Analysis Of No Way Out By Sydney Poitier

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Recommended: Racial Discrimination in the Movies

The history of Hollywood cinema in the past is marked by the exclusion and marginalization of colored actors, but more and more African American actors have appeared on the Hollywood screen since 1890s. Sydney Poitier is one of them who was perceived as the most important African American integrationist due to his plenty of outstanding works. The film No Way Out is Poitier’s first movie, but audiences can see all the shining points from Doctor Brooks that would make Poitier’s characters laudable for the future decades (Bogle, 2001). This essay will explain how Poitier built a perfect image of an integrationist hero on the screen which satisfies both the white and the African American audiences through the examination of the character he played …show more content…

Fain (2015) has declared that the masculinity of white man in his partner’s eyes could be threatened by the black man, thus the sexless image is beneficial for a dark-skin character. Poitier’s character in No Way Out shows no lust for the white women and he never has body contact with the only white woman Eddie. On the contrary, both the villain and the white doctor display intimacy with her. Brooks’s polite manners are indicating his innocuity and he loves his sensible wife. Nevertheless, there is still not close behaviour between them which could send sexual signals in the movie. The only kissing scene of Brooks and his wife is very short, Brooks kisses her at cheek and his face is totally hidden by the woman and the shadow. In addition, the costume of Poitier is particular as he never show a little naked skin under the neck in the whole movie. On the contrast, the villain shows his breast for many times. This reveals the different attitudes for the masculinity of the white and black …show more content…

Meanwhile, Poitier conceals his masculinity and sexuality to make the white audiences feel harmless and non-threaten. When confronted with the racial discrimination, he acts strong, courageous and Christianly humane, which not only appeals the white in the film to help him, but also the white and black audiences to support him. In addition, Poitier successfully became the most important integrationist star also due to the talent and endeavor of his own. He is the first black Oscar winner and his works made a huge contribution for the racial problem for Hollywood cinema in 1950s to

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