann movies, since watching the Mummy. She’s bloody gorgeous!

[@mikeletaurus4728]

Well said. I agree with all you write. I was about to leave a similar comment, so I'm glad I read yours first. You beat me to it. Thank you!

[@davidc9396]

My grandfather was the editor of this film, Otis Garrett!

[@galewinds7696]

Are you Pat?

[@shirleyrandle3138]

today's movies cannot compare to these movies of quality. Thank you for sharing.

[@Zenbuck2]

I was gonna watch a few minutes this on a lark as some little silly film that nobody had ever heard of. Ended up watching the whole thing. It was a really good film. I was surprised!

[@seanohare5488]

Me too

[@ronaldstrange8981]

If you'v e got a spare hour, sit back and enjoy an atmospheric film. Well worth it, and it's 90 years old! England, July, 2023.

[@heatherbowlan1961]

Thank you so much for all the years of sharing with us fantastic old classics! The Greats , fr.Canada

[@thomascampbell4730]

What a marvelous film, so touching, so well acted, so technically perfect. It is no wonder that no remake has ever been made. There is not a director alive, nor a single actor with enough sensitivity and class to do the plot justice. In this age of the modern Visigoth few people would not view the nobility, self-sacrifice, and honor of Nora with anything but a cynical and jaundiced eye.

[@seanohare5488]

So true

[@nibiruresearch]

What an amazing sound quality. Optical sound was introduced around 1928, so this is only 5 years later. A great conservation project both in picture and sound.

[@kathwright5098]

They don't make films like this anymore. Classy, well written and acted, without unnecessary nude and sex scenes. Bring back the days when film makers relied on talent instead of computer generated garbage. Loved this film. Thanks for posting it.

[@653j521]

I find value in films of all eras. It's just a matter of which movie from that time. They aren't all good or all bad from the Silents to today.

[@kathwright5098]

@@653j521 I would never claim that every film of this era is high quality.

[@seanohare5488]

Yes interesting film

[@VillemarMxO]

This was a Pre-Code film before people got angry and sent in Joseph Breen to clean up these scandalous films not long after this movie came out. This movie was definitely scandalous at the time. I do agree about the CGI stuff, I got bored with those movies and only watch lower budget movies that are about storytelling instead of explosions.

[@llongone2]

"They'll make them ugly and cheap instead of what they were. I'm not asking you to be cowardly. I'm asking you let me keep the only happiness I've ever known" - I love that! No modern romance film could contain lines that lovely. Romances today are just about young and beautiful people, superficial infatuations, and living happily ever after.

[@653j521]

Bit soured on life?

[@sunnyadams5842]

The funny part is, we never see the Happily Ever After... I always want the movie to begin where it ends. Just finished watching Three Blonde Girls. I want it to begin with the next day after the one it ends on. What did Jerry's mother say, for instance?

[@Sukijopa]

Knowing now about the utter brutality in training animals for the movies, it is painful to watch that "trainer" punching the lion in the face. Generally I like early movies, but seeing things like that makes me have to stop and move on to another.

[@seanohare5488]

True kind of a too long of a sing

[@HRConsultant_Jeff]

Really well done for the time and the sound quality is very good for so early in the use of sound. This was a "it could happen to anyone" movie regardless of race, creed, color and it works.

[@maryanitaschmidt9651]

I have been addicted to these precodes lately..in a cell waiting to die given opiods& wearing perfect eye make up! Gotta love it..that dude was hitting a lion...how could he be good ..strange how they skirt the word rape..some strange things people diid/do to survive...so interesting these movies really are ty for having them.

[@TheCelticSelkie.]

A wonderful actress, reminded me of Joan Fontaine. A pity she wasn't in more films.

[@thomashorton4435]

She did not care for acting in hollywood.

[@MBFLA45]

Interesting plot twists and way better than I was expecting. Thank you for posting this.

