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Don't Bother to Knock

1952 1h 16m Drama TRAILER for List
100% Tomatometer 11 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.
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Don't Bother to Knock

Critics Reviews

View All (11) Critics Reviews
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

Audience Reviews

View All (183) audience 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 Pavol C A very interesting movie from Marilyn Monroe in a dramatic role. She plays a girl mentaly and emotionnaly disturbed. Her husband (Philip) who was a fighter pilot died in Pacific during the WWII, but she thinks the guy (Richard Widmark) she met in the hotel where she works as a babysitter is Philip... A movie you must see in order to discover another and unusual Monroe's performance... Un film à redécouvrir avec une Marilyn Monroe dans un rôle dramatique parfaitement interprété !! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/20/22 Full Review Read all reviews
Don't Bother to Knock

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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
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