Blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe was often typecast as a glamorous sex symbol in the movies she appeared in. One notable exception, however, was the 1952 film noir, Don’t Bother to Knock. In this film, Monroe offers a glimpse into mental illness through her character, Nell Forbes, a troubled young woman with delusions and emotional instability. A departure for her normal romantic comedy roles, Monroe presents her character in Don’t Bother to Knock as a complex woman who is battling inner demons and haunted by her past trauma.
Don’t Bother to Knock was directed by Roy Ward Baker. In addition to Monroe, the film stars Richard Widmark and Anne Bancroft in her movie debut. The story takes place in a New York City hotel. A pilot, Jed, played by Widmark, checks into the hotel for the night on the recommendation of his friend, Eddie, an employee of the hotel. Eddie asks Jed to keep an eye on his niece, Nell, played by Monroe. He explains that he helped Nell get a job as a babysitter in the hotel for a young girl whose parents are attending a gala. What Eddie neglects to tell Jed is that Nell is mentally fragile and has recently been released from a mental institution.
At first, Nell’s delusions are not revealed to Jed, only to the audience, but as the night progresses, Nell displays increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior. She is living in an imaginary world and her fixation on Jed and her targeting of Anne Bancroft’s character, hotel’s lounge singer Lyn, escalates. Caught in the crossfire is young Bunny Jones, played by child actress Donna Corcoran, the child Nell is babysitting. The suspense builds as Nell becomes more and more unhinged.
Don’t Bother to Knock gives us a glimpse into the way mental illness was perceived in the 1950s, a time with mental health was not as well understood or openly discussed as it is today. Audiences watching Don’t Bother to Knock today may be shocked to see that the contemporary views of this issue were not treated with the same degree of sensitivity and compassion we would expect now. However, the film contributes to the broader conversation about how mental illness has been represented in the entertainment industry.
In Don’t Bother to Knock, Marilyn Monroe’s character, Nell, showcases some notable aspects of mental illness and the actress was praised for handling these complex angles. For example, the film emphasizes the fragile and vulnerable state of Nell’s emotional health. She is shown to be easily triggered and her emotions quickly spiral out of control. When Nell retreats into her world of delusions and fantasies, she is using the coping mechanism of escapism to deal with her past trauma.
Don’t Bother to Knock also explores the potential dangers associated with untreated mental illness. As Nell’s delusions intensify, her actions become increasingly unpredictable and risky. The movie highlights the potential harm to the person and others that can arise when mental health issues are not properly addressed.
Lastly, Don’t Bother to Knock touches on the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding mental health disorders during that era. In some scenes, we see that Nell’s behavior is dismissed or downplayed, in others, we see an overall lack of empathy for her condition. This aligns with the limited knowledge and awareness about psychiatric issues that was prevalent at the time that the movie was being filmed.
In Don’t Bother to Knock, fans are treated to Marilyn Monroe’s versatility as an actress, and she stepped out of her usual comedy or romantic roles to delve into the dark recesses of the human psyche. Critics praised Monroe’s performance and her ability to convincingly play such a dark, troubled, and complex character. However, the film as a whole received mixed reviews upon its release. It was criticized for its uneven pace and plot holes. Over the years, Don’t Bother to Knock has gained a loyal following of fans who appreciate the opportunity to see the beautiful Marilyn Monroe stretch her acting skills in a psychological thriller. After all, it was not common to see the sexy blonde actress cast as the dangerous villain on film.