Don't Bother to Knock

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.

Over the years I have heard about this little film, often referenced in biographies and documentaries about Marilyn Monroe, but I never actually saw it. Besides Marilyn, the movie stars Richard Widmark, and a very young Anne Bancroft. Marilyn plays a young woman recently released from a mental institution after a breakdown following the tragic wartime death of her lover. Her uncle who works at a big hotel as bellhop, finds his niece a job babysitting a little girl for the evening while her parents attend a dinner function downstairs. Meanwhile, Richard Widmark has had a falling out with his girlfriend, hotel chanteuse Anne Bancroft because of his reluctance to commit to a serious or permanent relationship. While in his room he spots Marilyn across the way and decides to phone her and persuade her to let him come over. She agrees, and weirdness ensues. Think "Fatal Attraction" without the heavy sex and violence (though they try to get as much in as censors allow). Marilyn all dolled up in the mother's clothing, make-up and perfume becomes convinced that Widmark is her dead boyfriend. When the little girl wakes up before any serious reuniting can happen, the sitter really goes off the deep end (she actually winds up binding and gagging the little girl to keep her quiet and out of the way). To make a long story short, Widmark suddenly realizes that settling down with his non-crazy old girlfriend is not such a bad idea, and Marilyn is carted off to the local looney bin to receive treatment.While having some of the elements of film noir, this movie while not a total failure, isn't really up there with similar films of the era. It's worth watching even for unintentionally funny moments (I thought) when Anne Bancroft is singing away in her nightclub act completely ignoring the microphone in her hand which she seems to constantly hold downwards in the opposite direction far away from where her mouth is. There is some dreadful dialogue here and there, and this isn't even one of Monroe's best performances. However, this would be an interesting movie for MM's fans because it is quite different from anything else she did in her career. Furthermore, as over-the-top as some scenes were, Marilyn never struck me as funny. She turned in a very believable, even sympathetic performance despite shortcomings of the script. This probably reveals more about Monroe's talent as an actress than if she was in a top-notch film. Widmark is good as the sleazy hero and aside from the bad lip-syncing, Anne Bancroft is fine as the young but very saavy gal pal. Fun scene where Mom (Lurene Tuttle) comes back to the room and sees her kid tied up and starts to beat the tar out of the sitter.I would have rated this video slightly higher except that it lacked the special features I really look forward to when I purchase a DVD (making of documentaries, etc). Special features that are on the disc: Restoration comparison, still gallery, previews of other Marilyn movies in the DVD series, and a theatrical trailer that demonstrates that sex sells even when there really isn't any. The trailer has Marilyn looking fetching in her (borrowed) negligee (with a bed clearly in the background) while Widmark's character remarks "Why didn't you tell me that you were working here?". She replies, " I'm not. I'm just doing it for the night." Ahem.A fun movie for Marilyn Monroe fans and film buffs, despite its shortcomings is worth the relatively low price.

River of no return: lovely backdrop and a hauntingly beautiful opening song. Marilyn sings, Indians attack. Mitchum literally takes the term "sweep a girl off her feet" to heart he grabs Monroe and carries her out of a saloon, I died from laughter!Niagara: such a marvelous backdrop for a movie: Niagara falls! A tale of murder with a twist, Monroe's lover is murdered instead of her husband and she goes a little crazy, but in the end the hubby kills her and he dies because he went down the falls.Monkey business: black and white, grant plays an absentminded chemist, hilarity ensues.Don't bother to knock:Monroe plays a woman who isn't playing with a full deck.Let's make love: the movie began with a weird intro of a family, a comedy. It has cameos from Bing Crosby, Gene Kelley, and Milton Berle.I loved let's make love and river of no return, I found monkey business and don't bother to knock to be enjoyable, but Niagara was a complete throw away I disliked it thoroughly!

This is a doozie - SO 50's, SO preposterous, SO Marilyn. That's what makes it a "must see". Marilyn's performance is "perfectly strange" - a dramatic wonder. She's better than the material she has to deliver. As for the rest of the cast - every one is top-notch (Widmark at his usual best - Bancroft, in her first film role - Elisha Cook Jr., a personal favorite and Verna Felton who could make any role her own). DBTK is a gem that elevates B movies to where they should be. Some films look cheap and can seem a bit unbelievable. Just like real life.

Great performance

watching Marilyn Monroe at her best she was such a beautiful woman and actor

Marilyn as a creepy dangerous head case. Not often you see her play an outright nasty character with no redeeming anything.

Quality good. Movie role. Bad

Why, oh why is Miss Monroe presented and sold as a sex object on the cover of this DVD of a film which is a study in serious acting, and a very good one, too - particularly by Miss Monroe herself! I cannot understand why this film was not a runaway success - ok, I understand it only too well: the (American) public wanted a stupid doll, and that is exactly what she was not.

Nice movie, the story isn’t bad but I can see why it wasn’t Marilyn’s big break as she had hoped it to be. Marilyn is wonderful as the lonely, mentally disturbed babysitter and it is a must have for any MM collection.Her first starring role since Ladies of the Chrous from 1948 and she hoped that it would become her big break. This was Fox attempt to prove to critics that Monroe could act more serious roles than the hot secretary she had been typecast in former years. I think she did that, but sadly the movie was a flop and she didn’t get her break until Niagara, Gentlemen prefer Blonds and How to Marry a Millionaire was released the following year.

A neat little thriller starring the iconic Marilyn Monroe in a fairly rare dramatic role. The plot is quite limited and straightforward, and as a result this is hardly a classic. But the actors are all excellent here, making this worth a look at least.Fans of Monroe used to her glamorous side will get a bit of shock here, as she is demure for a good portion of the film and her character is not the fun-loving, happy-go-lucky gal we're used to but rather a disturbed, dangerous person very much in need of saving.Widmark is on typically good form, while Anne Bancroft appears in a supporting role that already showed the huge potential she'd follow through on in later roles.

Her 13th movie, but the first "serious" role for the ultimate screen goddess.Marilyn remains the best thing in this thoroughly engaging, but ultimately forgettable, film noir-esque mini melodrama, as it skirts superficially around the tragedy of grief and denial.

Good, good, good, good........ My daughter would go on forever. She is a big Marilyn fan and wishes Marilyn had been given more roles worthy of her talent and intelligence. Where would women be now if Marilyn had been recognised for her intellect instead of having to play the dumb blond.