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Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle

Original title: The Phenix City Story
  • 1955
  • 16
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle (1955)
CrimeDramaFilm-Noir

A crime-busting lawyer and his initially reluctant attorney father take on the forces that run gambling and prostitution in their small Southern town.A crime-busting lawyer and his initially reluctant attorney father take on the forces that run gambling and prostitution in their small Southern town.A crime-busting lawyer and his initially reluctant attorney father take on the forces that run gambling and prostitution in their small Southern town.

  • Director
    • Phil Karlson
  • Writers
    • Crane Wilbur
    • Daniel Mainwaring
  • Stars
    • John McIntire
    • Richard Kiley
    • Kathryn Grant
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    3.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Phil Karlson
    • Writers
      • Crane Wilbur
      • Daniel Mainwaring
    • Stars
      • John McIntire
      • Richard Kiley
      • Kathryn Grant
    • 58User reviews
    • 32Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Photos17

    Edward Andrews and John Larch in Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle (1955)
    John McIntire in Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle (1955)
    Meg Myles in Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle (1955)
    Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle (1955)
    Meg Myles in Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle (1955)
    Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle (1955)
    Kathryn Grant and Richard Kiley in Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle (1955)
    Richard Kiley in Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle (1955)
    John McIntire and Meg Myles in Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle (1955)
    Meg Myles in Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle (1955)
    Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle (1955)
    Meg Myles in Eine Stadt geht durch die Hölle (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John McIntire
    John McIntire
    • Albert L. 'Pat' Patterson
    Richard Kiley
    Richard Kiley
    • John Patterson
    Kathryn Grant
    Kathryn Grant
    • Ellie Rhodes
    Edward Andrews
    Edward Andrews
    • Rhett Tanner
    Lenka Peterson
    Lenka Peterson
    • Mary Jo Patterson
    Biff McGuire
    Biff McGuire
    • Fred Gage
    Truman Smith
    • Ed Gage
    Jean Carson
    Jean Carson
    • Cassie
    Kathy Marlowe
    • Mamie
    • (as Katharine Marlowe)
    John Larch
    John Larch
    • Clem Wilson
    Allen Nourse
    • Jeb Bassett
    James Edwards
    James Edwards
    • Zeke Ward
    Helen Martin
    Helen Martin
    • Helen Ward
    Otto Hulett
    Otto Hulett
    • Hugh Bentley
    George Mitchell
    George Mitchell
    • Hugh Britton
    Ma Beachie
    • Ma Beachie
    James E. Seymour
    • James E. Seymour
    Clete Roberts
    Clete Roberts
    • Clete Roberts
    • Director
      • Phil Karlson
    • Writers
      • Crane Wilbur
      • Daniel Mainwaring
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the film, John Patterson (Richard Kiley) is depicted as supportive of African-American Zeke Ward (James Edwards) and his family. In real life, following his term as Alabama attorney general (1954-58), Patterson ran for governor in 1958 in an openly racist campaign and won. One of his opponents, George Wallace, had run as a racial moderate and told his friends after the election, "John Patterson out-niggered me, and I'm never gonna be out-niggered again." Four years later, in 1962, Wallace won the governorship of Alabama as an avowed segregationist.
    • Goofs
      A moving shadow of the boom microphone can be seen on the wall above the promotion poster after the fight in the alley scene.
    • Quotes

      Albert L. Patterson: Rhett, I'm not stickin' my neck out. Why should I? Phenix City has been what it is for 80, 90 years. Who am I to try to reform it?

    • Alternate versions
      The initial release version ran 87 minutes, but soon after, a gratuitous 13-minute "newsreel" preface was added and an epilogue, read by Richard Kiley. The real John Patterson used this film as campaign too when he ran for Governor of Alabama (beating the young George Wallace). Patterson filmed the same epilogue as Kiley, and Patterson's version was used when the film played in Alabama.
    • Connections
      Featured in Bilder in Bewegung - Das Jahrhundert des Kinos: A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Phenix City Blues
      Music and Lyrics by Harold Spina

      Sung by Meg Myles

    User reviews58

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Considering its modest budget, it's exceptional.
    Before the actual film begins, there is a 13-minute newsreel-style preface hosted by Clete Roberts in which he interviews the actual participants. Interestingly, this was done while the criminal cases discussed in the film were actually still being prosecuted.

    This film is a film noir-like film that dramatizes the actual story about the town of Phenix, Alabama--a city run by gamblers and organized crime. It seems that in the 1940s and 50s, all kinds of vice was ignored by cops and city officials who were paid to look the other way. As a result, the soldiers in nearby Fort Benning were routinely cheated and had little, if any recourse. Eventually when local citizens tried to stand up for law and order, the mob resorted to threats and even murder to hold on to their power.

    Unlike the typical film of the day, the scenes are quite brutal and violent. The only sour note is the scene of the child being tossed onto the lawn--it's obviously a dummy. There is also a lot of brutal and frank language--some of which might offend you, though it does lend the film an authentic sound. And, despite having mostly smaller caliber actors, they generally did very well. An odd note was having Richard Kiley of all people playing a tough action hero--he just wasn't the sort of guy you'd expect to see acting with his fists. Overall, this is an excellent low-budget film--well worth seeing.

    The only question I have about all this is how much is true and how much was changed for the film? According to IMDb the Attorney General was not quite the saint you see in the film, but what about the other facts? I'd sure like to know more.
    helpful•13
    1
    • planktonrules
    • Oct 25, 2010

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    FAQ18

    • How long is The Phenix City Story?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 1, 1956 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Phenix City Story
    • Filming locations
      • Phenix City, Alabama, USA
    • Production company
      • Bischoff-Diamond Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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