Don't Bother to Knock

Synopsis: Airline pilot Jed stays at the New York hotel where girlfriend Lyn is a singer. He sees Nell in a window opposite his and they get chummy. When the girl she's baby-sitting, Bunny, enters Nell goes crazy and sends her to her room. She fantasizes that Jed is her long lost fiance. Jed comes to realize that Nell is more than a little whacko.
Director(s): Roy Ward Baker
Production: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
 
IMDB:
6.9
Rotten Tomatoes:
100%
APPROVED
Year:
1952
76 min
442 Views


We guests who live here deserve

a little consideration too.

- Certainly.

- These conventions taking over!

I'm very sorry.

This hotel is getting rundown.

The food isn't what it was 10 years ago.

Are you?

Thursdays, I like to see a smile.

Expecting a fellow, aren't you?

- You tell me.

- Oh, sure.

Bringing in a flight from Miami.

- Nashville.

- Chicago.

He ought to be in the city,

if he had a tail wind.

He had a tail wind.

- Ever been wrong, Joe?

- What do you mean? Did you two fight?

- No, no fight.

- Well, can I ask what, then?

- I've just been thinking.

- Thinking?

That's serious.

I'm afraid so. I wrote him a letter.

- I invited him not to see me anymore.

- I thought he was something special.

He is. I like almost

everything about him.

Except what?

Except me, I guess.

I like New York in June

How about you?

I like a Gershwin tune

How about you?

I love a fireside

When a storm is due

I like potato chips

Moonlight, motor trips

How about you?

I'm mad about good books

Can't get my fill

And Tyrone Power's looks

Give me a thrill

Holding hands in the movie show

When all the lights are low

May not be new

But I like it

How about you?

I like New York in June

How about you?

I like a Gershwin tune

How about you?

I love a fireside

When a storm is due

I like potato chips

Moonlight, motortrips

Oh, how about you?

- Hello, Pat.

- Hi, Eddie.

Nell. What's the smile about?

- You seem different in those clothes.

- I'm different all the time. Hop in.

- You didn't have trouble finding it?

- No. I took the bus.

I heard them talking in the elevator:

"Somebody to look after the girl."

"There must be a service," she said.

I said, "How about my niece?"

- Did you say I had no experience?

- What's the point? Then they worry.

You're an old humbug, Eddie.

How high do we go?

What? Oh, yeah. Eight.

- How old is she?

- 6 or 7. She's a good kid.

- You won't have any trouble, will you?

- No, I don't think so. Why should I?

- Oh, you shouldn't. I only asked.

- I'm grateful. And I've wanted a job.

A lot of kids stay here. We could make

it a regular thing. Do you want that?

I suppose so.

- Didn't we pass eight?

- Oh, of course, yeah.

You mustn't worry about me, Eddie.

I like being in a hotel.

- To the zoo?

- In Central Park.

- To the subway?

- To Coney Island.

- To the automatic?

- No, the Automat.

Where they have food that you put in

a nickel and it comes out like music?

- Right.

- If she's a good girl tonight.

Don't worry. I will be.

This place is such a mess.

- Yes?

- It's Eddie. We're here.

Coming.

I thought these trays went out

with near beer.

Hello, Eddie. Good evening, Miss...

- Nell Forbes.

- How do you do, Miss Forbes?

- She'd love it if you'd call her Nell.

- Oh, yes.

- All right, Nell.

- Nice of you to come on short notice.

- It's nothing. I'm happy to do it.

- She found it just like that.

- Then you're not a New Yorker?

- No. I've been here for a few weeks.

- I'm Bunny.

- This is Nell. She'll be with you.

- She'll read you a story, won't you?

- Of course. Maybe I'll make one up.

That's nice, but

I like the one in the book.

That's Bunny's room. After you've put

her to bed, you can stay in here.

Oh, sure, or you can play

the radio if you want to.

Or the bar here. It's this notch.

Number five.

There isn't anything to read.

- We could have magazines sent up.

- Please don't bother.

RUTH:

See if Nell likes candy.

Oh, no. No, thank you.

I... I never eat candy.

- Not me. No, thanks.

- All right, Bunny. One piece.

Thanks, Mommy.

- That's a beautiful dress.

- Thank you.

- You'll have a beautiful evening.

- Nell will be fine. Bunny too.

I can stop by later.

Forget it. Bunny'll be asleep

in a jiffy. We're right downstairs.

In the ballroom.

My husband's getting an award.

For his editorials. I forget,

not everybody reads them.

The car is here on eight.

Would you like to go?

- Well, is there anything else?

- Mothers are such worry-buttons.

- You've thought of everything.

- Good night, honey bun.

Make a good speech, Daddy.

Mow 'em down!

And I'll drop up about 11:00

just to say hello. Bye.

Bye.

You're gonna like your dinner.

It's fillet. The chef told me.

You been here as long as I have,

you take an interest.

Lipstick tissue? Sometimes they

forget to leave them in the rooms.

- Well, thank you.

- That's a $5 idea. Oh, excuse me.

- Sorry, sir.

- I just got here.

Sorry I kept you waiting.

- You check in a while ago?

- That's right.

Everything going all right?

- Everything's fine.

- Yes, sir.

- Good evening, Mrs. McMurdock.

- Good evening. Come, boy.

Come on, baby. Come here this instant!

- Come, boy.

- Here, Rover! Here, Rover!

I've let him become too intelligent.

- What's his name?

- Rio.

Rio, come here.

Takes a certain tone of voice.

Oh I'm a rollin' stone

Just a-rollin' on and on

I'm a rollin' stone

That's just been here and gone

Wouldn't trade the moon

Or the stars in June

For a home on a streetcar line

'Cause a house and fence

Doesn't make much sense

When the whole wide world is mine

Oh I'm a rollin' stone

Just a-rollin' on and on

I'm a rollin' stone

That's just been here and gone

Gotta move on

Here and gone

Summer journeys to Niagara

And to other places

Aggravate all our cares

We'll save our fares

I've a cozy little flat in

What is known as old Manhattan

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Daniel Taradash

Daniel Taradash was born on January 29, 1913 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA as Daniel Irwin Taradash. He was a writer, known for From Here to Eternity (1953), Picnic (1955) and Bell Book and Candle (1958). He was married to Madeleine Forbes. He died on February 22, 2003 in Los Angeles, California, USA. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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