Review of Don't Bother to Knock (1961) by Patrick H — 20 Jan 2009
Those who subscribe to the widely-held notion that Ms. Monroe was all looks and only started to show some acting chops toward the end of her brief life will be astounded by this little B-picture, one of her first lead roles at 20th Century Fox.
A low-key noir variation on the "babysitter from hell" idea, set mostly in a couple of rooms in a big NYC hotel, it also features the screen debut of a REALLY young Anne Bancroft in a sizable role.
But this is Monroe's show all the way, and she's alarmingly convincing as the quiet young woman you do NOT want watching your kid! By turns shy, melancholy, vibrant, spooky, pathetic, and stone-cold diabolical, she creates a character who's truly unpredictable, yet still sympathetic and, ultimately, affecting.
Definitely check this out to get a glimpse of the troubled, yet genuine, talent behind the icon.
This review of Don't Bother to Knock (1961) was written by Patrick H on 20 Jan 2009.
Don't Bother to Knock has generally received mixed reviews.
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