[@seanohare5488]

Me too

[@NancySanders-om4ic]

Very well acted movie and all of the actors were very good, especially,Ms.Johann.

[@pebkit6763]

What he did to that poor lion. SMH.

[@stephenblum1078]

Really enjoyed this movie. The communication to the spirit world brought me back to my mother who would have been 18 in 1938. She believed in scenes where the living speak to the dead and vice versa.

[@PizzaFLIX]

Thanks for watching PizzaFLIX. May the Sauce be with you 🍕

[@Outlier999]

After making seven movies Zita Johann went back to the theater, her first love. In 1928 she had starred on Broadway with Clark Gable in “Machinal.” Her character met the same fate as she did in this movie. In her later years she also directed plays and taught acting to people with learning disabilities. She died at 89 in Nyack, New York. I don’t think she had any survivors.

[@PARIS-FRANCE]

SUPER MERCI POUR CE P'TIT BIJOU !.. MISS ZITA EST FABULEUSE !.. SON REGARD HALLUCINÉ DU GRAND ART !.. MES COMPLIMENTS À LA LE LES SCÉNARISTES !..

[@lucindamoran8686]

Great movie! 👍thanks! The girl had character and beauty!

[@seanohare5488]

Yes

[@rosafodor6085]

Great movie, unexpected ending! Sad and yet with a current theme! Wow! I guess some things never change.

[@ladylydia762]

The movie was superb. Very good creative writing.

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@will27ns]

Thanks PizzaFlix and thanks to the reviewers at IMDB who turned me on to this-- never knew it existed. Incredible performance by Zita Johann.

[@suzannefarrington4143]

TCM will be featuring this soon. I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss it!

[@kell4674]

The bastard let a woman go to the chair to save his career. He was a cad and she was an idiot. Thank goodness he decided to top himself. As films go, it was very well made. Shifting realities and flashbacks were very well done. State of the art for the time. Austrian born Zita Johann was gorgeous and might have become a major star, but she felt that Hollywood films were trashy. She returned to Broadway and retired in the 1940s.

[@tholmes572]

This would still happen today, those in power are corrupt and happy to do anything to save their knecks

[@minnesotalakes2062]

@@tholmes572 - Agreed. Not only WOULD it happen today, but it DOES happen today.

[@learntocookketo]

Two years late with this, but the real culprits went free… the DA and his sister. 😢

[@milap.1616]

One of the greatest love stories ever written. Somehow, George Orwell with his 1984 novel came to my mind. Yes, different plot, but question is... How much would you sacrifice for the one you love? Compare attitudes of lovers in both stories. "Do it to her, not me! Do it to him, not me!" And here's Nora with her true love and integrity. If you think you love somebody, imagine yourself in this position. It would help to understand the depth of your feelings.

[@cynk956]

I really enjoyed this movie. Zita Johann is gorgeous and believable.

[@Miriana727]

She reminds me of the young Joan Crawford. They don't look alike, but there is something similar about them.

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@Northatlantic2012]

Depressing movie, but still very good. And what a beautiful woman!

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@miasalazar1980]

What a film. This was ahead of it's time and unsettling but well made. I give it a rating of 9.

[@samsam8089]

great plot: the struggle of love and morality. The big questions of life can be found in these pre code movies. It seems to me that these are movies from a far away movie world not to comprae with nowadys, where you just watch commercial bits of pictures, plots full of manipulations (drink milk, smoke or don't smoke, do this do that, behave like this or that go to Nato, go to war etc, etc. what a bore - and then these pre-codes, what a world full of wonderful rich entertainment!

[@catholiccrusader5328]

Sam sam you got the right.

[@davidbrown552]

I'm glad I wasn't there. I'd end up going to the follies every night. Damn those girls had legs. But seriously, you're right. The Hays Code put a real damper on the pictures.

[@marthawissmann8268]

Not only that but that DA lost his ethics too!

