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.

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Plot Keywords:

racism | riot | doctor | hospital | black doctor | 

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Taglines:

Is it a question ...or an answer

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

In October 1949, Anne Baxter was announced as the female lead.

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Goofs

The Deputy asks Dr. Brooks if he's going to need any instruments. His reply; "you keep them locked up". The deputy's answer is "this ain't no maternity ward doc". Implying they can be used by any criminal as weapon against the staff. But they are not locked in a secure cabinet in a nondescript room. They're locked in cases with glass doors that line the hallway of the ward. Easily smashed, access to instruments that could be used as weapons.

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Quotes

Dr. Dan Wharton: My point is you got out.
Edie Johnson: Five blocks away.
Dr. Dan Wharton: Five million blocks, what's the difference? You hate Beaver Canal; you hate what it stands for.
Edie Johnson: You talk like I was a poet or a professor. I found open a manhole and I crawled out of a sewer, wouldn't anybody?
Dr. Dan Wharton: Ray Biddle wouldn't. He likes Beaver Canal; he likes what it stands for.
Edie Johnson: I don't even know what that means: "stands for"? There's no difference in people except the size of their tips. A drunk is a drunk and a pass is a pass if it comes from a ...

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Crazy Credits

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

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Connections

Featured in American Masters: Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light (2000)

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Soundtracks

Tiger Rag
(uncredited)
Written by Nick LaRocca, Edwin B. Edwards, Henry Ragas, Tony Sbarbaro, and Larry Shields (aka The Original Dixieland Jazz Band)

User Reviews

Terrifically exciting, edge-of-your-seat

I saw this on AMC a couple of years ago, and it knocked me over. Hey, there's a race riot scene, pretty realistic, and this is from 1950! Fabulous acting, great script, pulls you in like "On the Waterfront" does. It's hard to believe that the writer/director, Joseph Mankiewicz, was the same guy who made "Cleopatra". This one is worth seeking out.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English American Sign Language

Release Date:

September 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

No Way Out

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