"No Way Out" Review

 

by Daniel White

"Don't cry white boy, you're gonna live," Sidney Poitier delivers that, the last line to Richard Widmark in Twentieth Century Fox's, No Way Out (1950), Joseph L. Mankiewicz's still powerful film about a racist sociopath (Richard Widmark).

When Sidney Poitier died the other day I didn't think it was necessary for me to offer up a tribute to the ground-breaking actor. I respected the man, but never felt a personal bond like I have with other performers. However, after witnessing all the heartfelt accolades on social media, I realized he deserved to be recognized by me, lowly film critic that I am.

No Way Out was released in September of 1950, a month before Mankiewicz's classic, All About Eve. It's a good movie, despite lapses into preachiness, and the impossibly young Poitier (in his first significant film role) does a fine job as Dr. Luther Brooks. However, it's Richard Widmark as Negro-baiting Ray Biddle who walks away with the acting honors. Widmark is great, spewing out racial epithets, his face contorted with hatred toward Dr. Brooks, who he blames for his brothers death. I came to praise Poitier, and stayed to worship Widmark. Not many actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood can make the journey from psychopath to leading man, but Richard Widmark is one of them.

Leading lady Linda Darnell shows up about 30 minutes into the film and she is enticing as the jaded, weary Edie, ex-wife to Widmark's dead brother. I have such a soft spot in my heart for this sexy, talented, underrated actress, and she is excellent here. The only character in the film who undergoes a profound emotional change, Darnell handles her part like a pro. Though she would go on to make over a dozen more movies, this would be her last truly decent picture, and along with Widmark and Poitier, she does a bang-up job. The three are iconic, each in their own way, and the last scene with only them in it pulsates with significance, a trio of Hollywood legends, forever immortalized in cinema.

This is an A picture with first-rate production values, including wonderful noirish cinematography by Milton R. Krasner, and a superb musical score by Lionel Newman. And is it my imagination, or was every time a radio was on, was Duke Ellington playing? Pretty slick, Mr. Mankiewicz, pretty slick.

With Stephan McNally, Mildred Joanne Smith, Stanley Ridges, Amanda Randolph, and an uncredited Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, No Way Out is available on YouTube.

"We can be happy, we've got a right to be." Thank you, Mr. Poitier, thank you Mr. Widmark, thank you Miss Darnell. I hope you three were happy from time to time, you certainly gave me joy.