Movie Reviews for No Way Out (Fox Film Noir)

No Way Out (Fox Film Noir)

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Movie Reviews of No Way Out (Fox Film Noir)

Movie Review: Not Film Noir but not bad.
Summary: 4 Stars

Far too often DVDs of 1940s & 1950s films are labeled as being Film Noir only to help sell the product. Such is the case here. There is no way that "No Way Out" qualifies as "dark cinema," however, it still rates as a very good movie. Controversial when released, some of the drama seems forced at times but the story still entertains. The acting is first rate, especially by Sidney Poitier in his first role (and a starring one at that). Also making their debuts were Ozzie Davis and Ruby Dee.

Movie Review: View of Race Relations Circa 1950
Summary: 3 Stars

No Way Out is a 1950 film that saw the debut of Sidney Poitier and Ossie Davis. The stellar cast includes Richard Widmark, Linda Darnell, and Stephen McNally and features Harry Bellaver, Amanda Randolph, and Ruby Dee. Joseph Mankiewicz directs based on a screenplay by Lesser Samuels. The film is a powerful film about racial prejudice, which was a topic of interest following World War 2. Other films about racial prejudice from this era include "Home of the Brave" (1949), "Pinky" (1949), and "Steel Helmet" (1951), and "Salt of the Earth" (1954).

Sidney Poitier won the Oscar in 1963 ("Lillies of the Field") and had been nominated in 1958 ("The Defiant Ones"). He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performances in "Porgy and Bess" (1959), "A Raisin in the Sun" (1961), "A Patch of Blue" (1965), "In the Heat of the Night" (1967), and "Separate But Equal" (1991). Poitier plays a young physician. This was his first film appearance.

Rugged Richard Widmark was an excellent actor, nominated for an Oscar and winner of a Golden Globe for his debut film ("Kiss of Death", 1947) and also nominated for an Emmy for "Vanished" (1971). Widmark appeared in more than 50 films, initially as a villain but increasing as a hero. He was a staple in Westerns - "The Last Wagon" (1956), "Warlock" (1959), "Two Rode Together" (1961), "Cheyenne Autumn" (1964), "Death of a Gunfighter" (1969), "Once Upon a Texas Train" (1988). Widmark plays a racist thief. He and Poitier gained a lifelong friendship as a result of working together on this film, and together they made two more films - "The Long Ships" (1964) and "The Bedford Incident" (1965).

Linda Darnell was a major screen star of the 40s. She was a frequent co-star with Tyrone Power in films like "Mark of Zorro" (1940) and "Blood and Sand" (1941). In 1944 Look magazine voted her one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. But problems with powerful producer Darryl Zanuck stymied her career, and this film was her last memorable role. Darnell plays the ex-wife of Widmark's brother, who dies on the operating table while Poitier attempts to save him.

Stephen McNally appeared in over 100 films from 1942 to 1978, often as a heavy in films like "Johnny Belinda" (1948), "Wincester 73" (1950), and "Violent Saturday" (1955).

Ossie Davis made his film debut, and this was his first time playing opposite his wife, Ruby Dee. Davis made nearly 100 more films, was nominated 4 times for an Emmy and once for a Golden Globe ("The Scalphunters"). He had recurring roles on several TV series ("Car 54 Where Are You", "The Defenders", "B.L.Stryker") but is probably best remembered for "Evening Shade".

His wife, Ruby Dee, first appeared in films in 1946. She received 6 Emmy nominations and 1 win ("Decoration Day") and one Oscar nomination ("American Gangster" in 2007).

Amanda Randolph plays McNulty's housekeeper. She's best remembered for her great performances as Sapphire's Mama in "The Amos n Andy Show" (1951-2) and her role as Danny Thomas' maid in "Make Room for Daddy" (1955-63).

Harry Bellaver plays Widmark's deaf brother. Bellaver started in films in 1938 and made dozens of films. He's best remembered as Detective Frank Arcaro from "Naked City" (1958-63).

Joseph L. Mankiewicz directs. He was the brother of Herman Mankiewicz, the Oscar winning co-writer of "Citizen Kane" (1941). But brother Joe was no patsy, and his long distinguished career earned him 8 Oscar nominations and 4 wins (Writer and Director for "All About Eve" and Writer and Director for "A Letter to Three Wives"). His films as a Director include "Sleuth" (1972), "Cleopatra" (1963), "Suddenly Last Summer" (1959), "Guys and Dolls" (1955), and "The Barefoot Contessa" (1954).

Lesser Samuels, who co-wrote with Mankiewicz, received an Oscar nomination for "No Way Out" and also for "Ace in the Hole" (1951). His other film credits include "The Silver Chalice" (1954), a film that was so bad it virtually ended his career.

Dealing with the topic of racial prejudice, the film got mixed reviews. The National League of Decency condemned it, partially because adultery was overtly hinted at. Police authorities in Chicago banned it over the protests of the NAACP because they felt it might enflame racial tensions. Black groups protested the use of racial epithets throughout the film. Variety said it was "tedious with words" but the Motion Picture Herald said "rarely has [Hollywood] come to grips with the whole tragic question quite so dramatically and forcefully as in this picture."

The film is certainly worth viewing, along with "Pinky" and "Home of the Brave", as a dramatic snapshot of America circa 1950 vis-à-vis racial attitudes. The film's cinematic qualities are relatively average, although there is a strong performance from Linda Darnell and it's great to see Richard Widmark, Sidney Poitier, Ossie Davie, and Ruby Dee so young.

To some extent, the film is weakened by the fact that the antagonist (Widmark) is painted so negatively. The racist is a thug, guilty of robbery, assault, and adultery, and the object of his hatred is a young, attractive, medical doctor with a supportive family. The racism in films like "Home of the Brave" is much more subtle, making the lesson all that more valuable. I suppose for 1950 any portrait of racism, however painted, was a good one.

It's interesting to note that 17 years later Poitier would play the attractive, family oriented physician once again in a film that dealt with racism - "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."

Movie Review: JOSEPH L. MANKIEWICZ, OPUS 8
Summary: 3 Stars

*** 1950. Co-written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. One nomination for the Academy awards (screenplay). In this social film noir, a racist hoodlum, played by Richard Widmark, taxes a black doctor with the murder of his wounded brother and Linda Darnell doesn't know where's the truth. In my opinion, a minor effort in Mankiewicz's filmography. If one can recognize in NO WAY OUT the familiar Mankiewicz theme of the description of a man's humiliation, some dialogues of the film have aged pretty badly. Nevertheless, if you're a fan of this director, you should have this DVD in your library. The quality of the images and the sound is great.

Movie Review: No Way Out
Summary: 1 Stars

That movie was horrible!!! Nowhere in the reviews did it inform the consumer that it was a film about such hatred!!!!! It should've said something like:

WARNING: The following movie contains ONE of the most offensive words spoken!!! And it was used 26 times!!!

This movie offered no redeeming value whatsoever. I hated it!!!!