Knock on Any Door


1h 40m 1949
Knock on Any Door

Brief Synopsis

A crusading lawyer fights to save a juvenile delinquent charged with murder.

Photos & Videos

Knock on Any Door - Publicity Stills
Knock on Any Door - Behind-the-Scenes Photos
Knock on Any Door - Movie Posters

Film Details

Genre
Drama
Crime
Film Noir
Release Date
Apr 1949
Premiere Information
New York opening: 22 Feb 1949
Production Company
Santana Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Columbia Pictures Corp.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Knock on Any Door by Willard Motley (New York, 1947).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 40m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1

Synopsis

When young Nick Romano is arrested for the murder of a policeman during a robbery, he begs lawyer Andrew Morton to defend him. Andy reluctantly agrees to take the case after Nick swears that he is innocent and, although a bartender insists that he saw Nick running away from the scene of the crime, Nick's friends, Sunshine and Butch, confirm his alibi. In his opening speech at the trial, Andy, who left the slums to become a lawyer, tells the jury about Nick's background: Andy met Nick six years earlier after his father was jailed for killing someone in self-defense. Despite Andy's efforts to have him released from jail, Nick's father dies in jail of a heart attack. Because the family now has no income, they are forced to move to a bad neighborhood, and Nick joins some of the other boys in petty thievery. Later, Nick is arrested for stealing a car and is sentenced to a brutal reform school, where his friend dies of pneumonia after being punished. After his release, Nick meets Emma, a poor but respectable girl who lives with her alcoholic aunt, and starts dating her. Eventually, he falls in love with her, but refuses to become involved with her as he does not want to ruin her life. Nick is arrested again, and social worker Adele Patterson begs Andy to help him. Andy befriends Nick, but Nick, feeling resentful about what he believes to be charity, steals money from Andy and angers him. After Nick and Emma marry, Andy again tries to help him go straight, but Nick's quick temper and disreputable background cause him to be fired from a succession of jobs. Finally, after Emma reveals that she is pregnant, Nick bitterly advises her to give the baby away. His motto, he tells her, is "live fast, die young and have a good-looking corpse." Convinced that Nick no longer loves her, Emma kills herself. A few months later, Nick is charged with murder. Back in the courtroom, the prosecution presents its case, and Andy first casts doubt on the bartender's identification of Nick by proving that his memory is not reliable. He then attacks the credibility of subsequent witnesses. The prosecution then calls Juan Rodriguez, a friend of Nick, who previously stated that Nick had committed the murder. On the witness stand, however, Juan claims that the police threatened him with deportation unless he swore that Nick was guilty. During the defense's presentation, District Attorney Kerman is able to create uncertainty about Nick's ailbi. Andy then calls Nick to the stand. At first, Nick's testimony holds up, but after intense badgering by Kerman, Nick finally breaks down and admits his guilt. Before sentencing, Andy makes one last statement on Nick's behalf, condemning society for his crimes, and begs the court for mercy. Although moved, the judge sentences Nick to death. Before Nick's execution, Andy promises to help other boys like him.

