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Don't Bother to Knock

  • 19521952
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 16m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
6.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Marilyn Monroe and Richard Widmark in Don't Bother to Knock (1952)
Trailer for this classic thriller starring Marilyn Monroe
Play trailer2:41
1 Video
56 Photos
  • Drama
  • Film-Noir
  • Mystery

After being dumped by his girlfriend, an airline pilot pursues a babysitter in his hotel and gradually realizes she's dangerous.After being dumped by his girlfriend, an airline pilot pursues a babysitter in his hotel and gradually realizes she's dangerous.After being dumped by his girlfriend, an airline pilot pursues a babysitter in his hotel and gradually realizes she's dangerous.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
6.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Roy Ward Baker
  • Writers
    • Daniel Taradash(screenplay)
    • Charlotte Armstrong(novel "Mischief")
  • Stars
    • Richard Widmark
    • Marilyn Monroe
    • Anne Bancroft
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roy Ward Baker
  • Writers
    • Daniel Taradash(screenplay)
    • Charlotte Armstrong(novel "Mischief")
  • Stars
    • Richard Widmark
    • Marilyn Monroe
    • Anne Bancroft
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 106User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Don't Bother To Knock
    Trailer 2:41
    Don't Bother To Knock

    Photos56

    Marilyn Monroe and Richard Widmark in Don't Bother to Knock (1952)
    "Don't Bother To Knock" M. Monroe 1952 20th
    "Don't Bother To Knock" M. Monroe 1952 20th
    "Don't Bother To Knock" M. Monroe & Donna Corcoran 1952 20th
    "Don't Bother To Knock" M. Monroe 1952 20th
    "Don't Bother To Knock" 1952 20th
    M. Monroe "Don't Bother to Knock" © 1952
    "Don't Bother To Knock" M. Monroe & Richard Widmark 1952 20th
    "Don't Bother To Knock" M. Monroe & Donna Corcoran 1952
    "Don't Bother to Knock" 1952
    "Don't Bother to Knock" 1952
    "Don't Bother to Knock" 1952

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Widmark
    Richard Widmark
    • Jed Towersas Jed Towers
    Marilyn Monroe
    Marilyn Monroe
    • Nell Forbesas Nell Forbes
    Anne Bancroft
    Anne Bancroft
    • Lyn Lesleyas Lyn Lesley
    Donna Corcoran
    Donna Corcoran
    • Bunny Jonesas Bunny Jones
    Jeanne Cagney
    Jeanne Cagney
    • Rochelleas Rochelle
    Lurene Tuttle
    Lurene Tuttle
    • Ruth Jonesas Ruth Jones
    Elisha Cook Jr.
    Elisha Cook Jr.
    • Eddie Forbesas Eddie Forbes
    Jim Backus
    Jim Backus
    • Peter Jonesas Peter Jones
    Verna Felton
    Verna Felton
    • Mrs. Ballewas Mrs. Ballew
    Willis Bouchey
    Willis Bouchey
    • Joe - the Bartenderas Joe - the Bartender
    • (as Willis B. Bouchey)
    Don Beddoe
    Don Beddoe
    • Mr. Ballewas Mr. Ballew
    Harry Bartell
    Harry Bartell
    • Bellboyas Bellboy
    • (uncredited)
    Gloria Blondell
    Gloria Blondell
    • Janie - Photographeras Janie - Photographer
    • (uncredited)
    John Call
    John Call
    • Bellboyas Bellboy
    • (uncredited)
    Dick Cogan
    Dick Cogan
    • Bell Captainas Bell Captain
    • (uncredited)
    Charles J. Conrad
    • Speakeras Speaker
    • (uncredited)
    Tom Daly
    • Man in Elevatoras Man in Elevator
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Denny
    • Lobby Guestas Lobby Guest
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Roy Ward Baker
    • Writers
      • Daniel Taradash(screenplay)
      • Charlotte Armstrong(novel "Mischief")
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Airline pilot Jed stays at the New York hotel where girlfriend Lyn is a singer. He sees Nell in a window opposite his and they get chummy. When the girl she's baby-sitting, Bunny, enters Nell goes crazy and sends her to her room. She fantasizes that Jed is her long lost fiance. Jed comes to realize that Nell is more than a little whacko. —Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
    • bound and gagged
    • mental patient
    • child gagged
    • pretty woman
    • hotel
    • 92 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • SHE'S DYNAMITE! It Opens the Door on the Screen's Most Exciting New Personality---MARILYN MONROE
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Film-Noir
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the novel upon which the movie is based, Nell's surname is 'Munro'. This was changed to Forbes after Marilyn Monroe was cast in the role.
    • Goofs
      When Lyn and Jed get photographed in the bar by the camera lady, she snaps only one picture of them. When she brings the novelty items (handkerchief, matchbook, ashtray, and postcard) to their booth minutes later, the handkerchief shows a slightly different pose than the others.
    • Quotes

      Eddie Forbes: You smell like a cooch dancer!

    • Connections
      Featured in Marilyn (1963)
    • Soundtracks
      How About You?
      (uncredited)

      Music by Burton Lane

      Lyrics by Ralph Freed

      Introduced in Babes on Broadway (1941)

      Performed Eve Marley (uncredited) dubbing for by Anne Bancroft

    User reviews106

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    marilyn displays some true range
    This film doesn't receive a lot of attention. I grew up a fan of classic film, and I only saw this one once until tonight. Seeing it for the second time (I can't imagine there are any other major-release MM films I haven't seen over & over) I was extremely impressed by the quality of the performance Marilyn turned in. Hardcore fans seem to generally feel that her performance in "the Misfits" is her finest; the role had more depth than many she played, and seemed highly personal. I argue that she does just as fine a job in just as deep a role in "Don't Bother To Knock." It's my belief that MM was _ALWAYS_ versatile and talented, but that the American public fell so deeply in love with the breathless (& brainless) beauty role, that the studios typecast her until they weren't sure her looks alone would be enough to guarantee the volume of gross profits which they expected from Marilyn's films.
    helpful•48
    5
    • budfairymemorial
    • Mar 22, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 1952 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mischief
    • Filming locations
      • 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 16 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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