{"id":12668,"date":"2010-10-01T11:34:14","date_gmt":"2010-10-01T18:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=12668"},"modified":"2021-01-27T20:07:25","modified_gmt":"2021-01-28T03:07:25","slug":"knock-on-wood-1954","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=12668","title":{"rendered":"Knock on Wood (1954)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s wrong, Marty; the words keep coming out &#8212; I can&#8217;t seem to control them anymore.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Poster-197x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-66457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Poster-197x300.png 197w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Poster-671x1024.png 671w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Poster-84x128.png 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Poster-177x270.png 177w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Poster.png 727w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a ventriloquist (Danny Kaye) subconsciously sabotages his most recent relationship via his dummy, he seeks treatment from a beautiful psychotherapist (Mai Zetterling) and falls in love with her; meanwhile, he&#8217;s pursued by members of competing spy rings seeking weapon blueprints hidden in his two newest dummies.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Danny Kaye Films<\/li>\n<li>Psychotherapy<\/li>\n<li>Puppets and Ventriloquism<\/li>\n<li>Spies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nIn his review of Danny Kaye&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=12717\"><em>The Inspector General <\/em>(1949)<\/a>, Peary acknowledges that &#8220;most Kaye vehicles [have] dated badly&#8221; &#8212; and this innocuous Cold War comedic thriller is no exception. Likely inspired by the &#8220;Ventriloquist&#8217;s Dummy&#8221; segment in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=6003\"><em>Dead of Night<\/em> (1946)<\/a> (and\/or Erich von Stroheim&#8217;s earlier <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8436\"><em>The Great Gabbo<\/em>, 1926<\/a>), <em>Knock on Wood<\/em> capitalizes on the inherently creepy notion of a ventriloquist&#8217;s dummy &#8220;turning&#8221; on him; unfortunately, the opening sequence &#8212; in which Kaye&#8217;s dummy spews vitriolic statements about Kaye&#8217;s fiancee waiting in the wings &#8212; is so unpleasant and decidedly unfunny that is gets the film off to a rocky <em>non<\/em>-comedic start. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Ventriloquist.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Ventriloquist-1024x570.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Ventriloquist-1024x570.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Ventriloquist-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Ventriloquist-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Ventriloquist-768x427.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Ventriloquist-1536x854.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Ventriloquist-485x270.png 485w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Ventriloquist-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Ventriloquist.png 1825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>From there, we&#8217;re subjected to two equally dull storylines, as Kaye romances his beautiful new psychotherapist (who has psychological hangups of her own, naturally): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Therapist.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Therapist-1024x568.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"355\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Therapist-1024x568.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Therapist-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Therapist-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Therapist-768x426.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Therapist-1536x853.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Therapist-486x270.png 486w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Therapist-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Therapist.png 1825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and rival spy rings go after high-profile blueprints located in the heads of Kaye&#8217;s new dummies. Fortunately, there are a few sequences in the second half of the film in which Kaye finally gets to strut his comedic chops, but they&#8217;re not nearly enough to recommend the film as a whole. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A few amusing sequences<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Car-Salesman.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Car-Salesman-1024x571.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"357\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Car-Salesman-1024x571.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Car-Salesman-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Car-Salesman-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Car-Salesman-768x428.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Car-Salesman-1536x856.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Car-Salesman-484x270.png 484w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Car-Salesman.png 1821w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Under-Table.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Under-Table-1024x565.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"353\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Under-Table-1024x565.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Under-Table-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Under-Table-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Under-Table-768x424.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Under-Table-1536x848.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Under-Table-489x270.png 489w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Under-Table.png 1831w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Dancing.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Dancing-1024x566.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"354\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-66463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Dancing-1024x566.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Dancing-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Dancing-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Dancing-768x424.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Dancing-1536x849.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Dancing-489x270.png 489w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Dancing-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Knock-on-Wood-Dancing.png 1833w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo; this one is strictly for Danny Kaye fans<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0047152\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1954\/04\/15\/archives\/the-screen-knock-on-wood-opens-danny-kaye-returns-in-comedy-at.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s3308wood.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rinkworks.com\/movies\/m\/knock.on.wood.1954.shtml\">At-a-Glance Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s wrong, Marty; the words keep coming out &#8212; I can&#8217;t seem to control them anymore. Synopsis: When a ventriloquist (Danny Kaye) subconsciously sabotages his most recent relationship via his dummy, he seeks treatment from a beautiful psychotherapist (Mai Zetterling) and falls in love with her; meanwhile, he&#8217;s pursued by members of competing spy rings seeking weapon blueprints hidden in his two newest dummies. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Comedy Danny Kaye Films Psychotherapy Puppets and Ventriloquism&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=12668\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12668"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66464,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12668\/revisions\/66464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}