Don't Bother to Knock (1952)

Marilyn without the Strasbergs, without the Russian drama coach, without the Method, without the hours locked in her trailer shaking with stage fright. And it is her best ever acting job. This is the ONLY film that really taps into the 'off-kilter' and wounded quality of MM and uses it as an indispensable element of the movie. Elisha Cook's little turn as an elevator operator and his repartee with M.M. is a memorable minor moment and one of many such delights scattered throughout. I've heard that Richard Widmark was very nice to Marilyn and helpful on the set. Of course with 40 or 50 takes for even short scenes, a Billy Wilder can put up on the screen a dazzling Sugar Kane in Some Like It Hot but this is the real Marilyn not just her sheer 'luminescent beauty'. Even by the time she made Niagara, something was lost already, though she was very good in that.

This is the perfect example of the roles Marilyn Monroe got herself or that Hollywood gave her. Its a weird film. Even the credits are done differently. Marilyn of course is the crazy, animated, beautiful blonde. She almost seems like a robot sometimes. The film is direct and then seems to get confusing or loses track of itself. I like how it looks at a deeper side and almost realistic side of Marilyn. She relates to Nell and I think that is why she plays her so well. Nell is a dark character and Marilyn was too. I like the Its was an interesting film to watch. Definitely worth another watch to pick up on things I missed.

In 1952's "Don't Bother To Knock" a very alluring, 26 year-old, Marilyn Monroe puts in one of the quirkiest character portrayals of her entire acting career.Even though this film stars the likes of Richard Widmark (and a young Anne Bancroft) - It's definitely Monroe and her performance as the mentally-unhinged babysitter, Neil Forbes, that the viewer will, no doubt, be paying the closest attention to.Now, I would never admit that Monroe's portrayal here was, in any way, "legendary" - But, hey! - Due to this being something of a B-Picture, I'd confidently say that she certainly fulfilled her obligation, in my books, of playing a "subdued" psycho (1950's-style) quite satisfactorily.

Roy Ward Baker directed this psychological thriller that stars Richard Widmark as Airline pilot Jed Towers, who is staying at the hotel of his girlfriend Lyn(played by Anne Bancroft) who works as a singer in its lounge. Bored, he notices the beautiful Nell Forbes(played by Marilyn Monroe) who is a live-in babysitter for hotel guests. Unfortunately, she is mentally unstable, and neglects her current assignment with a young girl named Bunny to pursue Jed, whom she is convinced is her deceased fiancée alive again... Good cast and direction, but film isn't particularly suspenseful or compelling, and doesn't amount to much; mostly for fans of Monroe.