No Way Out Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

No Way Out Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 1, 2018

Joseph Mankiewicz's "No Way Out" (1950) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include a vintage theatrical trailer for the film; archival audio commentary with film noir historian Eddie Muller; Luc Beraud and Michel Ciment's documentary "All About Mankiewicz"; and more. The release also arrives with a collector's booklet featuring a new essay by critic Glenn Kenny. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

The angry brother

The more time passes by, the clearer it becomes that Richard Widmark played some of the most genuinely unlikable and even flat-out repulsive characters that emerged in American cinema after the end of WWII. Even by contemporary standards the anger and nastiness that his characters exhibit in Kiss of Death, Night and the City, Pickup on South Street and No Way Out are simply off the charts. Widmark was the real deal. Period.

During a carefully planned police operation, notorious gangster Ray Biddle (Widmark) and his brother Johnny (Dick Paxton) are cornered and arrested. Because both are injured, the authorities transfer them to a local hospital where a young black doctor named Luther Brooks (Sidney Poitier) is tasked to heal their wounds. However, it turns out that Johnny’s condition is a lot more serious, which is why Dr. Brooks is quickly forced to perform a risky procedure. When Johnny dies just a few feet away from his brother’s bed, Ray vows to avenge his ‘murder’ and destroy Dr. Brooks’ reputation.

The visibly shaken Dr. Brooks describes the case to his colleague and supervisor, Dr. Dan Wharton (Stephen McNally), but even after he expresses confidence in the diagnosis the two conclude that the only way to be absolutely certain that he was right to do the risky procedure is to perform an autopsy. However, because state law demands that an autopsy can be performed only after a family member has granted permission, and because Ray has already unceremoniously rejected the idea, Dr. Brooks and Dr. Wharton contact Johnny’s widow, Eddie Johnson (Linda Darnell). At first the widow appears somewhat receptive to the idea, but after she visits Ray in the hospital changes her mind and then contacts his partners. Not long after that, all hell breaks loose.

Director Joseph Mankiewicz co-wrote No Way Out with Lesser Samuels, who less than a year later teamed up with Billy Wilder for the production of the classic film noir Ace in the Hole. No Way Out went on to win an Oscar nomination for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay.

Widmark’s character is the catalyst behind the poisonous hatred that is responsible for all of the drama during the second half. He is a vicious gangster but also a vociferous bigot, the very worst of the worst, the type that if given a chance could leave a lasting mark. So the main conflict that emerges in this film is about something much bigger than a vindictive gangster who wants to strike back.

Poitier’s young doctor absorbs a great deal of abuse and in the process it becomes quite clear that the prejudice that fuels it isn’t restricted to the hospital where the gangster is treated. Instead of deliberately pointing out what is so obvious, however, Mankiewicz preserves the casual environment for as long as possible, which ultimately makes the ugly contrasts that much more effective.

Darnell impresses as the conflicted widow who initially sees something in the gangster that quite simply does not exist and later on regrets her decision to open up before his equally deranged partners.

No Way Out Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.34:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Joseph Mankiewicz's No Way Out arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.

The release is sourced from an older remaster, most likely the one that Twentieth Century Fox used for the North American DVD release of No Way Out. While there is nothing alarmingly wrong with it, its limitations are pretty obvious. Indeed, there are various parts where definition and depth are not optimal, and this also has a noticeable effect on the overall fluidity of the visuals. Furthermore, because grain isn't as properly exposed and resolved -- there are traces of some digital work that are partially responsible for this -- density isn't optimal either. This is quite easy to see on a large screen, but my guess is that even folks with smaller screens in the 40" range will be able to tell. The grading is very good, though some light black crush is occasionally noticeable. There are no stability issues. However, some light specks and even a few scratches remain. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

No Way Out Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

Clarity and depth are good. There are a few sequences -- such as the one with the big brawl -- where the sound could a be bit thin, but I think that even if eventually Twentieth Century Fox produce a new 4K remaster there won't be a drastic difference. Perhaps overall the sound would be slightly better balanced. There are no audio dropouts or distortions to report.

No Way Out Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - vintage theatrical trailer for No Way Out. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Fox Movietone Newsreels - archival footage from Twentieth Century Fox's vaults. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• All About Mankiewicz (1983) - this archival documentary examines the life and cinematic legacy of Joseph Mankiewicz and features archival interview content with the acclaimed director. It was produced by Luc Beraud and Michel Ciment and is presented here in two parts. In English, not subtitled. (107 min).

• Audio Commentary - this archival audio commentary with film noir historian Eddie Muller was also included on the North American DVD release of No Way Out. It contains plenty of great information not only about the production history of the film and the performances and careers of its stars, but also the specific environment in which the film was conceived and released.

• Booklet - a collector's booklet featuring a new essay by critic Glenn Kenny.

• Sleeve - a reversible sleeve with alternate art.

No Way Out Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I can think of a very long list of talented American actors that have been brilliant while playing bad characters. However, at a certain point there is usually something in their performance that gives up the obvious, which is that they have temporarily adopted a foreign identity. Richard Widmark is one of only a couple of classic actors -- another great one is Robert Ryan -- who has played such bad characters and I have never been able to spot any revealing cracks. What is especially interesting is that his earliest meanies, like Tommy Udo from Kiss of Death, are actually his best. Widmark truly was, and remains, one of the all-time greatest. Joseph Mankiewicz's No Way Out features another special Widmark transformation, and he isn't even the principal character, Sidney Poitier's young doctor is. I like this film a lot, and even though I think that it should look better in high-definition, I am glad to see it transition to Blu-ray. Eureka Entertainment's new release also has a great documentary about the life and legacy of director Mankiewicz. RECOMMENDED.