A perfect,surefire Macready portrayal as DA,which of course was ignored at Awards time,the highlight of a decent enough movie.Bogart’s production company put out this film.Derek’s official debut,even if he’d been in prior films.Macready reaches over with his left hand to stroke his scar whenever someone mentions about “Pretty Boy” Derek.The only scene Bogart is almost on a par with Macready’s acting is when the judge has to break them up and send them into chambers to cool off.
A rebellious, handsome young man (Nick Romano, played by John Derek) is accused of shooting a policeman dead. His defence is conducted by a lawyer (Bogart) who has attempted over the years to befriend and advise him.
The action commences with the murder being committed in an alleyway but all we have to go on is a figure of a man running away and a discarded trilby hat. We are soon taken to the courtroom where the drama is carried out. The proceedings are overseen by Judge Drake (Barry Kelle) with George Macready as the District Attorney, Kerman. (In deportment and speech, and to a much lesser degree in appearance, Kerman bears some resemblance to the actor Herbert Marshall.)
Through a series of extended flashbacks, Bogart builds up a character assessment of the defendant which seeks to portray his client as a product of upbringing and circumstance, much of it torrid and criminalistic, but with an underlying softer side to his character shown in the relationship with the young girl he marries.
One of Bogart’s finest performances in a script that contains a number of memorable scenes. His final address to the court before sentencing should be listened to with care for its truths are as pertinent today as they have ever been.
Picture quality fuzzy (thus a 4 star rating for quality of reproduction) but sound good.
Good story. Terrific acting. Bogart was Bogart…a naturally gifted great actor made a better than adequate screenplay compelling. Probably John Derek’s best screen performance, even if it was his first. Highly enjoyable.
KNOCK ON ANY DOOR IS A SOCIAL FILM NOIR WHICH EXPOSES THE UNDERSIDE OF POVERTY HOW IT MORPHS YOUNG PEOPLE INTO A LIFE OF VIOLENCE AND CRIME WHICH LEADS TO PRISON OR DEATH. JOHN DEREK IS GREAT AS THE ANTI HERO TRYING TO GO STRAIGHT…BOGIE IS HIS LAWYER WHO TRIES TO CHANGE HIM..GOOD NOIR
KNOCK ON ANY DOOR was the first film from Humphrey Bogart and his production company. Santana. He chose Nicholas Ray because he liked Ray’s first film, THEY LIVE BY NIGHT, A film with two troubled youths. This would become a theme in other Ray films like RUN FOR COVER and Ray’s most famous film, REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE. KNOCK ON ANY DOOR features John Derek in an early role as Nick, a kid from the slums forced into crime to support family while the father is in prison. Bogart plays an attorney who escaped from the slum life and feels responsible because he didn’t defend Nick’s father. He becomes Nick’s attorney when he is tried for murder. His summation to the jury is the standout scene in the film. Ray was becoming one of the best directors of the 50s. The black and white photography is very good, and the two leads are excellent, especially Bogart. The “troubled teen” theme may be a little dated today, but the message is still relevant. Nick is convicted but lives and dies by his credo, “live fast, die young, and have a good looking corpse.” The image and sound are very good on this made to order DVD as is the service from AMAZON.
As far as I am concerned Humphrey Bogart has always fascinated me as an actor. He can do no wrong for me. I was seven years old when this film was made and it reminds me of my youth though I was too young to see it, I did see it in later years. Thanks to Amazon.
The dialogue and script come off as preachy, as pointed out in another review, but given the social issues it tackles and the emotion and guts Humphrey Bogart, John Derek and the character of the judge bring to this film, I believe it is equal in many ways to the strong social statements made by films of the 60s. I recommend this film as a look at a social conscience of 60 years ago that rings true today given American’s uneven school system, inner city programs, etc.
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A perfect,surefire Macready portrayal as DA,which of course was ignored at Awards time,the highlight of a decent enough movie.Bogart’s production company put out this film.Derek’s official debut,even if he’d been in prior films.Macready reaches over with his left hand to stroke his scar whenever someone mentions about “Pretty Boy” Derek.The only scene Bogart is almost on a par with Macready’s acting is when the judge has to break them up and send them into chambers to cool off.
The action commences with the murder being committed in an alleyway but all we have to go on is a figure of a man running away and a discarded trilby hat. We are soon taken to the courtroom where the drama is carried out. The proceedings are overseen by Judge Drake (Barry Kelle) with George Macready as the District Attorney, Kerman. (In deportment and speech, and to a much lesser degree in appearance, Kerman bears some resemblance to the actor Herbert Marshall.)
Through a series of extended flashbacks, Bogart builds up a character assessment of the defendant which seeks to portray his client as a product of upbringing and circumstance, much of it torrid and criminalistic, but with an underlying softer side to his character shown in the relationship with the young girl he marries.
One of Bogart’s finest performances in a script that contains a number of memorable scenes. His final address to the court before sentencing should be listened to with care for its truths are as pertinent today as they have ever been.
Picture quality fuzzy (thus a 4 star rating for quality of reproduction) but sound good.
Wade
As far as I am concerned Humphrey Bogart has always fascinated me as an actor. He can do no wrong for me. I was seven years old when this film was made and it reminds me of my youth though I was too young to see it, I did see it in later years. Thanks to Amazon.