Don't Bother to Knock (18)

More than the bombshell next door – Marilyn Monroe’s first starring role comes in this unconventional 1952 film noir.

Reeling from a recent break-up, Jed Towers checks into a New York hotel and is immediately drawn to one of his fellow guests. Nell Forbes appears to be glamorous and worldly, and she’s staying in the room directly opposite – for Jed, she might be the perfect distraction from his troubles. But when he learns the truth about his mysterious neighbour, Jed begins to question Nell’s mental stability and the safety of the child in her care.

Don’t Bother to Knock was Marilyn Monroe’s first starring role, though her breakthrough into top-billing was somewhat inauspicious. Contemporary reviewers, no doubt expecting Monroe to be first and foremost a pretty face, were unconvinced by this extended foray into dramatic acting.

In retrospect, though, Monroe’s performance is far more accomplished than she was credited for. She throws herself into the challenge of playing both the bombshell next door and the psychologically traumatised anti-hero. While Monroe will always be best remembered for her comedies, she delivers one of her finest performances in this unconventional film noir.