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No Way Out (1950 film)

No Way Out is a 1950 American film noir[3] directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and starring Richard Widmark, Linda Darnell, Sidney Poitier, and Stephen McNally, who portrays a doctor tending to slum residents whose ethics are tested when confronted with racism, personified by Widmark as hateful robber Ray Biddle.[4]

No Way Out
Theatrical release poster by Paul Rand
Directed byJoseph L. Mankiewicz
Written byLesser Samuels
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Produced byDarryl F. Zanuck
StarringRichard Widmark
Linda Darnell
Sidney Poitier
Stephen McNally
CinematographyMilton R. Krasner
Edited byBarbara McLean
Music byAlfred Newman
Color processBlack and white
Production
company
20th Century Fox
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
16 August 1950 (New York City)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.3 million[1][2]

No Way Out was controversial in its "graphic representation of racial violence" in what director Mankiewicz termed "the absolute blood and guts of Negro hating." The film marked the feature-acting debuts of Poitier and Mildred Joanne Smith.[5][6] Mankiewicz and Lesser Samuels were also nominated for Best Story and Screenplay at the 23rd Academy Awards, losing to Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, and D. M. Marshman Jr. for Sunset Boulevard.

Plot

Dr. Luther Brooks is the first African-American doctor at the urban county hospital where he trained. Despite assurances from his mentor, chief resident Dr. Dan Wharton, Brooks sometimes lacks confidence in his own skills. Brooks is working at the hospital's prison ward when Johnny and Ray Biddle, brothers who were both shot in the leg while attempting a robbery, are brought in for treatment. Johnny's symptoms, such as disorientation and dilated pupils, worry Luther. The bigoted Ray bombards Luther with racist slurs as he tries to treat them.

Concerned that Johnny has a brain tumor, Luther administers a spinal tap, but Johnny dies during the procedure. Ray, who believes that Johnny was only suffering from a gunshot to the leg, accuses Luther of killing him, and promises revenge. Luther consults with Wharton, who believes Luther followed the right course of treatment, but concedes the diagnosis may have been incorrect.

To determine whether his treatment was correct, Luther requests an autopsy of Johnny, but Ray refuses to consent; he does not want his brother's body "cut up". The head of the hospital also denies the autopsy request, because he fears that a scandal involving their only black doctor could endanger funding.

Luther and Wharton visit Johnny's widow, Edie Johnson, seeking her help in getting an autopsy. Edie grew up with the Biddles in the city's poor, white Beaver Canal district, where racism is prevalent; she refuses to help them, but the conflicted Edie later visits Ray in the prison ward to ask why he will not approve the autopsy. Ray tells her that Johnny would still be alive if he would have had a white doctor, and that Wharton and Luther only want the autopsy so they can cover up the truth about Johnny's death. Ray convinces Edie that the doctors are attempting to play her for a "chump", and that she should tell Beaver Canal club owner Rocky Miller about the circumstances surrounding Johnny's death. Accompanied by Ray's deaf-mute other brother George, Edie does this, and Rocky and his pals plan to attack the black section of town.

Luther, speaking with a black elevator operator, learns that the black community has heard about the pending attack and is planning to strike first. When Luther tries to dissuade him, the operator reminds him of past assaults on the black community, and asks, "Ain't it asking a lot for us to be better than them when we get killed just trying to prove we're as good?" The race riot occurs, and Luther tends to its victims until a white woman orders him to take his "black hands" off her son and spits in his face. Stunned, Luther walks out.

Despondent at what her actions have caused, Edie visits Wharton's home, where after initial racist misgivings, she befriends his black maid, Gladys. Wharton, Gladys, and Edie learn that Luther has turned himself in for the murder of Johnny Biddle. Wharton realizes that Luther has done this to force the coroner to conduct an autopsy on Biddle.

The autopsy confirms that Johnny died of a brain tumor and that Luther's course of treatment was correct. Ray only grows angrier at this, convinced of a conspiracy to bury the truth. After overhearing Wharton say that he is leaving town for vacation, Ray and George overpower the police guard and escape, with Ray reinjuring his wounded leg. Ray and George force Edie to call Luther and lure him to Wharton's empty house. Drunk and in great pain, Ray raves that he is going to kill Luther and leaves. Edie manages to escape from George and calls the police to help Luther.

At Wharton's house, Ray holds a gun on Luther as he beats him and shouts slurs. Edie arrives and sees that Ray's physical pain and obsessive hatred have pushed him beyond reason. Edie turns out the lights as Ray shoots. Luther is wounded in the shoulder, but grabs Ray's gun after he collapses in pain. Luther asserts that he cannot let Ray die simply because of his racism, and convinces Edie to help him save Ray's life. As sirens wail in the distance, Luther tells the hysterical Ray, "Don't cry, white boy, you're gonna live."

