A disappointing effort at the (apparently) age-old trope that crime and criminals are caused by society rather than the failings of men. These were done before this, and (many) were done after. In spite of the billing, John Derek is really the star of this picture, and he can't quite pull it off. Humphrey Bogart, as always, is excellent when he is on-screen, but this is not enough to carry the picture. Allene Roberts was beautiful, and played her role well, but it was doggedly one-dimensional. Back to the liberal theme here, the idea that bad neighborhoods, bad luck, bad times, and bad associates cause the loss of good young young people into eternal thug-hood is belied by all those (including Bogart's character) who rise above these things, and become decent and moral citizens. I found the whole effort ham-handed and preachy.
Review of Knock on Any Door
