thinker1691 Humphrey Bogart has created an impressive resume in movies. Thus when trying to choose which film personifies his best, it's difficult to say. Some would offer it's the 'Petrified Forest', others would argue and suggest 'The African Queen', or 'The Maltese Falcon'. They are all Classics, still this movie " Knock on any Door " is the one I would select. The story is taken from the novel by Willard Motley and able directed by Nicholas Ray. Seen in Black and White it relates the story of Nick Romano, superbly played by handsome John Derek (the stone-cutter from The Ten Commandments). Growing up wild and undisciplined in the wet streets of a big city, he is arrested for a Capital crime and stands a good chance of imprisonment or death. However, the only obstacle to that bleak future is able defense attorney Andrew Morton, attorney at law. The courtroom drama is inter-fused with the life of the young Romano and Bogart is at his best with a incredible narrative which encompasses the film. The drama is excellent as is the acting, leaving little doubt the end result is one of Bogart's best. Easilly offered or recommended to any fan of Bogart or Derek as a Classic picture. ****

MarieGabrielle This story while dismissed by a few as being too liberal, should not be stereotyped into that corner. There are excellent performances here and it is worth setting your DVR for 4:55 A.M., I happened to wake up simply to review this film, having only caught the tail end of it previously.The very young John Derek is Nick Romano, a boy who had the misfortune to be born to a father who is wrongfully imprisoned. When his father dies in prison Nick becomes vengeful and distrustful of society. He spends time in a 'juvenile delinquent" home, during which all that is accomplished is abuse of the inmates. No counseling or infrastructure.At first he becomes involved in petty theft and general mischief, nothing serious. He is bored with his life, has no outlet. There is no infrastructure in the ghetto he lives in, it looks like the South Bronx did during the 1980's. Anyone from NYC will appreciate the scenes of 1940's New York, the "L train", and "mom and pop" stores and soda fountains. He and his friends decide to hold up the token taker at the elevated train station.In the interim he meets Candy Toxton (Adele Morton, appropriately naive), who runs her aunt's store "The Candy Bowl". She truly loves Nick and shows him a glimpse of a decent future, they may live in a small flat, no money, but she is devoted to him.By now however, his disgust with conformity leads to job turnover, fighting with a foreman who call him a useless ex-convict.Not justifying anti-social behavior, but Nicolas Ray liked to address society's misfits, people on the edge and how they got that way. For this time period, it was an interesting and evocative topic.Eventually due to his rage, Nick shoots a policeman and is sent to trial for murder. Enter Humphrey Bogart, as criminal defense attorney Andy Morton. Morton rose up from poverty himself, and has empathy for Nick. He takes him to dinner when the young couple is engaged. "I hope to have a fine suit like you are wearing some day Mr. Morton", Nick states, as his life seems to be on the upturn.The trial scenes are excellent, and not drawn out (as so many usually are). The D.A. played by eminent George MacReady is also very believable, a man on a mission to send all to the electric chair, regardless of extenuating circumstances.This delicate subject is treated insightfully here, and I applaud Nick Ray for the path less traveled. John Derek is edgy and while not completely sympathetic, has cadence as an outcast enraged at the system.The ending is heartbreaking and brings the issue of the death penalty to bear. Sociologically proved to not be a deterrent to crime, the United States is the last country which utilizes the death penalty, and by which some innocent poverty stricken people are still executed today.Timeless theme and Bogart excels here, as well as John Derek. 10/10.

TheUnknown837-1 Humphrey Bogart stars in this rather uneven courtroom, flashback-dominated drama as a good-hearted defense attorney standing up for a young man (John Derek) accused of shooting a police officer dead while making an escape attempt. As Bogart fights against a persistent prosecuting attorney placed by George Macready, he tells the jury the story of his client's past. How this man accused of murder and facing the death penalty became the man he is, the sort of things he'd gone through, and all the while, trying to prove his innocence. Basically, Bogart spends most of the time trying to create sympathy for his client. Sympathy that the jury and the audience frankly cannot come to terms with."Knock on Any Door" is basically a standard courtroom drama picture with an iconic leading man narrating the whole story. It's fairly short, but sort of drawn out at the same time because this whole story of a demented young individual poisoned by the ravages of civilization has been told many times before and in better situations. Filmmakers like Otto Preminger and Sidney Lumet would later go on to prove that when it comes to courtroom dramas, it's better to relate to the killings through word of mouth rather than showing it either as a prologue or a flashback, for it just seems to get in the way and there is far more drama that can be generated by the actors relating to this event none of them have seen."Knock on Any Door" is a spotty and very uneven courtroom drama with very little to surprise and even less to move the audience. Even the famous and well-acted final sentencing speech done by Bogart does not strike with the impact that one should expect it to. But do not be confused. I am not bashing "Knock on Any Door". I am just simply saying that it's an underplayed, but nevertheless worthy way of spending exactly one hundred minutes of your time. Humphrey Bogart is great as usual, but the problem is that his character is a frankly uninteresting and two-dimensional defense lawyer. Bogart gives the character some charisma, but the writing just generates a recyclable hero. But do not be misled. I am not panning "Knock on Any Door." It works fine for what it is. But if you want to see Humphrey Bogart in a truly charismatic, well-written role, then rent "Casablanca." And if you want a truly well-realized courtroom drama, then set your sights on "Anatomy of a Murder" (1959) and/or "12 Angry Men" (1957).

dbdumonteil This is the first movie which is Rayesque to the core.One of his most obvious permanent feature really appears for the first time: the search for a father.The relationship Bogart/Derek is intense (after the death of the biological one)and predates those of "Run for cover" (John Derek again playing opposite Cagney) and "Rebel without a cause " (Remember Plato to Jim and Judy: "I wish you could be my parents" )But I could also mention the Mitchum/Kennedy relationship in " lusty men" or even Heston and the Chinese girl in "55 days at Peking" .Or James Mason and his (biological this time) in "bigger than life".Emma's character predates The Rayesque young girl ,the one you meet again in "they live by night" (note how Allene Roberts resembles Cathy O'Donnell).Allene Roberts' beaming face and her hope against hope are the only ray of light in a dark tragical story.Like Fritz Lang,Nicholas Ray put the blame on the society.Nick was born under a bad sign ,like many of the director's heroes.John Derek gives an intense performance climaxing in the scene in the court when his wife's suicide is revealed.Bogart shines as his lawyer (he's more convincing in this kind of part than he was in "marked woman").Excellent screenplay with a superb editing ;many contemporary movies (such as the brilliant "Usual suspects" ) might have been influenced by the first scenes.Note that the story begins during the cast and credits ,which shows that Ray ,when he was on top of his game,did not know filler.