Knock on Any Door

1949

Knock on Any Door

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

70%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 10

58%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 423
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Knock on Any Door Photos

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Movie Info

In this noir melodrama from Nicholas Ray, Humphrey Bogart stars as Andrew Morton, an attorney who attempts to save a ghetto youth (John Derek) from execution after the boy is charged with a policeman's murder.

Cast

Humphrey Bogart
as Andrew Morton
John Derek
as Nick Romano
George Macready
as Dist. Atty. Kerman
Susan Perry
as Adele Morton
Allene Roberts
as Emma
Mickey Knox
as Vito
Barry Kelley
as Judge Drake
Dooley Wilson
as Piano Player
Cara Williams
as Nelly
Jimmy Conlin
as Kid Fingers
Sumner Williams
as Jimmy
Sid Melton
as Squint
Pepe Hern
as Juan
Robert A. Davis
as Sunshine
Dewey Martin
as Butch
Davis Roberts
as Sunshine
Houseley Stevenson Sr.
as Junior
Vince Barnett
as Bartender
Thomas Sully
as Officer Hawkins
Florence Auer
as Aunt Lena
Pierre Watkin
as Purcell
Gordon Nelson
as Corey
Argentina Brunetti
as Ma Romano
Richard Sinatra
as Julian Romano
Carol Coombs
as Ang Romano
Joan Baxter
as Maria Romano
Evelyn Underwood
as Jury Member
Glenn Thompson
Mary Emery
as Jury Member
Franz Roehn
as Jury Member
Betty Hall
as Jury Member
Jack Jahries
as Jury Member
Rose Plummer
as Jury Member
Mabel Smaney
as Jury Member
Joy Hallward
as Jury Member
John Mitchum
as Jury Member
Sidney Dubin
as Jury Member
Homer Dickinson
as Jury Member
Netta Packer
as Jury Member
Ann Duncan Crimmins
as Teenager
Lorraine Comerford
as Teenager
Chuck Hamilton
as Bailiff
Ralph Volkie
as Bailiff
Frank Marlowe
as Bailiff
Joe Palma
as Reporter
Richard Bartell
as Reporter
Ed Randolph
as Reporter
Eda Reiss Merin
as Reporter
Joan Danton
as Reporter
Donald Kerr
as Court Clerk
Myron Healey
as Assistant District Attorney
Frank Marlo
as Bailiff
Jane Lee
as Woman
Dorothy Vernon
as Woman
John Indrisano
as Man
Blackie Whiteford
as Man
Charles Sullivan
as Man
Ray Johnson
as Man
Mark Collver
as Man
Joe Brockman
as Man
Franklyn Farnum
as Man
Dudley Dickerson
as Man
Tex Swan
as Man
Harry Wilson
as Man
Joe Dougherty
as Man
Eddie Borden
as Man
Paul Baxley
as Policeman
Cliff Heard
as Man
Jeff York
as Man
Paul Kreibich
as Man
Charles Camp
as Man
Jack Clisby
as Policeman
Charles Colean
as Man
Connie Conrad
as Woman
Anne Cornwall
as Woman
Beulah Parkington
as Woman
Jo Gilbert
as Gussie
Betty Taylor
as Woman
Hazel Boyne
as Woman
Roberta Haynes
as Woman
Chester Conklin
as Barber
Lee Phelps
as Policeman
George Chandler
as Cashier
Theda Barr
as Girl
Wesley Hopper
as Boss
Sid Tomack
as Duke
Franklin Farnum
as Man
Peter Virgo
as Suspect
George Hickman
as Man/Detective
Frank S. Hagney
as Suspect
Sol (Saul) Gorss
as Detective
Al Hill
as Detective
Philip Morris
as Detective
Helen Mowery
as Miss Holiday
Garry Owen
as Larry
Jody Gilbert
as Gussie
Curt Conway
as Elkins
Eddie Parker
as Guard
Al Ferguson
as Guard
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Critic Reviews for Knock on Any Door

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (3)

  • Nicholas Ray's direction stresses the realism of the script taken from Willard Motley's novel of the same title, and gives the film a hard, taut pace that compels complete attention.

    Oct 22, 2007 | Full Review…

    Variety Staff

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • A pretentiously 'social' melodrama which came to the Astor yesterday.

    Mar 25, 2006 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Bosley Crowther

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • I's hard hitting in its own right, tautly crafted, and repeatedly stabbed through with Ray's impulsive generosity and anguish towards his characters.

    Feb 9, 2006 | Full Review…
    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Nicholas Ray wrestles with his social consciousness and loses in this drab 1949 drama.

    Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…

    Dave Kehr

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • The courtroom perorations are drab, but Nicholas Ray takes off in the fervid slums

    Feb 19, 2012 | Full Review…

    Fernando F. Croce

    CinePassion

  • This hard-hitting crime melodrama offers excellent direction from the always interesting Nicholas Ray and a fine performance from Bogart.

    Oct 22, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
    TV Guide
View All Critic Reviews (10)

Audience Reviews for Knock on Any Door

  • Sep 05, 2010
    A strange, silly, sloppy, boring movie that shouldn't have starred Bogart, he's worthy of a much better script.
    Aj V Super Reviewer
  • Dec 23, 2009
    Adele Morton: If I were as cynical as you, I'd hang myself.<p>Andrew Morton: If you were as cynical as me? I wouldn't even trust the rope.<p>Another Bogart movie I've never seen. God bless Ted Turner and TCM. I swear, TCM must be the greatest TV station of all time. As I've said before, I've never met a Bogart movie I didn't like. This one is no exception. He plays a "good guy" in this one, and he's brilliant either way. Nobody can deliver a line like Bogart, and no one can deliver a moralizing speech like the one at the end of this film like Bogart. In a lesser actor's hands, you might be tempted to laugh, but Bogart makes the lessoning stick like crazy glue and stand like the Rock of Gibraltar. Perhaps the best male actor of all time.
    Lanning : Super Reviewer
  • Dec 02, 2007
    Nick Ray's direction shines when Knock on Any Door isn't wallowing in its own mediocrity, heavy-handed social commentary and dull performances. Bogart and Macready aside, of course. Bogart plays an attorney who tries to save John Derek (playing an Italian) from a murder rap. The story follows Derek's character more than it showcases Bogart's. If you watch this movie you'll quickly understand why it's not a must-see Bogart movie. If you're looking for a much better pairing of Bogart and Ray you'll do well to watch In a Lonely Place.
    Michael G Super Reviewer
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Knock on Any Door Quotes

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