Classic Movies for the Classroom No Way Out Study Guide: Overcoming Conflict with Justice and Mercy

At Educational Guidance Institute, we are passionate about helping instructors use classic film to present universal truths to today’s youth teaching character, virtue, truth, goodness and beauty. The lessons of No Way Out can be approached from a wide variety of settings from public school classrooms, after school programs, young adult groups, parent-teen community and church events, as well as by families who homeschool. The story of the racial conflict between the psychopathic Ray Biddle and Dr. Brooks shows the transformation of Edie Biddle and how she is able to rise above her prejudices. Sidney Poitier, Richard Widmark and Linda Darnell, deliver memorable performances that show the universal nature of human dignity and teach us the importance of overcoming conflict with justice and mercy. Through viewing the film and the discussion and activities in the lesson plan, students see and experience such profound lessons as: hatred and prejudice can cause us to be blinded to the truth; our relationships with other people can bring out the best or the worst in us; life experiences can help us gain moral perspective; and that mercy is an effective response to violence. The act of viewing a film makes these lessons about authentic overcoming conflict with non-violence come alive for students of all ages in a powerful and dynamic way. This lesson plan is excellent on its own, as well as a part of a course comprised of the others in the Classic Movies for the Classroom: The Spotlight Series.