Don't Bother to Knock
Don't Bother to Knock

Don't Bother to Knock

1952Movie76 minEnglish

An airline pilot pursues a live-in babysitter at his hotel and gradually realizes she is not as stable as perhaps she should be.

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Insights

IMDb7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes75%
Director: Roy Ward BakerGenres: Film-Noir, Thriller, Crime

Plot Summary

A mentally unstable nightclub singer, Ruby, is left in charge of a wealthy businessman's young daughter, Melody, while he is away. Ruby's dangerous ex-lover, a criminal named Stan, learns of this arrangement and infiltrates the apartment with the intention of using Melody as a pawn to get to the businessman's money. As Stan's menacing presence escalates, Ruby finds herself in a desperate struggle to protect the child and confront her own inner demons.

Critical Reception

Don't Bother to Knock received mixed to positive reviews upon its release. Critics acknowledged Marilyn Monroe's compelling performance in a darker, more complex role than she was typically known for, and Richard Widmark's chilling portrayal of a menacing villain. While some found the plot a bit convoluted, the film's suspenseful atmosphere and strong acting were generally praised.

What Reviewers Say

  • Marilyn Monroe delivers a surprisingly effective performance in a departure from her usual roles.
  • Richard Widmark is menacing as the ruthless criminal.
  • The film successfully builds suspense and a claustrophobic atmosphere.

Google audience: Audience reception data is not readily available.

Awards & Accolades

None notable.

Fun Fact

This film marked a significant dramatic role for Marilyn Monroe, showcasing her ability to portray darker, more complex characters beyond her typical blonde bombshell persona.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

“Lyn” (Anne Bancroft) is an hotel crooner who is in love with, but recently dumped, airline pilot “Jed” (Richard Widmark) who has consequently repaired to his hotel room with a bottle whilst she (well, Eve Marley actually) serenades him via...
Cat Ellington

Cat Ellington

Nell Forbes was by far the darkest and most volatile character Marilyn Monroe had ever portrayed in her entire career. Written by Daniel Taradash and directed by Roy Ward Baker, Don't Bother To Knock - a chilling and uncommonly masterful...
talisencrw

talisencrw

Just a couple of years back, I picked up this mammoth 17-film DVD collection of Marilyn Monroe's films for a really good price, only to find that the ridiculous way the discs were placed in the digipack basically ruined them, and after watc...