R627365.
Knock on any door. By Santana Pictures,
Inc. (c) 21Feb49; 12162. Columbia
Pictures Industries, Inc. (PRH); 1Mar76;
R627365.

Knock on Any Door (1949) and The Young Savages (1961) each investigate a gang-related murder in a crime-ridden NYC slum. In each, the central character seeking truth & justice is someone who grew up in the slum, but managed to “roll with the punches” [Randy Newman, 1988] so that, instead of spiraling down into a life of crime, becomes a lawyer
(in Knock on any Door), or an assistant district attorney (in The Young Savages). Each film weighs the competing notions of personal responsibility and social justice.