Don't Bother to Knock

Play trailer

1:50

Don't Bother to Knock

1952

1h 16m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Pilot Jed Towers (Richard Widmark) encounters the beautiful Nell Forbes (Marilyn Monroe) while staying at a hotel in New York City. Jed pursues Nell, initially thinking she's a woman of means, but comes to learn that she is actually a babysitter when her child charge, Bunny Jones (Donna Corcoran), interrupts a conversation between the two. Soon Jed becomes worried about Nell's mental stability when it appears the woman is physically threatening Bunny.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A brisk 76-minute running time is all that's required for this nifty thriller to take the stage, impress the audience, and exit with style.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 30, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Were it not for Nell's breaks with reality, many of the happenings in her room could have appeared in a slapstick comedy.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 18, 2020

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

Takes what could have been a lurid plot and turns it into a wickedly plotted thriller that remains an overlooked high point in Monroe's storied career.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 3, 2019

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Wacko psychological thriller.

Rated: B-

Feb 15, 2011

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

A snappy little 76-minute, black-and-white item, this film noir dared to look at the dark side of Monroe's giggly sex appeal.

Oct 10, 2008

Full Review

Susan Granger

www.susangranger.com

Rated: 3/5

May 26, 2007

Full Review

Read all reviews

Rare T

This is what movies should be like. At just 75 minutes, Don’t Bother to Knock avoids all unnecessary convolutions and rather focuses on the raw plot, which in turn is engaging and carries a message. Marilyn Monroe specifically gives an impressive performance to say the least, in one of her very few such roles with such emotion and psyche involved. This is compelling cinema at its finest.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/10/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Eisha Cook is soooo totally in character. Ditto Widmark and Bancroft. But Monroe, --what a departure from her stereotypical persona! In addition, Jim Backus and other supporting character acting that is first-rate all the way. Fresh and stimulating for its original screenplay, however it becomes increasingly morose as the story plays out. Recommended, but not one you'll likely want to see more than once.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/14/24

Full Review

erroll f

An impressive early role for Marilyn Monroe who plays Nell a mentally unbalanced woman who was traumatized when her boyfriend was lost in the Pacific during WW2. Richard Widmark plays a gad about pilot who Nell believes is her lost boyfriend.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/29/23

Full Review

William B

It proves my point given the right script and supporting actors Marilyn was good Niagara don't bother to knock the misfits all great films rip marilyn

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/10/23

Full Review

j f

Marilyn Monroe is truly terrifying. Kinda reminds me of pyka.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/09/23

Full Review

david f

Marilyn Monroe plays a psycho babysitter in this film, and her performance is frighteningly convincing. The movie has a slow, creepy pace that explores the underbelly of straightlaced American Fifties society.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Roy Ward Baker

Director

Richard Widmark

Jed Towers

Marilyn Monroe

Nell Forbes

Anne Bancroft

Lyn Lesley

Donna Corcoran

Bunny Jones

Jeanne Cagney

Rochelle

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

The Bigamist

73%

51%

The Bigamist

Watchlist

Clash by Night

63%

69%

Clash by Night

Watchlist

Carrie

75%

58%

Carrie

Watchlist

The Member of the Wedding

86%

55%

The Member of the Wedding

Watchlist

Ruby Gentry

63%

50%

Ruby Gentry

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Don't Bother to Knock: Trailer 1

1:50

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Pilot Jed Towers (Richard Widmark) encounters the beautiful Nell Forbes (Marilyn Monroe) while staying at a hotel in New York City. Jed pursues Nell, initially thinking she's a woman of means, but comes to learn that she is actually a babysitter when her child charge, Bunny Jones (Donna Corcoran), interrupts a conversation between the two. Soon Jed becomes worried about Nell's mental stability when it appears the woman is physically threatening Bunny.

Director: Roy Ward Baker
Producer: Julian Blaustein
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 16m

Most Popular at Home Now