Who's That Knocking at My Door (1967) I Call First (original title)

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers:

Betzi Manoogian (additional dialogue)
Martin Scorsese (written by)

Release Date:

20 January 1978 (Finland)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Mean Streets was just around the corner.

Plot:

J.R. is a typical Italian-American on the streets of New York. When he gets involved with a local girl...

Plot Keywords:

Italian American | Catholic Guilt | Bar | Black And White | Machismo

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Zina Bethune	...	Girl
Harvey Keitel	...	J.R.
Anne Collette	...	Girl in Dream (as Ann Collette)
Lennard Kuras	...	Joey
Michael Scala	...	Sally Gaga
Harry Northup	...	Harry
Tsuai Yu-Lan	...	Girl in Dream
Saskia Holleman	...	Girl in Dream
Bill Minkin	...	Iggy at Party
Philip Carlson	...	Boy in Copake (as Phil Carlson)
Wendy Russell	...	Gaga's Girl
Robert Uricola	...	Boy with Gun
Susan Wood	...	Girl at Party
Marissa Mathes	...	Girl at Party (as Marrisa Joffrey)
Catherine Scorsese	...	Mother
Victor Magnotta	...	Boy in Fight (as Vic Magnotta)
Paul DeBonde	...	Boy in Fight
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Thomas Aiello	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Marieka	...	Girl in Dream (uncredited)
Martin Scorsese	...	Gangster (uncredited)

Directed by
Martin Scorsese

Writing credits
Betzi Manoogian		(additional dialogue)
Martin Scorsese		(written by)

Produced by
Betzi Manoogian	....	producer
Haig Manoogian	....	producer
Joseph Weill	....	producer

Cinematography by
Richard H. Coll		(as Richard Coll)
Michael Wadleigh		(as Michael Wadley)

Film Editing by
Thelma Schoonmaker

Production Management
Barbara Battle	....	production manager

Art Department
Victor Magnotta	....	club designer (as Vic Magnotta)

Sound Department
John Binder	....	sound
F. James Datri Jr.	....	sound (as Jim Datri)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Clabeaux	....	assistant camera
Ed Grant	....	assistant camera
Chuck Shipley	....	still photographer
Neal Walder	....	still photographer
Max Fisher	....	cinematographer: additional sequences (uncredited)

Other crew
Mardik Martin	....	directorial assistant

Production Companies

• Trimod Films

Distributors

• Joseph Brenner Associates (JBA) (1968) (USA) (theatrical)
• Kino-Filmi (1978) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Peerless Films (1970) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Solaris Distribution (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1992) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  we acknowledge with thanks the cooperation of: in making this film (as The Office of the Mayor of the City of New York)

Also Known As:

"I Call First" - USA (original title)
"J.R." - USA (reissue title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Singapore:M18 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Canada:18A | Brazil:16 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Trimod Films

Trivia:

There is no question mark in the title "Who's That Knocking at My Door". Having a question mark in the title of a movie is considered bad luck in the industry.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Twisted Sex Vol. 6 (????) (V)

Soundtrack:

Don't Ask Me to Be Lonely

Very much of its time

Who's That Knocking At My Door is primarily of historical interest, more an exercise in style – in this case a New York 60s spin on nouvelle vague and Italian neo-realism – than a work of substance. Expanded from a film school project, Scorsese's feature debut is typically light on plot, counterpointing Harvey Keitel's Mean Streets-lite time-wasting with the boys from the old neighbourhood with his failed romance with Zina Bethune that offers the possibility something better. There's more energy than insight and the passage of time has dulled it's edge, but it's not without interest, especially in the way that at times Keitel seems to be playing Scorsese, never more so than in the scene where he picks up Bethune by talking about The Searchers after seeing a picture of the Duke in her copy of Cahiers du Cinema.