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@heatherbowlan9822]

Great story line realy great ! My second time in years and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time ! Thank you for uploading!❤️🙏🏽🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@deborahleone4351]

Great casting! Didn’t you just detest the Governor’s wife? 😂 Lol! For me, the one name that personifies “Movie 🌟 Star” will always be THE Ms. Gloria Swanson 🌟🌹, but I just loved this little Zita Johann. As many 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s films as I’ve seen (I’m a huge fan), I can’t recall ever seeing her before or after this film.?? Anyone else? I’ll check Google.....she was quite talented and fresh. God bless all here, especially those who love the joy the “oldies” bring......in Jesus’s Name, Amen!🕊🌸💕🙏💜✝️✡️🙋‍♀️🌹

[@ladywisewolf3942]

She co-starred with Boris Karloff in the original "The Mummy" and also with Edward G. Robinson in a film about a fisherman but I can't recall the title.

[@monaattianese9838]

Thank you pizza flix..this is another excellent film...very unusually presented means of telling this story,,.its engaging every step of the wayside ✡️🙏🏼❤️😇✝️

[@SuperIliad]

The Sin of Nora Moran, released USA 13 December 1933, UK 16 January 1934 (London), UK 2 July 1934, USA 9 January 1949 (New York City, New York) (TV premiere). Zita Johann as Nora Moran; John Miljan as Paulino; Alan Dinehart as District Attorney John Grant; Paul Cavanagh as Gov. Dick Crawford; Claire Du Brey as Mrs. Edith Crawford; Sarah Padden as Mrs. Watts - Prison Matron; Henry B. Walthall as Father Ryan; Harvey Clark as Mr. Moran; Aggie Herring as Mrs. Moran; Cora Sue Collins as Nora Moran - as a Child; Joseph W. Girard (as Joe Girard), Captain of Detectives; Ann Brody as Sadie; Otis Harlan as Jake - Sadie's Husband - 1st Drunk; Syd Saylor as Miller - Jake's Friend - 2nd Drunk; Rolfe Sedan, Stage Manager; Jack Cheatham, Policeman; Rose Plumer, Paulino's Maid; Otto Yamaoka as Kito - John Grant's Houseboy.

[@wehrhaftedemokratie4624]

GREAT MOVIE THANK YOU FOR UPLOADING !!!

[@craigroberts6439]

Really an excellent movie....I was surprised at how good the story was. Thanks for the post.

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@michaellawrence5492]

Early film now 89 years later those actors acted out quite well a story that will never grow old anytime to come.

[@19611939]

Found this film on the computer and checked it out. Really enjoyed it. Comments below say/describe it well. Do check it out.

[@19611939]

Even better the second time. See it with someone else - someone you care about.

[@daisyblue2447]

This movie was soooo good. How have I never seen it before

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

Alan Dinehart was a good actor. I remember seeing him with Kay Francis and Tallulah Bankhead. He directed later in his career. Paul Cavanagh was Joan Crawford husband in Humoresque. Zita Johann was in The Mummy with Boris Karloff.

[@robert44861]

The Pre Code Movies deals with basic facts of life with out Sex or nudity and no using GOD'S name in vain today's MOVIE maker's and MOVIE STARS should take note

[@653j521]

That isn't true at all. Pre Code was anything the traffic would allow, much of it disgusting and vile by today's and their own era's standards. We only get to see the ones that were saved and that sites like this allow, but even those include enough sex, nudity, and swearing to make a lie out of what you wrote, not to mention violence, hatred, greed, and drugs/drink. Today some of them are called sexploitation films. People went to see horrible acts so they could hypocritically tut tut over how awful it was. Ministers preached against the sinfulness, breaking down the moral structure of society, and many churches either forbade the congregation from going to the movies or tried to encourage the people in other pursuits. Congress cracked down on them so severely it made a mockery of art and free speech, so Code movies were putting things across in a "code" (a different type of code than Hays enforced) the audience understood, as the song said, "they had to lay it between the lines."

