This week’s mystery movie was the 1950 Twentieth Century-Fox Film No Way Out, with Richard Widmark, Linda Darnell, Stephen McNally, Sidney Poitier, Mildred Joanne Smith, Harry Bellaver, Stanley Ridges and Dots Johnson.
Written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Lesser Samuels.
Music by Alfred Newman. Orchestration by Edward Powell.
Photography by Milton Krasner.
Art direction by Lyle Wheeler and George W. Davis. Set decoration by Thomas Little and Stuart Reiss. Edited by Barbara McLean. Wardrobe by Charles Le Maire. Costumes designed by Travilla. Makeup by Ben Nye. Photographic effects by Fred Sersen. Sound by Bernard Freericks and Roger Heman.
Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck.
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
No Way Out is available for streaming from Amazon.
The history of the film is available from the AFI catalog.
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B.J. Merholz writes:
Peter was about ten when he was offered a free math course by a major corporation. Julie would take him to the building and wait in the VW Bug for his return. He enjoyed the class, but was disappointed that due an oversubscribed class, he didn’t get his own computer station. He told us that he had a nice partner, and that it was good for the partner because he needed help with the programs.
When Peter came to the car after the last class, he told Julie that his partner Sidney wanted to meet her. Then this really tall kid bent down under the car roof and Sidney Poitier told Julie how much Peter had helped him get through the class. But then he wasn’t there on a scholarship.
This led me to notice, as time went on, how often Poitier took classes and pursued knowledge. Maybe that’s the secret to a long life.
I saw No Way Out in 1950 at the Million Dollar Theater on Broadway and was, of course, blown away by its raw depiction of racism. In all the deserved accolades directed Poitier’s way this week, I missed the recognition due to Hollywood men like Joe Mankiewicz and Darryl Zanuck for creating the opportunities for Poitier to shine.
No Bosley Crowther review, interestingly enough. The film was reviewed (Aug. 17, 1950) by the mysterious T.M.P., possibly Thomas M. Pryor.
A violent, melodramatic study of radial prejudice, centering on a young Negro doctor, was presented by Twentieth Century-Fox yesterday at the Rivoli Theatre. Darryl F. Zanuck, production chief of the studio, has put his personal signature to No Way Out, which was written by Joseph Mankiewicz and Lesser Samuels and directed by Mr. Mankiewicz. Producer Zanuck and his associates throw their punches hard and fast in this blunt exposition of anti-Negro feelings. While No Way Out does not probe causes deeply or offer any prescription for a world of better understanding, it drives home what it has to say in forceful cinematic fashion which alternately shocked an early morning audience into stunned silent and inspired frequent applause…..
…. Although its aim is not always as good as its intentions, No Way Out is a harsh, outspoken picture with implications that will keep you thinking about it long after leaving the theater. That makes No Way Out an important picture.
For Monday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Mildred Joanne Smith.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery gent. His companion has been cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness and will appear Friday.
For Friday, adding our main mystery guest.
Update: This is Sidney Poitier, left, and Dots Johnson.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman), Tucson Barbara (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman), Jenny M. (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman), Robert Morrissey (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman), Megan and Thom (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman) and Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman).
Note: The spam filter was aggressive this time, with Howard, Jenny M. and Robert Morrissey ending up in the junk folder. Thanks for your understanding!
For Wednesday, we have a mystery man.
Update: This is Stephen McNally.
We also have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Amanda Randolph.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s mystery elevator operator), Tucson Barbara (Tuesday’s mystery elevator operator), Sylvia E. (mystery movie, mystery director and all mystery guests, plus mystery companion cropped out due to lack of mysteriousness), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie), Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery elevator operator and mysterious companion cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness), Mike Hawks (Monday’s mystery woman), Michael Lott (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman), Beach Gal (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Sheila (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Gary (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman), Robert Morrissey (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery elevator operator) and Funky PhD (mystery movie and all mystery guests).
And today’s award for persistence despite being stuck in the spam filter goes to B.J. Merholz, Sheila, Sylvia E., Mike Hawks, Michael Lott and especially Beach Gal. Thanks for your patience!
For “Aha Thursday,” we have this mystery woman.
Update: This is Ruby Dee.
We also have a mysterious gentleman.
Update: This is Ossie Davis, center.
Brain Trust roll call: Tucson Barbara (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mystery guests and mysterious guy cropped out due to lack of mysteriousness), Beach Gal (evading the spam filter! Wednesday’s mystery guests), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Robert Morrissey (Wednesday’s mystery guests), David Inman (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sylvia E. (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Thom and Megan (mystery movie, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Patrick (mystery movie, mystery guests and mysterious elbow!) and Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery guests).
Today’s spam filter victims: L.C. and Patrick. Thanks for your patience.
For Friday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Linda Darnell.
We also have this mystery gent.
Update: This is Richard Widmark in full psycho mode, with Linda Darnell.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests), Beach Gal (Thursday’s mystery guests), Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie, all mystery guests, and predicting Friday’s mystery guests), Robert Morrissey (Thursday’s mystery guests), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery guests, predicting Friday’s mystery guests), Mark G. (Thursday’s mystery gent) and Benito (mystery movie, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Mildred Joanne Smith in NO WAY OUT (1950).
