No Way Out (Fox Film Noir)
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Movie Reviews of No Way Out (Fox Film Noir)
Movie Review: Poitier Takes Center Stage
Summary: 4 Stars
Sidney Poitier is one of my favorite actors, and here we find him in his first credited role on the big screen.
Poitier plays the role of Dr. Brooks in a prison ward, and he faces difficulties from a bigoted patient, particularly after the patient's brother dies under Brooks' care. Brooks wants an autopsy to prove his innocence, but the hospital administrator (who claims his M.D. stands for "master of double-talk") refuses such a request, believing it will only draw more attention to the hospital and more problems with financial backing. Dr. Brooks turns to the family members to sign for the autopsy, but the brother wants nothing to do with such a plan, refusing to trust any black man in a white coat.
The script gives time for some characterization with Brooks' wife and family, and with his overseeing doctor--a white man who stands up for him, professionally and personally. Brooks' accuser tries to find help with the ex-wife of his dead brother, and she soon finds herself torn between her past, her prejudices, and the realities she now sees unfolding around her. When Dr. Brooks' own life is threatened, she must decide if she will fight for what is right or stay stuck in the ways of her past. She sees no way out, and Brooks' also resorts to a surprise confession, seeing no other way out for himself.
There are no big surprises here, but the acting is very good (considering some of the stylistic differences in that time), and the script plays out nicely. The music doesn't rely on the over-dramatization so common for that period, and gives it a more somber, more realistic tone. It's not the best Poitier movie out there, but it shows his abilities and his sense of classiness even at the beginning of his career.
Movie Review: A Shocking Story - Even Today
Summary: 4 Stars
"Shocking" might be an apt description of this movie. Bigotry is the main theme and there is no beating around the bush here. The "n- word" is used at least 20 times in this film in one form or another which is shocking to hear in a classic film.
Richard Widmark plays the main bigot and he is fascinating to watch. Few people in his day could play the wild-eyed fanatical villain as well as he could (see "Kiss Of Death" for his best example).
This was Sidney Poitier's screen debut and he looks about 16 years old! He looks too young to be a doctor even if he is portrayed as someone in their first year of practice. Anyway, with Widmark and Poitier, and a fine supporting cast with some famous names, you have a very, very interesting movie.
To the film's credit, this shows bigotry on both sides: black and white, although it concentrates more on white against black. Linda Darnell plays perhaps the most interesting role because she is the one person who switches back and forth, unable most of the time to figure out what side to take! For those who remember the Naked City TV series, it's also fun to see Harry Bellaver in here, playing Widmark's deaf-mute brother.
This movie could easily be very dated.....but it isn't.
Movie Review: Good for it's time
Summary: 4 Stars
For the time in which this film was release, it was ground breaking-or was it? All the movies prior to the 70s that had a black person in the main cast was about the same thing: trying to humanize the black race to whites. You can find movies in the 40s, 50s and 60s, trying to hammer in the same theme. It reached a point that for a couple of decades that was all Poitiers films were about. Insert a profession usually reserved for whites (up until those times) Doctor, a cop, a potiential land owner and then watch the faces of the white people twist with rage. If they wanted this film to be REALLY risky, have the autopsy report state that Dr. Brooks made a mistake. What would have been the message then? Aren't black doctors allowed to make mistakes the same as white doctors? Why have it make the point of Dr. Brookes being an exceptional doctor? His wife boasting about his straight A's and so on and so on. Don't get me wrong. This is a good film, but the theme and its message wasn't as groundbreaking as they claimed. It was just one that needed to be hammered home until the idea took. Still great performances by all the cast members. The script, though predictable, is still good. Overall, this is a film worth your time.Movie Review: Good film for the era...
Summary: 4 Stars
Sidney Poitier is an excellent actor - it was fun to see his debut on the big screen. He did an excellent job - kudos for being in a film of such controversy. I am not a Richard Widmark fan - overly dramatic, in my opinion, but did a good job of making you hate him and while at the same time pitying him.
What I found very interesting when watching the Special Features section of the DVD was the fact that Sidney Poitier did not get top-billing on the advertisement posters, etc. He was not listed as a major character in the film but in the "also featuring" category. Was this because it was his first film or was this some form of 50's racism pressure the studio succumbed so as not to offend the audience? Sidney was the subject of the movie, the main character, but did not get top-billing in the film credits or the film advertisements.
No Way Out (Fox Film Noir) by Richard Widmark, Linda Darnell, Stephen McNally
Anyone else notice that?
If you are a fan of the film-noir and enjoy Sidney Poitier you must add this one to your list.
Movie Review: Exploration of Racial Tension Skin Deep
Summary: 4 Stars
"No Way Out" has to be applauded for tackling the subject of racial tension at a time when it probably wasn't fashionable or commercially viable. That said, despite moments of searing truths, the film only treats it's subject matter superficially. To my mind it never gets to the root causes of institutionalized racism. The makers seem to slough it off to class resentment between blacks and the white underclass who are depicted here as wild eyed yahoos, none worse than an over-the-top Richard Widmark. Never mind that real power is wielded by the elites like the industrialists, the medical profession, and the film industry. Despite these quibbles there is alot to recommend here, not least of all a towering performance by a young Sidney Poitier as the intern caught in the middle of the racial maelstrom. Despite his youth, Poitier's radiant screen presence is much in evidence here and suggests the greater work that was yet to come for him.