The phenix city story 1955 approved 1h 40min crime, drama, filmnoir 14 august 1955 usa a crimebusting lawyer and his initially reluctant attorney father take on the forces that run gambling and prostitution in their small southern town. Director phil karlson showed just how good he was at merging welltold screen drama with vivid verisimilitude, and leaving no. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Watch the phenix city story online 1955 movie yidio. Based on a true story, but departing from the truth in some places, the phenix city story tells of phenix city, alabama, where gambling and organized crime run the city. After world war ii, a good many of the military soldiers, enlisted men, stayed on. The film, which takes a number of liberties with the actual events and characters, opened on july 19, 1955, with simultaneous premieres in phenix city, columbus, georgia, and chicago, illinois. Benning army base where gambling, prostitution, and any number of other vices were tolerated openly by the law, most of it centered on the main downtown drag, 14th street, thanks to the 50year influence of. Reality and history as the apotheosis of southern sleaze. The phenix city story is a crime film based on the assassination of alabama politician and attorney albert patterson in june 1954 in phenix city, russell county. With john mcintire, richard kiley, kathryn grant, edward andrews. The phenix city story 2003 based on a sensational news story, this film looks at the murder of albert l. Dirty money in the city coffers corrupted the city officials and soon the gangsters were running things, influencing city hall and infiltrating the police department with bribes and threats. Directed by 1 writing credits 2 cast 33 produced by 3 music by 1 cinematography by 1 film editing by 1 casting by 1 art direction by 1 makeup department 2 production management 1 second unit director or assistant director 1.
The phenix city story could get around easily in the mid50s because it was basically a bfilm not in the original sense of that term, as the lower half of a double bill that played with an a picture, but as a lowbudget movie that was less an event than part of an overall flow, the way that tv or the internet is today. Meet the cast and learn more about the stars of the phenix city story with exclusive news, pictures, videos and more at. In the movies most famous shot, an innocent girl is tossed dead from a moving car as a warning to the citizens of the town. This movie had john mcintire, richard kiley in the lead roles of the film premise no data available. Said to have been based on a true story of citizens fighting against a tradition of vice and corruption, the phenix city story tells its story. The fall and rise of phenix city malefactors register. The tragedy and the triumph of phenix city, alabama. But it is a fine piece of picture journalismand a tautly made movie to boot. The phenix city story 2003 stream and watch online. Patterson john mcintire, who hopes to win the an attorney generals job in alabama. This bestseller is now available for the first time in paper. A crimebusting lawyer and his initially reluctant attorney father take on the forces that run gambling and prostitution in their small southern town. Released june 22nd, 2003, the phenix city story stars john mcintire, richard kiley, kathryn grant, edward andrews the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 40 min, and received a score of out of. If tolstoy is correct, then the phenix city story is pure art.
The phenix city story runs 87 minutes, but most prints also include a minute preface, compiled from newsreel footage and interviews with the original participants, that provides background on the events that inspired the film and also spoils a few plot points. Quick off the mark to license alcohol after the lifting of. The phenix city story is a 1955 american film noir crime film directed by phil karlson for allied artists, written by daniel mainwaring and crane wilbur and starring john mcintire, richard kiley and kathryn grant. Abouttobe crusading alabama crime fighter john patterson richard kiley, until recently an army officer and prosecutor, comes looking for thug clem john larch, crime boss tanner edward andrews and henchgirl cassie jean carson looking on, in the phenix city. One of the most violent and realistic crime films of the 1950s, the phenix city story pulses with the bracing energy of actual life captured on the screen in its establishing shots and key scenes, and punctuates that background with explosively filmed action scenes. Nothing to do with phoenix, arizona this phenix city is in eastern alabama, on the state border, and virtually a suburb of columbus, georgia, which is just across the chattahoochee river long before frank miller took the name for the setting of his dark yarns, phenix had earned the dubious title of sin city, usa. Ironically, given the negative image that it portrays of alabama, the movie was. In the first chronological and gripping narrative of the events that crippled phenix city, alabama, margaret anne barnes tells the true story of how economic hard times in the depression led a mayor to barter immunity from prosecution to gamblers and gangsters in exchange for money to save the town from going into receivership. The phenix city story is a 1955 american film noir crime film directed by phil karlson 3 for allied artists, written by daniel mainwaring and crane wilbur and starring john mcintire, richard kiley and kathryn grant. This post was originally written as part of my usa road trip series over at french toast sunday. There are very few alabamians left who remember the 1950s story of phenix city, alabama. Get 50% off hundreds of family movies when you preorder on fandangonow today. Based on actual events, the phenix city story tells the tale of a wideopen sin city in alabama across a bridge from columbus, ga, and just a stones throw from the ft.
To watch this film is to endure a crucible of agony and fury. The phenix city story 1955 directed by phil karlson. The phenix city story is an english movie directed by phil karlson released in the year 1955. It is a film of monstrous evil, heartbreaking sacrifice, and selfless heroism. A 1955 article about phenix city reported that 20 percent of the citys general fund was made up of income from licenses, fines, and forfeitures. The phenix city story is not a film for the weak at heart or the fragile of temperament. The phenix city story the 1955 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. The phenix city story, screen play by crane wilbur and dan mainwaring.
The phenix city story begins when john patterson richard kiley returns to his alabama hometown after a stint in the army. Original versions of phenix city story feature a minute preface that featured interviews with the people involved, including the widow of the murdered attorney general. It was an accurate description of phenix city a place so wicked that gen. After world war ii, a good many of the military soldiers, enlisted men, stayed on for a while.
As many of you know, columbus, georgia and phenix city. Volume five cornered desperate the phenix city story deadline at dawn armored car robbery crime in the streets dial 1119 backfire 3. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the phenix city story near you. In real life, john patterson was later elected governor of alabama, defeating, among others, future presidential candidate george wallace. The most amazing part is that the phenix city story is based on a true story. Phil karlson and his film also influenced other depictions of criminals and criminality. Benning, georgia so soldiers were always crossing the bridge to gamble and find women. Patterson has big plans for his son john and his family when they return home after his military service in germany. After the release of the phenix city story, karlson was hired by desilu studios to direct the scarface mob, the pilot tv movie that would launch the untouchables tv series. Phenix city is one of the most corrupt cities in the u. Phil karlsons docudrama based on the notorious phenix city a city known for its gambling, crime and prostitution rackets. The phenix city story wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. In the 1940s and 1950s in alabama, the notorious phenix city is a town ruled by the organized crime and prostitution and gambling are the main economical activities. He plans to start practicing law with his father, albert john mcintire, but johns wife lenka peterson is reluctant to live in phenix city because of the large number of casinos and brothels in the town that are controlled by a local crime syndicate.
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