[@seanohare5488]

Yes I agree

[@soulvigilante]

11:40 Circuses these days just don't have enough lion-slapping acts any more.

[@jonathanhansen3709]

Soulvigilante There are no real circuses anymore, Ringling Bros & Barnum Bailey went out of business in 2017.

[@MissMadeleine9]

Haha. That was the most painful, poignant part of the movie (great movie, BTW). I was rooting for the lion to kill the guy.

[@katherenewedic8076]

lol

[@gailfisher1350]

Can't believe this man allowed her to take the blame for his killing. It was self defense, but his greed and reputation was all he thought of. It wasn't noble of her it was sheer stupidity. I must go back and see this movie in its entirety. Why doesn't he really do what he imagined, calling the warden to give her a reprieve? He kills himself instead but let's her die with a sullied reputation. What a terribly sad story, but it's realistic, showing the true horrible nature of some people. He didn't really love her, he only took advantage of her when it suited him.

[@eriscarmodossantosdefranca5528]

Agreed...I abominated the injustice commited against the girl....first was raped by the bad guy, then assumed the "idiot's" fault....absurd...I wasted my precious time

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@Kidraver555]

The lion wrestling @12.15 would not be allowed today, the lion tamer probably had the Lion from a cub, nice visual treat though, they were playing I think, the smacks the trainer was handing out would hardly bother the lion, when lions play they hand out lots worse than that, love these pre-code movies, social documents is what they are, if we had videos or even photos of the middle ages we would know lots more about that time, photos and video capture today for tomorrow to see, all photos are art.

[@Miriana727]

Live animals should not be in circuses.

[@MsCValentiner]

I've handled large animals and that actor is definitely hitting the lion with unnecessary harshness!! And it was trained to have to endure such hard hits without going ballistic. Animal abuse in my book and makes me want to skip it.

[@iamgrateful8958]

Funny I was waiting for them to say the kitten didn't have claws, lol

[@seanohare5488]

Well said

[@AndrewLohmannKent]

A woman sacrifices herself for better people as she sees it. That is she gives herself no value. The prison Matron was kind and lovely for her. the film shows people being touched by Noras softness.

[@bj7057]

What a coward the governor was. I know we are to assume that they were reunited in death but I wouldn't want him after he let me fry for something I didn't do.☹

[@seanohare5488]

Hilarious

[@marievicknair6979]

I read all of the comments so far and find myself with a different perspective. At the beginning when the D.A. hand his sister the newspaper, Nora was waiting to die as the paper just announced the Governor no clemency. At the end the Governor is looking out the window, writes his letter and shoots himself. However, It is a story told by the D.A., if the Governor killed himself, how did the D.A. get the letter and not know the Governor was dead? The scenario of the suicide is a probable future if all is told which is why the Wife and D.A. burned the evidence in support of him. I don't think he died in the end and Nora did. This story is a great mythology of the hero's journey.

[@rhondae8222]

Thanks for the upload.

[@rcl1955ca]

The one thing I found amusing right from the start was they used the same opening music as in Reefer Madness.

[@hortondlfn1994]

Fascinating! Wonderful use of theatrical conventions, and the switches between dreams, flashback, "reality," etc. were delightful. With all the highly diverting elements aside, though, it seems a very twisted film. (spoiler alert) The life she was "saving" is lost, anyway, and the viewer is left with the "moral" that infidelity is okay as long as it is not 'ugly and cheap'." Pull those heart strings hard, Hollywood! You've gotta get people into that zone where one's feelings are more important that one's ethics!

[@PizzaFLIX]

Thanks for watching! May the Sauce be with you.

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@craigbenz4835]

Curious that in this 1933 movie the detective gave her something like a Miranda warning at 46:00, Thirty-three years before the decision.

[@cherokee1298]

Tells you something, good catch

[@Outlier999]

New York cops gave a brief warning like you describe for decades before Miranda, pretty much like the one she got.

