No Way Out (1950)

A black doctor is assigned to treat two white racist suspects who are brothers, and when one dies, it causes tension that could start a race riot.

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writers:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Lesser Samuels

Stars:

Richard Widmark, Linda Darnell, Stephen McNally

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard Widmark	...	Ray Biddle
Linda Darnell	...	Edie Johnson
Stephen McNally	...	Dr. Dan Wharton
Sidney Poitier	...	Dr. Luther Brooks
Mildred Joanne Smith	...	Cora Brooks
Harry Bellaver	...	George Biddle
Stanley Ridges	...	Dr. Sam Moreland
Dots Johnson	...	Lefty Jones

Storyline

The Biddle brothers, shot while robbing a gas station, are taken to the prison ward of the County Hospital; Ray Biddle, a rabid racist, wants no treatment from black resident Dr. Luther Brooks. When brother John dies while Luther tries to save him, Ray is certain it's murder and becomes obsessed with vengeance. But there are black racists around too, and the situation slides rapidly toward violence.

---

Plot Keywords:

racism | riot | doctor | hospital | black doctor | 

---

Taglines:

Is it a question ...or an answer

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English American Sign Language

Release Date:

September 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Haß ist blind

Filming Locations:

USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Since this happens to most men, it shouldn't be considered a goof. In the locker room scene, as Dr. Luther Brooks (Sidney Poitier) puts on his whites, he fails to zip up. TLD.

---

Goofs

After Dr. Brooks retrieves the spinal tap tray from the cabinet and heads back to the ward where Ray and John Biddle are being treated, the shadow of the boom microphone can be briefly seen on the wall upper left on the screen.

---

Quotes

Dr. Dan Wharton: We want you to know how sorry we are Mrs. Biddle, we realize this is no time...
Edie Johnson: The name's Johnson. Edie Johnson
Dr. Dan Wharton: Since when?
Edie Johnson: Since I divorced Johnnie Biddle a year and a half ago. So it's nice of you to drop around and tell me you're sorry. Only I'm not interested. And I'll tell you something else. If you came by here to say the whole Biddle family was dying and this cigarette bud was the only thing that could save them
[without emotion throws the cigarette bud out the window]
Edie Johnson: .

---

Crazy Credits

The 20th Century Fox logo appears without its familiar fanfare. Instead, the film's music theme begins when the logo is displayed.

---

Connections

Referenced in Backstory: Gentleman's Agreement (2001)

---

Soundtracks

Don't Get Around Much Anymore
(uncredited)
Music by Duke Ellington
Lyrics by Bob Russell

User Reviews

Intelligent, Groundbreaking Film

After watching this film on television a couple weeks ago (TMC is the best), I was surprised how obscure 'No Way Out' really is. However, I wasn't exactly surprised.

The film follows Dr. Brooks (Sidney Poitier), an ER doctor whose first real-world experience is as intern in the prison ward of a New York hospital. While on duty, the brothers Biddle (the older of which is played by Richard Widmark), come in following a confrontation with the police. Both suffer from superficial injuries, but the younger brother's health is declining rapidly due to what Brooks diagnoses as a brain tumor. The kid dies while Brooks is operating, feet away from his brother. The racist Ray Biddle soon accuses Brooks of murder, but won't allow an autopsy to be conducted on his brother to determine the cause of death.

Poitier turns in a great performance as the hard-working young doctor, who is debased by the hollow accusations of a bigot. They dig at his core and bring up insecurities that would be common to anyone in the medical field, but are aggravated by the pure hatred of Widmark's equally well-played character.

While the script borders on stereotypes at times, you have to remember that these stereotypes were very real during the time it was written. The writer does a fantastic job of adding depth, personality, beyond the paper figures. Brooks is a practical man, who supports his family and tries to not let the circumstances bring him down. Behind the veneer of hatred, Biddle is a deeply insecure and misguided man who has let circumstance blacken his core. Mankiewicz and Samuels do an amazing job at bringing life to a situation that was taboo for the time.

Aside from the competent acting and well-executed script, the film featured a moving and well-choreographed race riot that fully captures the raw hatred that can surface between groups of people who face the same everyday problems and circumstances, but are torn by one difference (color, or creed, or religion).

This is definitely a film well worth seeing. For its time, the movie was groundbreaking for its portrayal of both racists and their victims. While today the movie may seem tame, it undoubtedly struck some sensitive nerves during its release. The film deserves to be more widely known, if only for its content.