Cast

Cast notes

Director Joseph Mankiewicz personally selected Sidney Poitier from a small group of finalists for the part of the young medical doctor Luther Brooks. Characterized by "emotional intensity and grace", the part launched Poitier's film career.[7]

The film also marks the first time that Ossie Davis (film debut) and Ruby Dee appeared together on screen, both uncredited.[8]

Reception

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Thomas M. Pryor wrote:

Sometimes the sting of a club will make more of an impression than appeals to the intellect. No Way Out makes no attempt to mask the ugliness and the ignorance of a manifestation of bigotry, which has long festered in our society and is peculiarly at odds with the fundamentals of our political and religious philosophies. No Way Out poses the problem and says in effect, 'What are you going to do about it?' Some people may, like this reviewer, wish that the men who made this picture had tackled the subject with less melodramatic flair. ... Although its aim is not always as good as its intentions, No Way Out is a harsh, outspoken picture with implications that will keep you thinking about it long after leaving the theatre. That makes No Way Out an important picture.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Top Grosses of 1950". Variety. January 3, 1951. p. 58.
  2. ^ Aubrey Solomon, Twentieth Century-Fox: A Corporate and Financial History Rowman & Littlefield, 2002 p 223
  3. ^ Selby 1984, p. 167.
  4. ^ No Way Out at the American Film Institute Catalog.
  5. ^ Quigley, 2004
  6. ^ Barnes, Mike (2015-07-24). "Mildred Joanne Smith, Actress in Poitier's 'No Way Out,' Dies at 94". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2015-08-23.
  7. ^ Quigley, 2004
  8. ^ Quigley, 2004
  9. ^ Pryor, Thomas M. (1950-08-17). "The Screen: Two Newcomers on Local Scene". The New York Times. p. 23.

Further reading

  • Quigley, Mark. 2004. No Way Out, 1950. UCLA Film and Television Archive: 12th Festival of Preservation, July 22-August 21, 2004. Festival guest handbook.
  • Selby, Spencer. Dark City: The Film Noir. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland Publishing, 1984. ISBN 0-89950-103-6.