[@seanohare5488]

Good point

[@oliverscratch]

The right to not answer questions is protected by the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution. The Miranda decision added the right to an attorney "if you cannot afford one;" it mandated public defenders. It also standardized the language with which the rights of the accused had to be stated.

[@kathyh4804]

Okay.... now THAT was depressing

[@sylvialawson1402]

Kathy H THANKS DON'T WANT TO SEE A DEPRESSING MOVIE

[@normanbrown9225]

A life lesson I see in this movie; Sometimes. in life the Innocent has to suffer for the guilty. in prisons we have the Guilty ones mixed with the Innocent ones.

[@mlane2182]

My maiden name brought me here. Thanks for posting this. Just subscribed.

[@thomashorton4435]

Those eyes. They should have named the song she has Zita Johann eyes... except that few could match those eyes.

[@HowToVideosAndTips]

oh gosh just the starting music and you know you are traveling back in time

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@carolmirelez170]

Just loved this film.

[@davidcopperfield-notthemag397]

Nora is the hero in this movie, like the lawyer in Tale Of Two Cities. They both took the rap (electric chair and guillotine) for love. 1:00:56 - The sweetest smile. Aarg, what did the letter say??

[@vin.handle]

One of the more interesting and thought-provoking films you are likely to see.

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@bethwaltz2607]

Remembering Zita Johann's mesmerizing performance in "The Mummy" -- especially the intro scene on the balcony overlooking Cairo -- I wanted another view of her work, perhaps with better lines. Never mind a script, all she needed was a close-up of her eyes...

[@mikeoak5289]

In cat culture, boxing is a form of play. If you've seen cats playing, you can understand that a man slapping a lion is, in a lion's point of view, playing. So the comments about animal abuse must be from people who don't know cats.

[@rubystinemoore7308]

Another Great Movie! Thanks!

[@Miriana727]

The lead actress reminds me of the young Joan Crawford. Enjoyed the film. Thank you. But why, oh why, is the woman executed? Even in Pre Code, it seems that the "bad" woman has to suffer.

[@domonicdimas6686]

thanks for ruining the movie for me....

[@katburgess8533]

@@domonicdimas6686 so why read the commentary,which is about the movie, before watching it?!? Don't chastise someone for your lack of common sense!!!

[@jerricroft937]

@@katburgess8533 gave you both thumbs up👍👍

[@653j521]

@@katburgess8533 The polite thing to do was write spoiler alert.

[@seanohare5488]

True I noticed the law marriage is heavily defended in ore code films

[@DANIEL666YUSUPOV_KAZANOVA]

Nice movie Thanks for posting

[@dabdella1460]

Wow what a movie And those big Brown baby doll eyes beautiful

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@marycope]

What a very good STORY,! Watch .〽️🎥📽

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@sandiehoward2762]

I loved this movie 🍿

[@robertoreilly7481]

Loved it....bravo

[@dianapearson1771]

Great movie!!!!

[@dotm2218]

IMDb says: 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.

[@shirleyandrews1152]

Dot M Almost funny, 😔 when you compare the morals of today.

[@earsybun]

that's a spoiler right there.

[@653j521]

@@shirleyandrews1152 You mean your morals?

[@deguilhemcorinne418]

A very sad pattern of life she endured indeed, until she is free of all fears. I like the spare style of filming, males the story poignant more than gloomy

[@deguilhemcorinne418]

makes

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@kevink2593]

Now THAT's interesting: she says "damned" at 33:53; and I always thought Gable's "I don't give a damn" in Gone With the Wind was the first time that word was ever spoken in a motion picture.

[@Outlier999]

Interesting how many women screenwriters there were back then.

[@monaattianese9838]

Eternal life and perpetual light shine upon them....thank you Jesus!!!!✝️❤️✝️

[@shirleyandrews1152]

Mona Attianese 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@seanohare5488]

Me too

[@davidgray8191]

Wow! That was great!

