Crime

The Phenix City Story

- ALABAMA'S CITY OF SIN AND SHAME!

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

Release Date : 1955-07-19

Language :EnglishGerman

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Allied Artists Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Albert L. "Pat" Patterson

Original Name : John McIntire

Gender : Male

Character Name : John Patterson

Original Name : Richard Kiley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ellie Rhodes

Original Name : Kathryn Grant

Gender : Female

Character Name : Rhett Tanner

Original Name : Edward Andrews

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mary Jo Patterson

Original Name : Lenka Peterson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Fred Gage

Original Name : Biff McGuire

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ed Gage

Original Name : Truman Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cassie

Original Name : Jean Carson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mamie

Original Name : Kathy Marlowe

Gender : Female

Character Name : Clem Wilson

Original Name : John Larch

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jeb Bassett

Original Name : Allen Nourse

Gender : Male

Character Name : Zeke Ward

Original Name : James Edwards

Gender : Male

Character Name : Helen Ward

Original Name : Helen Martin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hugh Bentley

Original Name : Otto Hulett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hugh Britton

Original Name : George Mitchell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Ma Beachie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Self

Original Name : James E. Seymour

Gender : Male

Character Name : Self, The Interviewer

Original Name : Clete Roberts

Gender : Male

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Ed Strickland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Hugh Bentley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Hugh Britton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Quinny Kelly

Gender : Male

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Agnes Patterson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judy (uncredited)

Original Name : Meg Myles

Gender : Female

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

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? The Phenix City Story is directed by Phil Karlson and written by Daniel Mainwaring and Crane Wilbur. It stars John McIntire, Richard Kiley, Kathryn Grant, Edward Andrews and John Larch. Music is by Harry Sukman and cinematography by Harry Neumann. A crime-busting lawyer (Kiley) and his initially reluctant attorney father (McIntire) take on the forces that run gambling and prostitution in the "Sin City Of The South", Phenix City, Alabama. Karlson's uncompromising film noir is based around the real life 1954 assassination of Albert Patterson (McIntire), who after being nominated for the role of Alabama Attorney General was on a mission to rid Phenix City of organized crime. It's important to note that this is not a historical fact film as such, it's more an interpretation of the Patterson murder and how Phenix City was a cess pool at the time in focus. Print of the film I personally viewed had a 13-minute newsreel preface where newsman Clete Roberts interviews many of the actual participants of the events in the story. I wasn't prepared for it and thought I was about to watch a documentary, but then we shift to Karlson's film and it delivers quality noir film making. Karlson ("Scandal Sheet" - "99 River Street") and his team don't hold back from violence and devastating scenes. Yet somehow in spite of the dark turns that occur, where the stink of racism and organized crime resides, there's an overriding message that even though we may want to fight fire with fire, sometimes the lawful ballot box is the best option. Cast are well directed, so much so there's no weak links here, but one has to admire the class McIntire brings to the role of Patterson, while Larch gives us one of film noir's most repugnant villains. Neumann's photography is only ok, there's some flashes of expressionism here, but one can't help wishing for some chiaroscuro magic to befit the dark tones being played out. This is still a film noir enthusiast essential, on proviso that it's understood there's some poetic licence undertaken. 8/10