Don't Bother to Knock
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Anne Bancroft, Donna Corcoran, Jeanne Cagney, Marilyn Monroe, Richard WidmarkBrand: Fox
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 76 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-05-14
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of Don't Bother to Knock
Movie Review: A one trick pony in room 809?
Summary: 5 Stars
Before there was Swimfan (2002, which is only being listed because it fits the genre, not because it is great), The Crush (1993), Fatal Attraction (1987) or even Play Misty for Me (1971), there was "Don't Bother to Knock" (1952). The conduit between all of the former movies is one key element; the antagonist is a woman suffering from borderline personality disorder/BPD. In simple terms, women who are a bit cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs and there is no milk in sight.
This movie is somewhat of a departure of the Marilyn Monroe that we all knew in her cinematic career. Her character of Nell is dark, disturbed and doleful. Consequently, these character traits make her anything but monotonous. It mirrors the hidden dangerous and dandy motives to her character. The thing I like about Monroe in this movie is it wasn't the usual role for her. She wasn't all "dolled up", meaning she didn't have pounds of make-up on, her hair wasn't vivid blonde and her clothes were more conservative than other roles she has performed before and after this film.
Don't get me wrong, all the prior listed traits were wonderful and made Monroe very, very sexy. However, this seemed like a more stripped down performance. I felt this only added to the arcane quality of presentation. In many ways Marilyn Monroe is remembered for her role in "The Seven Year Itch" or the bright and sleek dress she wore in "Niagara" or even her musical number in "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend". This is fine, but almost puts that stigma of "sexy dumb blonde". If nothing else, "Don't Bother to Knock" displays that Marilyn Monroe wasn't a total one trick pony.
Of course Monroe's character Nell isn't totally devoid of the sexiness Monroe played in her films. There is still the breathy voice and erotic vibe that she always sported, just differently. As for Nell being too unstable or "psycho" to be sexy, I beg to differ. Nell would be classified as a person who suffers from borderline personality disorder, as noted prior. Therefore, it isn't that impossible to see her character as both "sexy and psycho". One of the real and tangible things that most BPD women have is their looks. It is their secret weapon, because (most) of these women with BPD have a real hard time with true intimacy and identity. Therefore, the one solid and tangible thing they possess is their sex appeal.
As for plot, the entire 76 minute movie takes place in a hotel. Nell is hired to baby sit for a couple while they are at a business dinner in the lobby of the hotel. She got this job via nepotism, her cousin the bellhop. Enter Richard Widmark, who plays the perfect part as the "average guy" down on his luck. When presented with the situation of "hooking up" with Nell after he breaks up from his girlfriend (played by a young Anne Bancroft). Mr. Widmark appears totally genuine and enthusiastic with the invitation to room 809.
In conclusion, this movie is a nice slice of quasi-film noir (shot in black and white) and is both entertaining and unique, given that the movie was made in the early 1950s. Friends or foes of Marilyn Monroe's work might find it hard to deny "Don't Bother to Knock" as one of her most atypical performances. The DVD has the original trailer/preview for "Don't Bother to Knock", and a preview for the Diamond Collection (selected films from Marilyn Monroe's resume). There is also a restoration comparison showing what this movie looked like before and after it was re-mastered. A nice little package that all fits nicely in room 809.
Summary of Don't Bother to Knock
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