critic be correct represent knock on any door be flaw and perhaps badly flaw . however and it also an interesting film from a number of standpoint and with several important compensation critic tend to overlook . i think it worth examine some of each since the film do feature the legendary bogart and perhaps the fast rising young director of the time and nicholas ray . so why then be the result as mixed a i think they be . here be a few conjecture . a central weakness lie in the casting . take on the lawyer role mean that bogart star power would require an expanded role for the attorney . that unfortunate because the lawyer part be both marginal to the plot and strictly one dimensional that of a tough love social reformer . small wonder bogart fan generally dislike the movie he get a long emotional speech but no real chance at the darkly ambiguous character that be his specialty . the fact be that the part could have be fill by any number of less actor without loss to the movie a a whole the real star part and of course and be john derek hard luck nick romano . it a complex role that would tax even the best young actor . unfortunately and derek lack both the intensity and emotional depth central to the character predicament . he appropriately brash and arrogant and but lack the the tragic dimension of sensitivity . it too bad his career begin with such a demanding role . the woeful tantrum scene at the lakeside cabin may be an extreme example and still it do illustrate the problem . the prospect of brando do the part be a fascinate one and but one that regrettably fell through . too bad also that the courtroom scene be prolong ( probably to accommodate bogart star role ) and since they amount to another key flaw . theyre stagey and uninspired and and clash with the expressively noirish atmosphere of the slum . it like two contrast half glue together in hope that they will complement rather than clash . but conflict they do and because the slum scene bring out the expressive artistry of director ray and while the high key lighting and prolonged dialog of the court resemble the boilerplate of the old perry mason show . i expect ray do these scene on auto pilot . and and of course and there the final courtroom plea that should have be send back for re write . critic be correct it ham hand to say the least . there have to be subtle and more effective method of influence the audience without hammer them in the process . the fact that the plea come at movie end leave a bad last impression and which be why i believe so many of the positive element tend to get over looked . but those positive element be indeed present . note the electrify opening and of cop plow wildly through crowd of seedy bystander that pure nick ray . the crowd even look fairly authentic by 40 standard . theyre also atmospheric and colorful . note some of the distinctive character the shuffle cadaver name junior and or the slippery kid finger and or the black man act in a rare uncaricatured fashion . note also some of the subtler miscellaneous touch and such a the flame that flare up from the restaurant tray the moment derek pledge to reform an ominous portent while or the ugly hot water tank that dominate the visuals of the young couple cold water flat where emma find a home but nick only find desolation . there also the film central irony that the shrill and cruel face da ( george mc ready and with an enhanced scar ) in fact win the courtroom battle and bogart loses . it pass by quickly and give the da no time to exult or the audience to react . but the fact be that attorney morton ( bogart ) and who we have root for and have succumb to systematic self deception by see a version of his former self in the devious young romano . this twist be jar and because it abruptly overturn both movie convention and audience expectation . where the movie really work a one reviewer sagely point out be a a love story between emma and nick . that not surprising since no one be good at bring out the touching side of romantic love than ray ( they live by night { 1947 } or rebel without a cause { 1955 } ) . he be especially effective with actress . here allene robert emma transforms poignantly from vulnerable neighborhood waif into glow young wife . she really the one who tragically trap by poverty and circumstance . ( note the poignantly cheap ribbon in her hair a she lovingly prepare a dinner for nick that he will never eat . ) too bad that this and the most effective phase of the film and be too often overlook . likely and the 90 minute do not help anyone career and except maybe robert . at least and bogart and ray be able to recover the following year with the artistically complete in a lonely place ( 1950 ) and while derek find a comfortable niche adorn a number of forgettable costume drama . nonetheless and there something haunting for me about this movie . perhaps it the spectacle of social conscience go awry . more likely and it the linger image of emma and alone in that ugly flat and the ribbon in her hair . her modest little dream now dash beyond repair . i really wish the movie have succeed .