"No Way Out" was controversial in its “graphic representation of racial violence” in what director Mankiewicz termed “the absolute blood and guts of Negro hating.” The picture marked the feature film debuts of Sidney Poitier and actress Mildred Joanne Smith. Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Lesser Samuels were also nominated for Best Story and Screenplay at the 23rd Academy Awards losing to Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, and D. M. Marshman Jr. for "Sunset Boulevard".