Knock on Wood is a comedy film released in 1954, directed by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama. The movie stars Danny Kaye as Jerry Morgan, an American ventriloquist who becomes the target of international spies while on a tour in Europe.
When the daughter of his boss, Mr. Wood (Maurice Marsac), goes missing in South America, Jerry is sent to watch over his colleague, the bumbling private detective, Henri Duval (played by David Burns), who is sent on a mission to find Mr. Wood's daughter. Jerry is instructed to copy all of Henri's movements so that he too can stumble upon any leads which may arise.
Together, Jerry and Henri become embroiled in a madcap adventure involving double-crosses by beautiful women, shoot-outs with spies in dark alleyways, and fisticuffs in exotic locales. Along the way, Jerry has to deal with his own comedic complications as he tries to hide his ventriloquist dummy from the spies who are after him.
As the pair travels across Europe, through countries such as Portugal and Spain, they finally end up in Paris, where they must face a climactic showdown with the spies who are determined to get their hands on Jerry's wooden sidekick.
Knock on Wood was a critical and commercial success upon its release and is today regarded as a classic comedy. Its fast-paced action, clever dialogue, and the comedic genius of Danny Kaye and David Burns make it a must-see for fans of comedy and adventure films alike.