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Mildred Joanne Smith in “No Way Out”
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Mildred Joanne Smith in No Way Out (1950).
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That’s Mildred Joanne Smith, in the 1950 film No Way Out. She played Sidney Poitier’s wife Cora.
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It is Maidie Norman in ‘Whatever Happened to Baby Jane’. She saved the day.
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It is Madie Norman in ‘Whatever Happened to Baby Jane’. Maidie saved the day.
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A good guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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Sheila Guyse, perhaps?
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Good guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Monday – she looks like Abbey Lincoln, don’t know the movie…
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A good guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Okay, Tuesday’s photo triggered the memory… Sidney Poitier’s No Way Out from 1950. Mildred Smith is the lady from Monday. Watched this at the beginning of the Covid pandemic…
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Mildred Joanne Smith in No Way Out.
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Mildred Joanne Smith and NO WAY OUT.
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Dots Johnson.
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Dots Johnson
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“No Way Out” 1950 directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Monday – Mildred Joanne Smith
Tuesday – Dots Johnson w/Sidney Poitier to left (cropped for lack of mysteriousness.)
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Are we doing No Way Out (1950) this week?
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Sidney Poitier, Dots Johnson.
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Mildred Joanne Smith in NO WAY OUT 1950.
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Mildred Joanne Smith in NO WAY OUT.
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Our movie is No Way Out (1950)
Monday – Mildred Joanne Smith
Tue – Dots Johnson
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Our film is No Way Out (1950)
Monday is Mildred Joanne Smith
Tues is Dots Johnson
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I think my responses keep going to spam filter as they disappear.
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Our film is No Way Out (1950)
Monday – Mildred Joanne Smith
Tues – Dots Johnson
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Movie is No Way Out (1950)
Monday Mildred Joanne Smith
Tues Dots Johnson
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Mildred Joanne Smith, ‘No Way Out’?
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On Monday, Mildred Joanne Smith in “No Way Out.” On Tuesday: Dots Johnson.
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Is this No Way Out with Mildred Joanne Smith?
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Tues cropped out companion on elevator next to Dots Johnson is Sidney Poitier
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Tuesday’s screen shot is of Dots Johnson, also from No Way Out.
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Monday’s mystery woman is Mildred Joanne Smith, which makes this No Way Out, with Sidney Poitier and Richard Widmark. I think Tuesday’s mystery gentleman is Dots Johnson.
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Our film is No Way Out (1950)
Monday – Mildred Joanne Smith
Tues – Dots Johnson
(Hope this response doesn’t go to Spam)
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Darn! Seems my post just won’t apoear. Let me try again.
This week we have No Way Out (1950)
Monday – Mildred Joanne Smith
Tues – Dots Johnson
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Stephen McNally, Amanda Randolph
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Stephen McNally and Amanda Randolph.
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Wed frame #1 is Stephen McNally
Wed frame #2 Amanda Randolph
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No Way Out (1950) w/Sidney Poitier, Mildred Joanne Smith, Richard Widmark, Stephen McNally, Linda Darnell, Ossie Davis, Amanda Randolph,
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Stephen McNally and Amanda Randolph in NO WAY OUT.
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….from the same film: Steven McNally and Amanda Randolph.
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Amanda Randolph and Stephen McNally today, making this “No Way Out” with the recently deceased Sidney Poitier.
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Wednesday
Stephen McNally
Amanda Randolph (pre-Make Room for Daddy)
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Tuesday’s actor is Dots Johnson. Today’s actors are Stephen McNally and Amanda Randolph.
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Sidney Poitier out of frame in Tuesday photo.
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Mildred Joanne Smith, Dots Johnson, Sidney Poitier’s left elbow, Stephen McNally and Amanda Randolph in No Way Out from 1950. I first saw this film in a cinema class in college. The scenes between Poitier and Widmark were riveting.
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Ethel Waters Wednesday?
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On Wednesday, Steven McNally and Amanda Randolph
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Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis today.
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Thurs #1 – Ruby Dee
Thurs #2 – Ossie Davis
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Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis
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Wednesday: Stephen McNally; Amanda Randolph
Thursday: Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis
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Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.
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Monday: Mildred Joanne Smith – Tuesday: Dots Johnson – Wednesday: Stephen McNally and Amanda Randolph – Thursday: Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis – Mystery Movie: No Way Out (1950) – Friday (?): Sidney Poitier, Linda Darnell, and Richard Widmark
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….and also from No Way Out, Ruby Dee and her real-life husband, Ossie Davis.
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Thursday – Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.
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I think I know the tall man screen left. Will do some hunting.
That leaves Richard Whitmark, Linda Darnell and a full image of Sidney Poitier.
Good choice and salute. Look forward to your Saturday breakdown.
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Is Thursday’s gentleman Ossie Davis?
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Stephen McNally, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis (aka JFK in BUBBA HO-TEP) this week
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Sidney Poitier who I already had on Tuesday, Linda Darnell and Richard Widmark today.
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Friday – Sidney Poitier, Linda Darnell, Richard Widmark
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Oh Tues shot – Friday reveal of Sidney Poitier
For Fri #1 – Linda Darnell
Fri #2 – Richard Whitmark
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Linda Darnell, Richard Widmark.
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Linda Darnell and Richard Widmark.
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