No Way Out (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
One of the pioneering films about racial tensions - if not THE pioneering film - is 1950's 'No Way Out', written & directed by the great Joseph L. Mankiewicz. The movie stars a young Sidney Poitier, who plays passionate idealistic black doctor, Luther Brooks. Brooks is assigned to take care of 2 wounded, but racist criminals named Ray & Johnny Biddle (Richard Widmark, Dick Paxton). Dr. Brooks, hired as part of a municipal hospital program to integrate the staff, stays calm, cool, collected, & professional even as Ray Biddle spouts racist remarks left & right; all in front of the other doctors & patients. When Ray's brother Johnny suddenly dies in the hospital under Dr. Brooks' supervision, the enraged, bigoted Ray holds Dr. Brooks wholly responsible for the death.
Moreover, he gets word to his gang of black-hating hoodlums to wreak havoc upon the city's African-American residents. Tension builds btwn. the races. But the black people (including uncredited Ossie Davis) gets early word. And unexpectedly, the blacks fight off the whites {very dynamic scene}. An autopsy of Johnny proves that he did not kill the man, but Ray is not satisfied. He then finds a way to breaks out of the hospital, taking Dr. Brooks as a hostage. But Ray's plans to murder Dr. Brooks will be tested by resistance from his own girlfriend (beautiful Linda Darnell), a fellow racist who eventually sees the error of her ways and can't deal with his/her own bigotry anymore. Her long-held hatred of blacks subsides & she tries to be heroic in the face of Ray as he bears down on Dr. Brook. Drama ensues.
What a great movie; well directed, acted, shot, adorned, & scored. For me, this was the best year in Joseph L. Mankiewicz' career. Not only did he write & direct this stunner, but he went on to win the Best Director & Screenplay Academy Awards for 1950's classic All About Eve, as well. These 2 films show Mankiewicz' style, capabilities, talent, & most of all ... diversity. 'No Way Out' was considered a very provocative a film in 1950 {gee, I wonder why}, but it absolutely paved the way to other liberal films to come out of Hollywood, not to mention that it also launched a long, wonderful career for the talented/handsome Sidney Poitier, who would go on to become the 1st black man to win an Academy Award & become one of the most popular movie stars around (black or white).
The entire cast is great. Linda Darnell, at the peak of her beauty & career, gives an emotionally-charged performance as the conflicted Edie. Stephen McNally is good as Dr. Brooks' supportive chief medical resident. Ossie Davis, young Ruby Dee, Mildred Joanne Smith, & Maude Simmons are great as Luther Brooks' relatives. I loved housekeeper Gladys played by Amanda Rudolph. And best of all is Richard Widmark. It can't be easy to play a "Negro-Hater" & spout off all his hateful terms he does towards Poitier, yet he does it with loathsome conviction. He's one of the few Hollywood stars who could go back & forth btwn. playing villains & heroes (like in 1950's great Panic in the Streets). He's simply electric, here. The whole film is. Not only is 'No Way Out' a stellar entry in the film noir genre, but it's a socially progressive/conscious drama about racism & helped bring black actors into starring roles where they didn't have to be stereotyped. Wow.
Moreover, he gets word to his gang of black-hating hoodlums to wreak havoc upon the city's African-American residents. Tension builds btwn. the races. But the black people (including uncredited Ossie Davis) gets early word. And unexpectedly, the blacks fight off the whites {very dynamic scene}. An autopsy of Johnny proves that he did not kill the man, but Ray is not satisfied. He then finds a way to breaks out of the hospital, taking Dr. Brooks as a hostage. But Ray's plans to murder Dr. Brooks will be tested by resistance from his own girlfriend (beautiful Linda Darnell), a fellow racist who eventually sees the error of her ways and can't deal with his/her own bigotry anymore. Her long-held hatred of blacks subsides & she tries to be heroic in the face of Ray as he bears down on Dr. Brook. Drama ensues.
What a great movie; well directed, acted, shot, adorned, & scored. For me, this was the best year in Joseph L. Mankiewicz' career. Not only did he write & direct this stunner, but he went on to win the Best Director & Screenplay Academy Awards for 1950's classic All About Eve, as well. These 2 films show Mankiewicz' style, capabilities, talent, & most of all ... diversity. 'No Way Out' was considered a very provocative a film in 1950 {gee, I wonder why}, but it absolutely paved the way to other liberal films to come out of Hollywood, not to mention that it also launched a long, wonderful career for the talented/handsome Sidney Poitier, who would go on to become the 1st black man to win an Academy Award & become one of the most popular movie stars around (black or white).
The entire cast is great. Linda Darnell, at the peak of her beauty & career, gives an emotionally-charged performance as the conflicted Edie. Stephen McNally is good as Dr. Brooks' supportive chief medical resident. Ossie Davis, young Ruby Dee, Mildred Joanne Smith, & Maude Simmons are great as Luther Brooks' relatives. I loved housekeeper Gladys played by Amanda Rudolph. And best of all is Richard Widmark. It can't be easy to play a "Negro-Hater" & spout off all his hateful terms he does towards Poitier, yet he does it with loathsome conviction. He's one of the few Hollywood stars who could go back & forth btwn. playing villains & heroes (like in 1950's great Panic in the Streets). He's simply electric, here. The whole film is. Not only is 'No Way Out' a stellar entry in the film noir genre, but it's a socially progressive/conscious drama about racism & helped bring black actors into starring roles where they didn't have to be stereotyped. Wow.