IMDb RATING
6.6/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
An attorney defends a hoodlum of murder, using the oppressiveness of the slums to appeal to the court.An attorney defends a hoodlum of murder, using the oppressiveness of the slums to appeal to the court.An attorney defends a hoodlum of murder, using the oppressiveness of the slums to appeal to the court.
Candy Toxton
- Adele Morton
- (as Susan Perry)
Florence Auer
- Aunt Lena
- (uncredited)
Vince Barnett
- Carl Swanson
- (uncredited)
Theda Barr
- Girl
- (uncredited)
Richard Bartell
- Reporter
- (uncredited)
Paul Baxley
- Policeman
- (uncredited)
Joan Baxter
- Maria Romano
- (uncredited)
Eddie Borden
- The Chef in Poolroom
- (uncredited)
- …
Hazel Boyne
- Woman
- (uncredited)
Joe Brockman
- Man
- (uncredited)
Argentina Brunetti
- Ma Romano
- (uncredited)
Charles Camp
- Waiter
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Humphrey Bogart was told that director Nicholas Ray wanted to film the entire 'sentencing statement for the defense' sequence in a single take, Bogart was concerned because he had never delivered such a long speech without cuts and feared he couldn't do it. Ray calmed Bogart down, suggested several rehearsals, and much to Bogart's surprise, Ray rolled during the rehearsals filming most of what has become the famous and well-played sentencing sequence.
- GoofsIn Morton's office, after Ed stands up and leaves, Morton's right hand is on the desk. In the next shot, his right hand is high over the desk.
- Quotes
Nick Romano: Live fast, die young, and have a good-looking corpse.
- Crazy credits"And introducing John Derek as Nick Romano"
- ConnectionsFeatured in Great Performances: Bacall on Bogart (1988)
Featured review
Confused Message
Knock on Any Door was Humphrey Bogart's first film after leaving Warner Brothers. He and his Santana productions did a few for Columbia at that time.
It's a throwback film to the Thirties, a time it was seen that all cures to society's ills was a better social program. That's the message that attorney Bogart was driving home to the jury, that for a few better breaks his client John Derek would be a solid citizen.
Actually during the course of the film, what we see of John Derek's life showed he had some opportunities and blew them. It also did show that the family had some rotten luck. A mixed message to say the least.
The film shows Bogart as an attorney and his involvement over the years with young John Derek who was making his screen debut. Derek has been arrested for killing a policeman after a bar stickup and he turns to Bogart for help. The first part of the film is Bogart's opening remarks to the jury at the murder trial and we see in flashback, Derek's life and how it intertwined with Bogart's.
The second half was the trial itself and the aftermath. George MacReady as the District Attorney probably gave the best performance in the movie. Another reviewer described MacReady as evil. Granted he usually is in his roles, but here he's just one very effective prosecutor.
Yet Knock On Any Door, confused as it is, does still raise some relevant questions. The scenes in the reform school are still being shown today and had their not been Code restrictions might have been more graphic. I only have to cite the movie Sleepers from a few years back.
Bogart fans will like it and John Derek certainly merited the nickname "pretty boy."
It's a throwback film to the Thirties, a time it was seen that all cures to society's ills was a better social program. That's the message that attorney Bogart was driving home to the jury, that for a few better breaks his client John Derek would be a solid citizen.
Actually during the course of the film, what we see of John Derek's life showed he had some opportunities and blew them. It also did show that the family had some rotten luck. A mixed message to say the least.
The film shows Bogart as an attorney and his involvement over the years with young John Derek who was making his screen debut. Derek has been arrested for killing a policeman after a bar stickup and he turns to Bogart for help. The first part of the film is Bogart's opening remarks to the jury at the murder trial and we see in flashback, Derek's life and how it intertwined with Bogart's.
The second half was the trial itself and the aftermath. George MacReady as the District Attorney probably gave the best performance in the movie. Another reviewer described MacReady as evil. Granted he usually is in his roles, but here he's just one very effective prosecutor.
Yet Knock On Any Door, confused as it is, does still raise some relevant questions. The scenes in the reform school are still being shown today and had their not been Code restrictions might have been more graphic. I only have to cite the movie Sleepers from a few years back.
Bogart fans will like it and John Derek certainly merited the nickname "pretty boy."
helpful•2315
- bkoganbing
- Oct 12, 2005
Everything New on Prime Video in May
Everything New on Prime Video in May
Your guide to all the new movies and shows streaming on Prime Video in the US this month.
- How long is Knock on Any Door?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $900,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content