{"id":43780,"date":"2019-05-25T13:51:09","date_gmt":"2019-05-25T20:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=43780"},"modified":"2022-04-14T20:18:48","modified_gmt":"2022-04-15T03:18:48","slug":"knock-on-any-door-1949","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=43780","title":{"rendered":"Knock on Any Door (1949)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Look, he&#8217;s a bad, weak kid!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Poster-130x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"130\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-43782\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Poster-130x300.jpg 130w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Poster-56x128.jpg 56w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Poster.jpg 434w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 130px) 100vw, 130px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA lawyer (Humphrey Bogart) recounts the story of a young man (John Derek) on trial for murder, whose challenging history in the slums has led him towards despair and criminality.\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>Courtroom Drama<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>George Macready Films<\/li>\n<li>Humphrey Bogart Films<\/li>\n<li>Juvenile Delinquents<\/li>\n<li>Lawyers<\/li>\n<li>Nicholas Ray Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary writes that this &#8220;liberal social drama by Nicholas Ray&#8221; consists of lawyer Humphrey Bogart&#8217;s &#8220;flashbacks to a series of tragic incidents&#8230; that caused decent poor boy Derek to become a hardened criminal&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Derek.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Derek-1024x760.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"475\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Derek-1024x760.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Derek-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Derek-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Derek-768x570.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Derek-364x270.png 364w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Derek.png 1375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He notes that &#8220;it&#8217;s hard not to be on Bogart&#8217;s side, especially since the DA is a corrupt, vicious man with an ugly scar, played with extreme villainy by George Macready&#8221;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Macready2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Macready2-1024x745.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"466\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Macready2-1024x745.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Macready2-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Macready2-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Macready2-768x559.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Macready2-371x270.png 371w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Macready2.png 1381w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8212; but &#8220;it&#8217;s weird seeing this socially conscious lawyer browbeat some of the indigent witnesses&#8221;, and &#8220;Derek&#8217;s character [Nick Romano], whose motto is &#8216;live fast, die young, and have a good-looking corpse&#8217;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Derek.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Derek-1024x761.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Derek-1024x761.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Derek-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Derek-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Derek-768x571.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Derek-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Derek.png 1385w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>is too unpleasant to be used as an example by Bogart (or Ray) to arouse sympathy for real-life juveniles who are trapped by poverty and bad reputations into committing crimes.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m in agreement with Peary&#8217;s assessment of this well-meaning flick, which nonetheless misses the mark in several key ways. Bogart&#8217;s character isn&#8217;t really solidified: all we know is that he came from a rough background himself and is being pressured by a couple of beautiful women to take Derek&#8217;s case &#8212; against the wishes of his firm. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Being-Told.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Being-Told-1024x761.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Being-Told-1024x761.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Being-Told-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Being-Told-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Being-Told-768x571.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Being-Told-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Bogart-Being-Told.png 1401w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, &#8220;pretty boy&#8221; Derek&#8217;s background and challenges don&#8217;t seem particularly noteworthy &#8212; though I suppose that&#8217;s the point; as Bogart&#8217;s character intones near the end: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Until we do away with the type of neighborhood that produced this boy, ten will spring up to take his place, a hundred, a thousand. Until we wipe out the slums and rebuild them, knock on any door and you may find Nick Romano.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Speaking of the ending, I&#8217;m not a fan of the surprise twist &#8212; but I won&#8217;t say more at risk of spoiling. On the plus side, Burnett Guffey&#8217;s cinematography is solidly atmospheric throughout; Macready&#8217;s supporting performance is notable (check out his scar stroking); and Allene Roberts is sweet and sympathetic as Derek&#8217;s young wife.  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Roberts2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Roberts2-1024x754.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"471\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Roberts2-1024x754.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Roberts2-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Roberts2-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Roberts2-768x565.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Roberts2-367x270.png 367w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Roberts2.png 1375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography by Burnett Guffey<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Cinematography2-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Cinematography2-1-1024x758.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"474\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-61453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Cinematography2-1-1024x758.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Cinematography2-1-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Cinematography2-1-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Cinematography2-1-768x569.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Cinematography2-1-365x270.png 365w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Knock-on-Any-Door-Cinematography2-1.png 1365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>George Antheil&#8217;s score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a one-time look. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0041555\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/3950\/knock-on-any-door#articles-reviews?articleId=88458\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=9171&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1949\/02\/23\/archives\/the-screen-in-review-humphrey-bogart-john-derek-seen-in-knock-on.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Look, he&#8217;s a bad, weak kid!&#8221; Synopsis: A lawyer (Humphrey Bogart) recounts the story of a young man (John Derek) on trial for murder, whose challenging history in the slums has led him towards despair and criminality. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Courtroom Drama Flashback Films George Macready Films Humphrey Bogart Films Juvenile Delinquents Lawyers Nicholas Ray Films Response to Peary\u2019s Review: Peary writes that this &#8220;liberal social drama by Nicholas Ray&#8221; consists of lawyer Humphrey Bogart&#8217;s &#8220;flashbacks to a&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=43780\"> 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":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43780","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=43780"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43780\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83001,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43780\/revisions\/83001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=43780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=43780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}