The Phenix City Story (1955)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Phil Karlson

Writers:

Daniel Mainwaring (writer)
Crane Wilbur (writer)

Release Date:

14 August 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

Tagline:

ALABAMA'S CITY OF SIN AND SHAME! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

In this semidocumentary, an Alabama town is run by a crime syndicate that's grown fat on prostitution and crooked gambling...

Plot Keywords:

Gambling | Alabama | Lawyer | State Attorney General | Campaign

Cast

John McIntire	...	Albert Patterson
Richard Kiley	...	John Patterson
Kathryn Grant	...	Ellie Rhodes
Edward Andrews	...	Rhett Tanner
Lenka Peterson	...	Mary Jo Patterson
Biff McGuire	...	Fred Gage
Truman Smith	...	Ed Gage
Jean Carson	...	Cassie
Kathy Marlowe	...	Mamie (as Katherine Marlowe)
John Larch	...	Clem Wilson
Allen Nourse	...	Jeb Bassett
Helen Martin	...	Helen Ward
Otto Hulett	...	Hugh Bentley
George Mitchell	...	Hugh Britton
Ma Beachie	...	Herself

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1956) | Finland:K-18 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Phenix City, Alabama, USA

Company:

Allied Artists Pictures

Trivia:

Such was director Phil Karlson's attention to detail, he had some of his actors wear the actual clothes of their screen counterparts.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Phenix City Blues

Mandatory Viewing

Whether your a fan of Noir or not, The Phenix City Story remains superior filmaking on all levels regardless of it's budget and lack of special effects. While some may laugh at substituting a doll briefly for a dead child; it's follow up scene continues to have as much shocking impact today as it did upon it's release. To say this is textbook noir filmaking is too small as by all standards The Phenix City Story is the barometer by which crime, realism, fistfights and expose cinema is measured up to.