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@DavidRice111]

"Save PizzaFLIX. Thank you for staying with us and your continued support. Our entire channel remains in jeopardy! All efforts to contact KZbin have failed. Please watch this VIDEO UPDATE and share it with EVERYONE. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments." kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmfLdIKio7aIga8,

[@normanbrown9225]

I wish I knew what happened to the Lion Was he considered as animal cruility back then. Great flick a head of its time.

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@donmateo3728]

lol that's a good one...the lion!

[@beverlylawyer2286]

Thanks Pizza Flix

[@Norfolk250]

Now... why in heck is this titled HER sin? Huh? Why. Why! WHY WHY WHY WHYYYYYY?!!?! Huh? Well?!?!?!

[@davidweir3807]

Because the company that made the film, was notorious for giving a movie sensational titles to lure the customers in to see it!

[@LIZZIE-lizzie]

PIZZA FLIX has returned? Is this the original PIZZA FLIX ? You had the best classic movies up👍 And these aren't disappointing only all cut to 1:28:00 -

[@jamesbugbee6812]

Excellent. A sort of proto-psychological drama.

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@aydanyesilirmak6344]

If you can add appropriate english subtitles to movies, i'd be really grateful to you. :)

[@halloranedward]

Ok What's with the blinking thing on the side? I saw the same thing happened to "young and beautiful" I can't believe this is a copyright issue Only me and a dozen other people have watched it on KZbin.

[@garyallen6199]

Good movie!

[@gailmarks3472]

The abuse of that poor lion made me sick. Stopped watching.

[@fredneecher1746]

It wasn't abuse. They were playing. Lions are tough and those punches would have been playful to a lion. Stupid reason to stop watching a movie anyway.

[@seanohare5488]

Sad but true

[@bruceshelton1498]

Very good

[@jocelyneallaire1034]

Great movie:)

[@RaymondJones-kh6pp]

Great movie

[@davidcopperfield-notthemag397]

This movie is a #metoo issue. Nora was a victim.

[@fredneecher1746]

Everything's a metoo to people like you. Who cares?

[@seanohare5488]

The screenwriter in this was a woman and I recall one famous writer once stated woman love to play the victim

[@kerryhorwitz4093]

I've been searching for this film for ages. I watched it ages ago and couldn't remember the name. I just found it. It is such an unusual film, but it is deeply touching and interesting. Ps. I wish the lion had eaten him. It would have been self-defence after the bad guy lobbed him in the face. But, well, there wouldn't have been a film if the bad guy gets eater a quarter through!

[@creativebea]

Wow!

[@JJJBRICE]

Claire DuBrey lived to be 100.

[@user-wc7mo9uo9o]

This is such a horrible horrific movie. Don't watch it in the evening! Just another proof how rotten men are and especially politicians! And crime didn't get punished! That prosecutor and his sister burned letters and confession. I don't know if fire was a symbolism for them to be in hell. Eventually. Very sad, terrible movie!

[@seanohare5488]

More interesting than horrible

[@johnbuchinsky3193]

pre-code is before when movies had total freedom. no bras and such. then movie standards changed and they put al new restrictions on movies precursor to the e/I R PG, pg13 etc.

[@larissadoyle7427]

Thanks for that, I didn't know that..

[@robertwalker5521]

I never wear a bra

[@seanohare5488]

True

[@jimlaymon6021]

10 minute reels. Interesting.

[@roderickfernandez8554]

Jeta was a fine actress.,better than her films.

[@waderaney7]

A good movie

[@roychefets6961]

Who ARE these performers and whatever happened to them, not to mention the studio?

[@653j521]

IMDB or wiki.

[@kevinfranck908]

I was a child actor during the pre code era they were b movies my short movie's i did more of. My character name was dickie. Title of movies were dickies little rasins, little dickies long legs , do you want to kiss little dickies, puddin tane and little dickies, mama's friend tells dickie to walk his little marbles around the block. Sue grabes dickies stick, two soft marshmellows.and many mire ya might like.