No Way Out (1987)

A coverup and witchhunt occur after a politician accidentally kills his mistress.

Director:

Roger Donaldson

Writers:

Kenneth Fearing (novel), Robert Garland (screen story),

Stars:

Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman, Sean Young

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Costner	...	Lt. Cmdr. Tom Farrell
Gene Hackman	...	Defense Secretary David Brice
Sean Young	...	Susan Atwell
Will Patton	...	Scott Pritchard
Howard Duff	...	Senator William 'Billy' Duvall
George Dzundza	...	Sam Hesselman
Jason Bernard	...	Major Donovan
Iman	...	Nina Beka
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	CIA Director Marshall
Leon Russom	...	Kevin O'Brien
Dennis Burkley	...	Mate
Marshall Bell	...	Contra #1
Chris D.	...	Contra #2
Michael Shillo	...	Schiller
Nicholas Worth	...	Cup Breaker

Storyline

Tom Farrell is a navy officer who gets posted at the Pentagon and is to report to the secretary of defense David Brice. He starts an affair with Susan Atwell not knowing that she is Brice's mistress. When Susan is found dead, Tom is assigned to the case of finding the killer who is believed to be a KGB mole! Tom could soon become a suspect when a Polaroid negative of him was found at Susan's place. He now has only a few hours to find the killer before the computer regenerates the photo.

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Plot Keywords:

mistress | search | secretary of defense | love | mole | 

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Taglines:

Is it a crime of passion, or an act of treason?

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

14 August 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sin salida

Filming Locations:

National Mall, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$35,509,515 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Susan and Pritchard's characters only appear in flashbacks; by the time the film begins, they've already died.

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Goofs

When Tom "steals" the government car getting repaired he tears the rear bumper off as it drops off the lift. When you see the car again on the highway the bumper is back on the car.

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Quotes

Scott Pritchard: [about Brice] He's the most extraordinary person I've ever met in my life. If it came to it, I'd lay down my life for him.
Tom Farrell: Is that a job requirement?

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Crazy Credits

The opening and closing credits pan over the city of Washington.

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Connections

Remake of Police Python 357 (1976)

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Soundtracks

"SAY IT"
Words & Music by Paul Anka and Richard Marx
Performed by Paul Anka
Courtesy of Paul Anka
Published by Paulanne Music, Inc. and Chiboy Music

User Reviews

A brilliant cold war thriller that is as rivetting today as it was when it was made in 1987.

"No Way Out" is one of the most original, suspenseful, tightly-knit thrillers ever made, comparable to John Frankenheimer's "Seven Days in May". Set in the Cold War era, Gene Hackman plays the Secretary of Defense, a married man obsessed with his mistress, the exquisitely beautiful Sean Young...as is her other secret lover, Costner, a Naval Admiral who is the C.I.A.'s Liaison. When Hackman accidentally kills Young in a jealous rage, a cover-up begins to find the notorious, never-seen Russian mole "Yuri" who works within the Pentagon, and to frame him for the murder. Costner is commanded to oversee the operation, and the action begins...and is sustained with the intensity of a race on the Autobahn. The amazing all-star cast also features Will Patton, George Dzunda, Iman and David Paymer. Costner delivers what is perhaps his most subtle performance. What distinguishes "No Way Out" is its brilliant plotting, tautness, and constant surprises...with the ending being the most deliriously mind-blowing surprise of all.