External links

1950, film, 1950, american, film, noir, directed, joseph, mankiewicz, starring, richard, widmark, linda, darnell, sidney, poitier, stephen, mcnally, portrays, doctor, tending, slum, residents, whose, ethics, tested, when, confronted, with, racism, personified,. No Way Out is a 1950 American film noir 3 directed by Joseph L Mankiewicz and starring Richard Widmark Linda Darnell Sidney Poitier and Stephen McNally who portrays a doctor tending to slum residents whose ethics are tested when confronted with racism personified by Widmark as hateful robber Ray Biddle 4 No Way OutTheatrical release poster by Paul RandDirected byJoseph L MankiewiczWritten byLesser SamuelsJoseph L MankiewiczProduced byDarryl F ZanuckStarringRichard WidmarkLinda DarnellSidney PoitierStephen McNallyCinematographyMilton R KrasnerEdited byBarbara McLeanMusic byAlfred NewmanColor processBlack and whiteProductioncompany20th Century FoxDistributed by20th Century FoxRelease date16 August 1950 New York City Running time107 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBox office 1 3 million 1 2 No Way Out was controversial in its graphic representation of racial violence in what director Mankiewicz termed the absolute blood and guts of Negro hating The film marked the feature acting debuts of Poitier and Mildred Joanne Smith 5 6 Mankiewicz and Lesser Samuels were also nominated for Best Story and Screenplay at the 23rd Academy Awards losing to Charles Brackett Billy Wilder and D M Marshman Jr for Sunset Boulevard Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Cast notes 4 Reception 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksPlot EditThis article s plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed Please help improve it by removing unnecessary details and making it more concise January 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Dr Luther Brooks is the first African American doctor at the urban county hospital where he trained Despite assurances from his mentor chief resident Dr Dan Wharton Brooks sometimes lacks confidence in his own skills Brooks is working at the hospital s prison ward when Johnny and Ray Biddle brothers who were both shot in the leg while attempting a robbery are brought in for treatment Johnny s symptoms such as disorientation and dilated pupils worry Luther The bigoted Ray bombards Luther with racist slurs as he tries to treat them Concerned that Johnny has a brain tumor Luther administers a spinal tap but Johnny dies during the procedure Ray who believes that Johnny was only suffering from a gunshot to the leg accuses Luther of killing him and promises revenge Luther consults with Wharton who believes Luther followed the right course of treatment but concedes the diagnosis may have been incorrect To determine whether his treatment was correct Luther requests an autopsy of Johnny but Ray refuses to consent he does not want his brother s body cut up The head of the hospital also denies the autopsy request because he fears that a scandal involving their only black doctor could endanger funding Luther and Wharton visit Johnny s widow Edie Johnson seeking her help in getting an autopsy Edie grew up with the Biddles in the city s poor white Beaver Canal district where racism is prevalent she refuses to help them but the conflicted Edie later visits Ray in the prison ward to ask why he will not approve the autopsy Ray tells her that Johnny would still be alive if he would have had a white doctor and that Wharton and Luther only want the autopsy so they can cover up the truth about Johnny s death Ray convinces Edie that the doctors are attempting to play her for a chump and that she should tell Beaver Canal club owner Rocky Miller about the circumstances surrounding Johnny s death Accompanied by Ray s deaf mute other brother George Edie does this and Rocky and his pals plan to attack the black section of town Luther speaking with a black elevator operator learns that the black community has heard about the pending attack and is planning to strike first When Luther tries to dissuade him the operator reminds him of past assaults on the black community and asks Ain t it asking a lot for us to be better than them when we get killed just trying to prove we re as good The race riot occurs and Luther tends to its victims until a white woman orders him to take his black hands off her son and spits in his face Stunned Luther walks out Despondent at what her actions have caused Edie visits Wharton s home where after initial racist misgivings she befriends his black maid Gladys Wharton Gladys and Edie learn that Luther has turned himself in for the murder of Johnny Biddle Wharton realizes that Luther has done this to force the coroner to conduct an autopsy on Biddle The autopsy confirms that Johnny died of a brain tumor and that Luther s course of treatment was correct Ray only grows angrier at this convinced of a conspiracy to bury the truth After overhearing Wharton say that he is leaving town for vacation Ray and George overpower the police guard and escape with Ray reinjuring his wounded leg Ray and George force Edie to call Luther and lure him to Wharton s empty house Drunk and in great pain Ray raves that he is going to kill Luther and leaves Edie manages to escape from George and calls the police to help Luther At Wharton s house Ray holds a gun on Luther as he beats him and shouts slurs Edie arrives and sees that Ray s physical pain and obsessive hatred have pushed him beyond reason Edie turns out the lights as Ray shoots Luther is wounded in the shoulder but grabs Ray s gun after he collapses in pain Luther asserts that he cannot let Ray die simply because of his racism and convinces Edie to help him save Ray s life As sirens wail in the distance Luther tells the hysterical Ray Don t cry white boy you re gonna live Cast EditRichard Widmark as Ray Biddle Linda Darnell as Edie Johnson John Biddle s widow Stephen McNally as Dr Dan Wharton Sidney Poitier as Dr Luther Brooks Mildred Joanne Smith as Cora Brooks Harry Bellaver as George Biddle Stanley Ridges as Dr Sam Moreland Dots Johnson as Lefty Jones Ossie Davis as John Brooks uncredited Ruby Dee as Connie Brooks uncredited Bert Freed as Rocky Miller uncredited Fred Graham as Wilson uncredited Frank Overton as Intern uncredited Amanda Randolph as Gladys uncredited Frank Richards as Mac uncredited Ray Teal as Day Deputy uncredited Ian Wolfe as Watkins uncredited Will Wright as Dr Cheney uncredited Cast notes EditDirector Joseph Mankiewicz personally selected Sidney Poitier from a small group of finalists for the part of the young medical doctor Luther Brooks Characterized by emotional intensity and grace the part launched Poitier s film career 7 The film also marks the first time that Ossie Davis film debut and Ruby Dee appeared together on screen both uncredited 8 Reception EditIn a contemporary review for The New York Times critic Thomas M Pryor wrote Sometimes the sting of a club will make more of an impression than appeals to the intellect No Way Out makes no attempt to mask the ugliness and the ignorance of a manifestation of bigotry which has long festered in our society and is peculiarly at odds with the fundamentals of our political and religious philosophies No Way Out poses the problem and says in effect What are you going to do about it Some people may like this reviewer wish that the men who made this picture had tackled the subject with less melodramatic flair Although its aim is not always as good as its intentions No Way Out is a harsh outspoken picture with implications that will keep you thinking about it long after leaving the theatre That makes No Way Out an important picture 9 See also EditList of films featuring the deaf and hard of hearingReferences Edit Top Grosses of 1950 Variety January 3 1951 p 58 Aubrey Solomon Twentieth Century Fox A Corporate and Financial History Rowman amp Littlefield 2002 p 223 Selby 1984 p 167 No Way Out at the American Film Institute Catalog Quigley 2004 Barnes Mike 2015 07 24 Mildred Joanne Smith Actress in Poitier s No Way Out Dies at 94 The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved 2015 08 23 Quigley 2004 Quigley 2004 Pryor Thomas M 1950 08 17 The Screen Two Newcomers on Local Scene The New York Times p 23 Further reading EditQuigley Mark 2004 No Way Out 1950 UCLA Film and Television Archive 12th Festival of Preservation July 22 August 21 2004 Festival guest handbook Selby Spencer Dark City The Film Noir Jefferson North Carolina McFarland Publishing 1984 ISBN 0 89950 103 6 External links EditNo Way Out at the American Film Institute Catalog No Way Out at IMDb No Way Out at AllMovie No Way Out at the TCM Movie Database No Way Out at Rotten Tomatoes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No Way Out 1950 film amp oldid 1149256366, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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