The Phenix City Story (1955)
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- Approved
- 1h 40min
- Crime, Drama
- 07 Nov 1955 (Canada)
- Movie
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:
Writers:
Awards:
- 1 win & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| John McIntire | ... |
Albert L. 'Pat' Patterson
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| Richard Kiley | ... |
John Patterson
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| Kathryn Grant | ... |
Ellie Rhodes
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| Edward Andrews | ... |
Rhett Tanner
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| Lenka Peterson | ... |
Mary Jo Patterson
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| Biff McGuire | ... |
Fred Gage
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Truman Smith | ... |
Ed Gage
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| Jean Carson | ... |
Cassie
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Kathy Marlowe | ... |
Mamie
(as Katharine Marlowe)
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| John Larch | ... |
Clem Wilson
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Allen Nourse | ... |
Jeb Bassett
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| James Edwards | ... |
Zeke Ward
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| Helen Martin | ... |
Helen Ward
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| Otto Hulett | ... |
Hugh Bentley
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| George Mitchell | ... |
Hugh Britton
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Ma Beachie | ... |
Ma Beachie
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James E. Seymour | ... |
James E. Seymour
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| Clete Roberts | ... |
Clete Roberts
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Ed Strickland | ... |
Ed Strickland
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Hugh Bentley | ... |
Hugh Bentley
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Hugh Britton | ... |
Hugh Britton
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Quinny Kelly | ... |
Quinny Kelly
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Agnes Patterson | ... |
Agnes Patterson
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Sol Gorss | ... |
Policeman at Trial (uncredited)
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Ricky Klein | ... |
Johnny Patterson (uncredited)
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| Meg Myles | ... |
Judy (uncredited)
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| Gil Perkins | ... |
Wilson's Henchman (uncredited)
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Brandon Peters | ... |
Gunter (uncredited)
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| Paul Reed | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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| Richard Rust | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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Lucille Smith | ... |
Patterson's Secretary (uncredited)
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Reese Taylor | ... |
Jenkins (uncredited)
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Arthur Tell | ... |
Barton (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Phil Karlson | ... | (directed by) |
Written by
| Crane Wilbur | ... | (screenplay by) & |
| Daniel Mainwaring | ... | (screenplay by) (as Dan Mainwaring) |
Produced by
| Samuel Bischoff | ... | producer (produced by) |
| David Diamond | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Walter Mirisch | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Harry Sukman | ... | (music composed by) |
Cinematography by
| Harry Neumann | ... | director of photography |
Film Editing by
| George White | ... | film editor |
Casting By
| Mildred Gusse | ... | (casting) (as Millie Gusse) |
Art Direction by
| Stanley Fleischer | ||
Makeup Department
| Mel Berns | ... | makeup |
| Ann Kirk | ... | hairstylist |
Production Management
| Herman E. Webber | ... | production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Maurice Vaccarino | ... | assistant director |
Sound Department
| Robert B. Lee | ... | sound (as Robert Lee) |
| Thomas W. Denby | ... | sound recordist (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Gil Perkins | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Chuck Keehne | ... | men's wardrobe |
| Ann Peck | ... | women's wardrobe |
Music Department
| Harry Sukman | ... | conductor |
| Henry Vars | ... | orchestrator |
Script and Continuity Department
| Meta Rebner | ... | script supervisor |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Allied Artists Pictures (1955) (United States) (theatrical)
- Associated British-Pathé (1955) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- City Film N.V. (1956) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Warner Home Video (2010) (United States) (DVD) (included in "Film Noir classic Collection: Vol. 5")
- United Artists (1956) (France) (theatrical) (as Les Artistes Associés)
- Big Ben Movies (2021) (Germany) (DVD)
- Topanga Canyon Films (2018) (Spain)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Turner Entertainment (VHS package design)
- Warner Bros. Entertainment (DVD package design)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In this semidocumentary, an Alabama town is run by a crime syndicate that's grown fat on prostitution and crooked gambling, directed at soldiers from Fort Benning across the river. Lawyer John Patterson, back from the army, is triggered by what he sees to join the reformers with a plan: to run his father Albert for state attorney general. The syndicate responds with escalating violence: is no one safe? Credits preceded by a "newscast" containing spoilers.
Written by Rod Crawford |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | ALABAMA'S CITY OF SIN AND SHAME! (original print ad - all caps) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| 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. See more » |
| Goofs | When the body of Zeke Ward's little girl is thrown onto the Pattersons' lawn from the passing car, it is obviously a doll. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Phenix City Blues See more » |
| 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? See more » |