Cast

Humphrey Bogart

Andrew Morton

George Macready

District attorney Kerman

Allene Roberts

Emma

Susan Perry

Adele Patterson

Mickey Knox

Vito

Barry Kelley

Judge Drake

John Derek

Nick Romano

Dooley Wilson

Piano player

Cara Williams

Nelly

Jimmy Conlin

Kid Fingers

Sumner Williams

Jimmy

Sid Melton

Squint

Pepe Hern

Juan Rodriguez

Dewey Martin

Butch

Robert A. Davis

Sunshine

Houseley Stevenson

Junior

Vince Barnett

Bartender

Thomas Sully

Officer Hawkins

Florence Auer

Aunt Lena

Pierre Watkin

Purcell

Gordon Nelson

Corey

Argentina Brunetti

Ma Romano

Dick Sinatra

Julian Romano

Carol Coombs

Ang Romano

Joan Baxter

Maria Romano

Evelyn Underwood

Jury member

Mary Emery

Jury member

Franz Roehn

Jury member

Betty Hall

Jury member

Jack Jahries

Jury member

Rose Plumer

Jury member

Mabel Smaney

Jury member

Sidney Dubin

Jury member

Homer Dickinson

Jury member

Netta Packer

Jury member

Joy Hallward

Jury member

John Mitchum

Jury member

Frank Arnold

Artist

Ann Duncan

Bobby soxer

Lorraine Comerford

Bobby soxer

Chuck Hamilton

Bailiff

Frank Marlo

Bailiff

Ralph Volkie

Bailiff

Joe Palma

Reporter

Eddie Randolph

Reporter

Eda Reiss Merin

Reporter

Joan Danton

Reporter

Dick Bartell

Reporter

Donald Kerr

Court clerk

Myron Healey

Assistant district attorney

Jane Lee

Lunch woman

Dorothy Vernon

Knitter

Blackie Whiteford

Tattoo artist

Ned Glass

Fiddler

Brick Sullivan

Policeman on street

Bill Haade

Policeman with Hawkins

Charles Sullivan

Telescope man

Jack Clisby

Black policeman

Glen Thompson

Policeman

Paul Baxley

Policeman

Lee Phelps

Policeman

Dudley Dickerson

Bootblack

Garry Owen

Larry

George Chandler

Cashier

George Hickman

Pool player/detective

Chester Conklin

Barber

Jeff York

Hawkins partner

Frank Pharr

Old man

Wesley Hopper

Boss

Paul Kreibich

Headwaiter

Sid Tomack

Duke

Charles Camp

Waiter

Frank Hagney

Suspect

Peter Virgo

Suspect

Saul Gorss

Detective

Al Hill

Detective

Phillip Morris

Detective

Sam Flint

Warden

Helen Mowery

Miss Holiday

Jody Gilbert

Gussie

Curt Conway

Elkins

Edwin Parker

Guard

Al Ferguson

Guard

John Indrisano

Ray Johnson

Jack Perry

Joe Brockman

Franklyn Farnum

Connie Conrad

Anne Cornwall

Beulah Parkington

Betty Taylor

Hazel Boyne

Tex Swan

Harry Wilson

Eddie Borden

Theda Barr

Cliff Heard

Charles Colean

Roberta Haynes

Photo Collections

Knock on Any Door - Publicity Stills
Here are a number of stills taken to publicize Columbia Pictures' Knock on Any Door (1949), starring Humphrey Bogart and John Derek. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.
Knock on Any Door - Behind-the-Scenes Photos
Here are a few photos taken behind-the-scenes during production of Columbia Pictures' Knock on Any Door (1949), starring John Derek and directed by Nicholas Ray.
Knock on Any Door - Movie Posters
Here are a number of movie posters from Columbia Pictures' Knock on Any Door (1949), starring Humphrey Bogart and John Derek.

Film Details

Genre
Drama
Crime
Film Noir
Release Date
Apr 1949
Premiere Information
New York opening: 22 Feb 1949
Production Company
Santana Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Columbia Pictures Corp.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Knock on Any Door by Willard Motley (New York, 1947).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 40m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1

Articles

Knock on Any Door - Knock On Any Door


In Knock on Any Door (1949), a tense courtroom drama with undercurrents of social commentary, Humphrey Bogart plays Andy Morton, a lawyer from the slums. He finds himself defending an old friend, Nick Romano (John Derek), accused of murdering a policeman during a robbery. Nick, who insists on his innocence, comes from a troubled background: after his father was jailed, leaving the family without any income, Nick fell into petty thievery and wound up in jail repeatedly despite attempts by a social worker and his girlfriend Emma (Allene Roberts) to set him straight. Nick's motto is "Live fast, die young and have a good-looking corpse." Andy's final courtroom plea on Nick's behalf becomes a broader cry for social justice. "Knock on any door," in the slums, he tells the jury, and you will find someone like Nick.

Knock on Any Door (1949) is based on the critically acclaimed, best-selling 1947 novel of the same title by Willard Motley. Motley, like fellow African-American writer Richard Wright, was a product of the federally funded Writers' Project in Chicago. Persecuted during the political witch-hunts of the era, Motley fled to Mexico, where he lived until his death in 1965. Motley's novels were notable for their trenchant social critique and often frank subject matter. The multi-layered plot of Knock on Any Door features a number of motifs, including Nick Romano's bisexuality and the depiction of sadistic police officers, that had to be toned down or removed altogether in the screenplay in order to satisfy the Production Code. A sequel, Let No Man Write My Epitaph, focused on the struggles of Nick Romano, Jr., the protagonist's illegitimate son; it was made into a film in 1960.

Knock on Any Door was the first production of Santana Pictures, an independent company formed by Bogart, business manager A. Morgan Maree and producer Robert Lord. Bogart named the company, incidentally, after his beloved boat. Director Nicholas Ray was loaned out to them from RKO pictures on the strength of his recently completed debut They Live By Night (1949), also known at the time as Your Red Wagon. Their next project together was In a Lonely Place (1950), an outstanding film noir which features one of Bogart's most complex performances. Ray liked to tell a story that when it came time to film Bogart's dramatic courtroom speech, the actor balked at having to memorize such a long monologue and deliver it in one take. Ray offered to have him rehearse the scene before the camera; however, he surreptitiously let the camera roll. When Bogart delivered the speech successfully on the first try, Ray ended up using the take. However, it should be noted that the scene is broken up into several shots in the finished version of the film.

Variety described young lead John Derek as "a new bobbysoxer dream and a personality who will click with the femmes, motherly or otherwise." After appearing in mainly adventure films, he became a professional still photographer and tried his luck at directing. Although he died in 1998, he is best remembered as the husband/impresario of a succession of sex symbols: Ursula Andress, Linda Evans and Bo Derek, each of whom he directed in films that are largely forgotten today. The most successful (financially, at least) of these ventures was the Bo Derek vehicle Tarzan the Ape Man (1981).

If the piano player looks familiar, he should be; Dooley Wilson previously appeared as Sam in Casablanca (1942).

