Knock on Any Door (1949)

Director:

Nicholas Ray

Writers:

John Monks Jr. (writer)
Willard Motley (novel)

Release Date:

22 February 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Film-Noir | Drama

Plot:

Andrew Morton is an attorney who made it out of the slums. Nick Romano is his client, a young man with a long string of crimes behind him...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Attorney | Noir | Trial | Based On Novel

US TV Schedule:

Thur. July 17

3:45 PM

TCM

Cast

Humphrey Bogart	...	Andrew Morton
John Derek	...	Nick Romano
George Macready	...	Dist. Atty. Kerman
Allene Roberts	...	Emma
Candy Toxton	...	Adele Morton (as Susan Perry)
Mickey Knox	...	Vito
Barry Kelley	...	Judge Drake

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Company:

Santana Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

When 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.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the court, when Morton stands up for the first time, he puts his both hands in the pockets. The next shot shows him with only his left hand in the pocket.

Quotes:

Dist. Atty. Kerman: Was there a floor show that night at the bar?
Butch: There was a dame-a lady.
Dist. Atty. Kerman: Was the lady a blonde or brunette?
Butch: You think I was looking at her hair?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in True Romance (1993)

Live fast and die young.

Humphey Bogart in his first movie for his own production company Santana. And introducing "pretty boy" John Derek. Bogart plays a sympathetic lawyer defending a juvenile delinquent(Derek)on trial for murder. Pretty average Film-Noir, but good enough to hold your interest. Courtroom scenes provide high drama and then comes the twist ending that really is not so surprising. Also in the cast are:George Macready, Allene Roberts and Mickey Knox. And then there is Dooley Wilson tickling the ivories.