"Don't Bother To Knock" has an unremarkable story with little in the way of suspense, excitement, pace or interesting plot twists. What it does have, however, is a very talented cast who through their efforts elevate the whole undertaking to a higher level than could normally be expected with this type of material.
Jed Towers (Richard Widmark) is an airline pilot whose six month relationship with singer Lyn Lesley (Anne Bancroft) has reached a critical stage and so he returns to the hotel where she's employed to discuss their problems. She can see no future for them together as she feels that he doesn't have "an understanding heart" (a quality he shows by his rudeness to a lady photographer who asks to take a picture of Jed and Lyn together). Jed is completely bemused by what's happened and retires to his room with a bottle of something strong for consolation.
When Jed looks out of his window, he sees an attractive young lady in a room on the opposite side of the building and after speaking to her by telephone goes over to meet her. The prospect of some straightforward fun with this good looking stranger seems to offer the ideal tonic to help him get over the complications of his meeting with Lyn. Predictably, however, things don't turn out to be quite that simple.
Nell Forbes (Marilyn Monroe) is the niece of the hotel's elevator operator and through his recommendation had started working as a babysitter for a couple who were attending a function in another part of the hotel. As Jed and Nell gradually get to know each other, he finds some of her remarks and behaviour disconcerting and when the child she is looking after appears unexpectedly, Nell shakes her and harshly instructs her to return to her room. Jed starts to become concerned about both the child and Nell whose conduct steadily becomes more and more irrational and eventually leads to her violently tying up her uncle and gagging the little girl.
It later emerges that Nell had spent three years in a mental institution immediately prior to taking the babysitting job and that her breakdown had been triggered by the death of her boyfriend who, like Jed, was a pilot.
Marilyn Monroe's portrayal of Nell is excellent from the moment she first enters the hotel looking diffident and uneasy and then later, as the story continues she conveys her character's sadness, confusion, anger and gradual mental deterioration very convincingly. Richard Widmark is controlled and effective in his part and with great subtlety and skill navigates the transition of his character from being someone who is cold and cynical into a guy who is, in fact, caring and sympathetic. Anne Bancroft is remarkably assured in her screen debut and she, in common with most of the cast finds herself changed by the events which occur surrounding Nell's time at the hotel.
Jed Towers (Richard Widmark) is an airline pilot whose six month relationship with singer Lyn Lesley (Anne Bancroft) has reached a critical stage and so he returns to the hotel where she's employed to discuss their problems. She can see no future for them together as she feels that he doesn't have "an understanding heart" (a quality he shows by his rudeness to a lady photographer who asks to take a picture of Jed and Lyn together). Jed is completely bemused by what's happened and retires to his room with a bottle of something strong for consolation.
When Jed looks out of his window, he sees an attractive young lady in a room on the opposite side of the building and after speaking to her by telephone goes over to meet her. The prospect of some straightforward fun with this good looking stranger seems to offer the ideal tonic to help him get over the complications of his meeting with Lyn. Predictably, however, things don't turn out to be quite that simple.
Nell Forbes (Marilyn Monroe) is the niece of the hotel's elevator operator and through his recommendation had started working as a babysitter for a couple who were attending a function in another part of the hotel. As Jed and Nell gradually get to know each other, he finds some of her remarks and behaviour disconcerting and when the child she is looking after appears unexpectedly, Nell shakes her and harshly instructs her to return to her room. Jed starts to become concerned about both the child and Nell whose conduct steadily becomes more and more irrational and eventually leads to her violently tying up her uncle and gagging the little girl.
It later emerges that Nell had spent three years in a mental institution immediately prior to taking the babysitting job and that her breakdown had been triggered by the death of her boyfriend who, like Jed, was a pilot.
Marilyn Monroe's portrayal of Nell is excellent from the moment she first enters the hotel looking diffident and uneasy and then later, as the story continues she conveys her character's sadness, confusion, anger and gradual mental deterioration very convincingly. Richard Widmark is controlled and effective in his part and with great subtlety and skill navigates the transition of his character from being someone who is cold and cynical into a guy who is, in fact, caring and sympathetic. Anne Bancroft is remarkably assured in her screen debut and she, in common with most of the cast finds herself changed by the events which occur surrounding Nell's time at the hotel.