Don't Bother to Knock (1961 film)

Haileywood Films

Industry	Film production
Founder	Richard Todd
Parent	Associated British (financier)

Don't Bother to Knock (known in the U.S. as Why Bother to Knock) is a 1961 British comedy film helmed by director Cyril Frankel. The movie features performances by Richard Todd, Nicole Maurey, Elke Sommer, June Thorburn, Rik Battaglia, and Judith Anderson. Its screenplay, crafted by Denis Cannan and Frederic Gotfurt, adapts the 1959 novel authored by Clifford Hanley.

Premise

Bill Ferguson, an Edinburgh-based travel agent, misplaces his apartment key during a quarrel with his girlfriend, Stella. The key is discovered by Maggie, an American colleague, who duplicates it and presents Bill with a case containing several copies labeled with his address.

During a business trip across Europe, Bill engages romantically with three different women, providing each one a key and an invitation to visit him in Edinburgh. When two of these women, along with the daughter of the third, arrive simultaneously for the Edinburgh Festival and stay at Bill’s flat, he must juggle their interactions while dealing with Stella’s eventual discovery of the situation.

Cast

• Richard Todd as Bill Ferguson
• Nicole Maurey as Lucille Daumier
• Elke Sommer as Ingrid Lyne
• June Thorburn as Stella Napier
• Rik Battaglia as Giulio
• Judith Anderson as Maggie Shoemaker
• Dawn Beret as Harry
• Scott Finch as Perry
• Eleanor Summerfield as Harry's mother
• John Le Mesurier as Harry's father
• Colin Gordon as Joe Rolsom
• Kenneth Fortescue as Ian
• Ronald Fraser as Fred
• Tommy Duggan as Al Coburn
• Michael Shepley as Colonel
• Joan Sterndale-Bennett as spinster
• Amanda Barrie as American girl
• Warren Mitchell as waiter (uncredited)

Production

The film draws from the novel Love from Everybody, which amused lead actor Richard Todd. He facilitated the acquisition of its rights through his production company, Haileywood Films. Financing was provided by Associated British, with 40% of the budget supported by the NFFC. Todd remarked that the making of Don’t Bother to Knock was enjoyable from inception due to its comedic script, a harmonious crew, and a deliberately chosen cast.

Critical reception

Despite its qualities, Todd admitted that the film faced harsh criticism from reviewers and did not achieve commercial success, partly attributed to its release during a pleasant summer period.

The Monthly Film Bulletin faulted the film for lacking strong humor, having disjointed narrative flow, and featuring unappealing characters. They also observed that Todd seemed too mature for his role at times, unintentionally eliciting sympathy.

The Radio Times Guide to Films awarded it 2 out of 5 stars, describing it as a "heavy-handed farce" that starts off self-satisfied and ends poorly. Although Todd appeared uneasy portraying the womanizing protagonist, the film was enhanced by impressive cinematography from Geoffrey Unsworth and editing by Anne V. Coates.