The Film (4.5/5)

Medical intern Dr. Luther Brooks (Sidney Poitier) is on his first night of duty. Within minutes two white brothers are brought in for an attempted robbery gone wrong with both men shot in the arm. But something is unusual about one, So Brooks goes in to check, despite all the racial slurs and yelling. The man dies by a brain tumor, But the surviving brother (Richard Widmark) killed him because of racial hate. Brook’s boss Dr. Wharton (Stephen McNally) believes it was also a brain tumor but the only way to find out is through an autopsy, which due to a legal loophole, is only possible with permission from the deceased’s family. And his Brother refuses.

The situation soon grows out of control as a full-blown race war starts to rip out of the nearby Beaver Canal. This all happens with the dead man’s widow (Linda Darnell) also trying to overcome her background and her deep seeded racism.

NO WAY OUT (1950) is hidden gem of a film noir. A near masterpiece with intense emotion and a haunting look at racism that is still with us in 2018. In starts in the medical field, which is bizarre for the shadow-soaked world of noir and pushes us into a strangely still contemporary story. The rest of the plot and characters are housed in a labyrinth of motivations, repression, shame, greed, and lost hope.

Billed fourth, but the true main character, Sidney Poitier shines in his first role. This type of character was refreshing and eye opening for 1950. A successful African American Doctor, who isn’t pitied or talked down to by his co-workers. But the prejudice of the time comes alive quick with the ultimate example of fragile masculinity in Richard Widmark, who goes from sinister and snakelike, to a crying mess. Feeling cheated in a perverse display of white privilege. Linda Darnell is a woman cheated out of a good life by the mention of her white trash past. Stuck and full of shame. Her character is a good standee for the everyman who doesn’t realize the true impact of repressed racism. Which starts the violent riot near the end of the film.

The movie has a sharp and shocking script with enough racial slurs to make anyone comfortable. Director Mankiewicz handles the material with no judgement, letting the madness escape. The line that stand out and haunted me was when Poiter says “I can’t kill a man just because he hates me”. NO WAY OUT is a Noir masterpiece that is waiting to find a wider audience.

Audio/Video (4.5/5)

Eureka’s Masters of Cinema line gives NO WAY OUT a handsome new release. The 2.0 DTS English sound mix sounds like it was recorded today. Clear and bold without any hiss or production noise. English Subtitles are included.

The 1080p HD picture showcases a new transfer with the right aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The blacks are smooth and there is a nice level of focus. There is some minor film grain but nothing too noticeable.

Extras (4/5)

Eureka has packed this title with an impressive slate of extras. First up is the highly informative Audio Commentary by Film historian Eddie Muller, who talks about the Film noir scene in 1949/50 and how unique this film is in the subgenre. It’s crammed packed with trivia and insight into the Hollywood system of the time that it’s worth a listen or two.

The main extra is a 103-minute documentary on Director Mankiewicz, entitled “All about Mankiewicz”. The documentary is a nice introduction into his career and a nice guide to some more classic movies, like ALL ABOUT EVE. Rounding out the disc is some Fox Movie tone newsreels, the original theatrical trailer, and a packaged booklet of liner notes with production stills and an essay by Glenn Kenny.

Overall (4.5/5)

NO WAY OUT was a shockingly effective surprise. One of the best film noirs I’ve had the pleasure of seeing. Check it out asap. Highly Recommended.