Director: Nicholas Ray
Producer: Robert Lord
Screenplay: Daniel Taradash and John Monks, Jr. Based on the novel Knock on Any Door by Willard Motley.
Cinematography: Burnett Guffey
Music: George Antheil
Editor: Viola Lawrence
Cast: Humphrey Bogart (Andrew Morton), George Macready (District Attorney Kerman), John Derek (Nick Romano), Allene Roberts (Emma), Susan Perry (Adele Patterson), Mickey Knox (Vito).
BW-100m.

by James Steffen

Knock On Any Door - Knock On Any Door

Knock on Any Door - Knock On Any Door

In Knock on Any Door (1949), a tense courtroom drama with undercurrents of social commentary, Humphrey Bogart plays Andy Morton, a lawyer from the slums. He finds himself defending an old friend, Nick Romano (John Derek), accused of murdering a policeman during a robbery. Nick, who insists on his innocence, comes from a troubled background: after his father was jailed, leaving the family without any income, Nick fell into petty thievery and wound up in jail repeatedly despite attempts by a social worker and his girlfriend Emma (Allene Roberts) to set him straight. Nick's motto is "Live fast, die young and have a good-looking corpse." Andy's final courtroom plea on Nick's behalf becomes a broader cry for social justice. "Knock on any door," in the slums, he tells the jury, and you will find someone like Nick. Knock on Any Door (1949) is based on the critically acclaimed, best-selling 1947 novel of the same title by Willard Motley. Motley, like fellow African-American writer Richard Wright, was a product of the federally funded Writers' Project in Chicago. Persecuted during the political witch-hunts of the era, Motley fled to Mexico, where he lived until his death in 1965. Motley's novels were notable for their trenchant social critique and often frank subject matter. The multi-layered plot of Knock on Any Door features a number of motifs, including Nick Romano's bisexuality and the depiction of sadistic police officers, that had to be toned down or removed altogether in the screenplay in order to satisfy the Production Code. A sequel, Let No Man Write My Epitaph, focused on the struggles of Nick Romano, Jr., the protagonist's illegitimate son; it was made into a film in 1960. Knock on Any Door was the first production of Santana Pictures, an independent company formed by Bogart, business manager A. Morgan Maree and producer Robert Lord. Bogart named the company, incidentally, after his beloved boat. Director Nicholas Ray was loaned out to them from RKO pictures on the strength of his recently completed debut They Live By Night (1949), also known at the time as Your Red Wagon. Their next project together was In a Lonely Place (1950), an outstanding film noir which features one of Bogart's most complex performances. Ray liked to tell a story that when it came time to film Bogart's dramatic courtroom speech, the actor balked at having to memorize such a long monologue and deliver it in one take. Ray offered to have him rehearse the scene before the camera; however, he surreptitiously let the camera roll. When Bogart delivered the speech successfully on the first try, Ray ended up using the take. However, it should be noted that the scene is broken up into several shots in the finished version of the film. Variety described young lead John Derek as "a new bobbysoxer dream and a personality who will click with the femmes, motherly or otherwise." After appearing in mainly adventure films, he became a professional still photographer and tried his luck at directing. Although he died in 1998, he is best remembered as the husband/impresario of a succession of sex symbols: Ursula Andress, Linda Evans and Bo Derek, each of whom he directed in films that are largely forgotten today. The most successful (financially, at least) of these ventures was the Bo Derek vehicle Tarzan the Ape Man (1981). If the piano player looks familiar, he should be; Dooley Wilson previously appeared as Sam in Casablanca (1942). Director: Nicholas Ray Producer: Robert Lord Screenplay: Daniel Taradash and John Monks, Jr. Based on the novel Knock on Any Door by Willard Motley. Cinematography: Burnett Guffey Music: George Antheil Editor: Viola Lawrence Cast: Humphrey Bogart (Andrew Morton), George Macready (District Attorney Kerman), John Derek (Nick Romano), Allene Roberts (Emma), Susan Perry (Adele Patterson), Mickey Knox (Vito). BW-100m. by James Steffen

Quotes

Live fast, die young, leave a good-looking corpse.
- Nick Romano
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.
- Andrew Morton

Trivia

Notes

According to an September 8, 1947 Los Angeles Examiner news item, Willard Motley's novel was first purchased by producer Mark Hellinger, who died on December 21, 1947. Motley was a black writer who had been involved with the Federal Writers' Project in Chicago. This was the first production of Santana Pictures, Inc., a company formed by Humphrey Bogart, his business manager, A. Morgan Maree, and producer Robert Lord. The film marked John Derek's first starring role; he had previously had small parts in two other films. The Variety review called him "a new bobbysoxer dream and a personality who will click with the femmes, motherly or otherwise." Actor Dewey Martin, who portrayed "Butch," made his motion picture debut in the film, as did John Mitchum (1919-2001), brother of actor Robert Mitchum. Motley subsequently wrote another novel, Let No Man Write My Epitaph, featuring the character of "Nick Romano," that was adapted into film in 1960.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States Spring April 1949

Film has been restored by Sony/UCLA film archive in 2000.

Released in United States Spring April 1949