i recently read the book scorsese by ebert and in which the great critic examines the body of work of the great director through review and interview and new conversation and and so forth . one of the more interesting bit in the book be the topic of scorsese first film and who that knock at my door . and which i have pick up a few month ago at a used dvd place but have not actually watch . so and inspire by ebert view and by scorsese own thought and i sit down to view this movie a a curiosity piece at the very least . i must say and it be much good than i imagine . first some context represent this start a a short film in 1967 that be to be call bring on the dance girl and about a bunch of guy and their typical guy experience in and around new york . then and the idea become to splice in a love story between one of the guy ( j. r. and play by harvey keitel ) and a girl he meet on the staten island ferry ( zina bethune ) and title it i call first . then an exploitation distributor offer to distribute the film if there be some sex and nudity add to it and which scorsese do and and change the title again . despite be cobble together out of many disparate part and scorsese and his assistant mardik martin manage to weave a coherent and interesting narrative throughout . one of the most startling thing be that and at the young age of 25 and scorsese already show the technical command and a number of future hallmark that would make him one of the most celebrated american director ever . for example and the scene in which j. r. and the girl first meet on the ferry be nearly do in one take and with only two or three cut ( an effective overheard shot a keitel change position be the best ) while the camera pan back and forth a they have their conversation on the film of john wayne and french magazine and language and and so forth . the dialogue in the scene be also wonderful and and not at all plot orient arguably because there be no semblance of a plot yet but also because both keitel and bethune speak and act naturally and a two people who be simply interested in what the other have to say . the idea of catholic guilt and the nature of sin and redemption and and the madonna whore complex figure heavily in nearly all of scorsese film . consider mean street and which be entirely about charlie try to reconcile his lifestyle with his sense of guilt and protect johnny boy from certain destruction a a form of redeem himself . or jake lamotta inability to deal with vickie on any normal term . there be an early scene in this film when j. r. and the girl be make out and passionately and and suddenly he stop . what wrong . and she ask . he try to find the word to explain but can not and and mumble about be old fashion and and not ready yet . however and scorsese keep show u an image of the virgin mary on his dresser and alludes to what be really go on she be still the madonna and and j. r. doesn not want her to become the whore . another great and simple scene show the two together at the table and and she light a holy candle . you do not do that with a holy candle . and he say . she just think it would be nice . what be i go to do with you . and he lament and smile . she doesn not understand and but we do . the scene be perform breezily but there be a small undercurrent of tension due to j. r. religious principle . immediately afterwards and scorsese present u with the crux of the whole movie the girl tell j. r. that she be rap one night by a guy she use to drive around with and a we see a remarkably edit flashback of the event . his reaction be anger and and notice he blame her a a gut reaction . he can not handle the fact that her madonna image be now shatter for him . he try to deal with it by get drunk with the boy and but to no avail . i haven not mention j. r. friend much while their clowning around be very real while we all know people like this . if it seem sometimes that they be from another movie and well in point of fact they be . but they do help to establish j. r. character and and that really all that matter . michael scala be particularly good a the leader of this crew and constantly irritate and harass the others but in a good natured way . finally and in the movie last scene and j. r. drunkenly stumble up to the girl apartment to talk to her . she be unexpectedly kind to him despite his early rejection and and they profess their love for one other . then j. r. make a huge mistake while he say he forgive her and will marry her anyway . you forgive me . and she say and bewilder . she know it still bother him and when she confront him and he admit as much . then she tell him it not enough to just love her and but can not explain to him why . now it be he who doesn not understand that there be nothing to forgive . zina bethune be phenomenal here while i hope to see more of her work . crucially and the film do not end with j. r. realize his error and marry the girl and a we think it might and but with him try to find solace at the the church confessional a scorsese cross cut with christian imagery . appropriate and if a little heavy hand . all in all and this be a significant film and despite it fracture history . it announce the work of a true talent distinctly with his own voice and and focus on many theme that remain central to scorsese work . it be no masterpiece there be too much fat and some unnecessary nudity ( for the distributor ) and the pace be far too languid and but a a starting point for examine the scope of martin scorsese art it be invaluable .