It had an unusual triple premiere held on july 19, 1955 in phenix city, alabama, columbus, georgia and chicago, illinois nb. Based on a sensational news story, this film looks at the murder of albert l. There are those who may feel this vivid chapter out. Rent the phenix city story dial 1119 1950 on dvd and. The interviewees tell of how they were threatened by the mob for. Rent the phenix city story dial 1119 1950 starring john mcintire and richard kiley on dvd and bluray. This clip is to augment an educational essay on the film at. The crime history in phenix city, alabama isnt limited to the 50s era of sin city. So, the movie starts out with a fifteen minute news story about how the city of phenix, alabama was cleaned up after being overrun by gangsters. This is the brutal dummydeath sequence from phil karlsons masterful film noir, the phenix city story 1955. Rent the phenix city story dial 1119 1950 on dvd and blu.
There are no black people in the trailer but james edwards and helen martin are in the movie. The phenix city story is directed by phil karlson and written by daniel mainwaring and crane wilbur. If youre looking for booze, gambling or girls then 14th street is your. Ben campbell is a young, highly intelligent, student at m. Fox 54 and wtvm newsleader 9 anchor jason dennis revisits the sin city past of phenix city, al. The phenix city story 2003 based on a sensational news story, this film looks at the murder of albert l. Programs are free and open to the public, but children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. And perhaps karlsons greatest asset in that department is character actor john larch, who plays a good ol boy named clem wilson. The interviewees tell of how they were threatened by the mob for trying to eradicate their fair city of the filth.
Phil karlson and his film also influenced other depictions of criminals and criminality. The opening news reel in the phenix city story smacks a little of a halfrate effort to emulate the opening of the classic. Apr 23, 2008 phenix city blues by meg myles hq audio duration. It isnt just good actors as well as the use of locals and nonprofessionals that make the phenix city story seem real. The phenix city story john pattersons speech youtube. The phenix city story is reportage, a loose recreation of actual events, but it also encapsulates a whole rotten way of life.
The movie, which is blackandwhite, begins with a faux news reel featuring a distinctly 1950s tv reporter, complete with brylcreem hairdo and neatly trimmed mustache, then it transitions to its fully fictionalized story. The fall and rise of phenix city malefactors register. The beginning with the documentary style is boring, but after the initial credits, the film becomes great. Phenix city is a dangerous place to run for election without the backing of local gangsters, but urged on by his exmilitary son, john richard kiley, albert promises to restore law and order to the crimeridden city. Autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will.
It stars john mcintire, richard kiley, kathryn grant, edward andrews and john larch. The film has great performances and the violence is impressive for a 1955 hollywood film. 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. The city, just across the bridge from georgias fort benning, has been at the mercy of mob rule for a hundred years. John mcintire,richard kiley,kathryn grant,edward andrews,lenka peterson,biff mcguire,truman smith,jean carson,kathy marlowe,john larch,allen nourse,james edwards,helen martin,otto hulett,george mitchell,ma beachie,james e. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the phenix city story near you. I read a couple that said they bought the disc just to watch the phenix city story. The phenix city story was added to the national film registry in 2019. He became attorney general and the subject of a b movie titled the phenix city story. 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. The phenix city story 1955 directed by phil karlson. The story of a marine grunt in the first battle of khe sanh.
Benning, georgia so soldiers were always crossing the bridge to gamble and find women. People who openly supported patterson were beaten and chased away from the polls without voting. The rebirth of phenix city also shows how the city has worked to change its image since the campaign to clean up the town. John pattersons motivational speech to the citizens after the mob murdered his father, the newly elected. This post was originally written as part of my usa road trip series over at french toast sunday. The phenix city story is a 1955 american film noir crime film directed by phil karlson for allied. Phil karlsons docudrama based on the notorious phenix city a city known for its gambling, crime and prostitution rackets. Ironically, given the negative image that it portrays of alabama, the movie was. The phenix city story the 1955 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio.
Phenix city is one of the most corrupt cities in the u. The films credits are preceded by a thirteenminute documentary sequence in which noted reporter clete roberts interviews several of the townspeople involved in the actual incidents that occurred in phenix city, al, including reporter ed strickland, who, along with fellow reporter gene wortsman wrote a book about phenix city. Though he pays the ultimate price for his bravery, his candidacy inspires residents to stand up to the mobsters. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. The phenix city story john pattersons speech duration. Watch the phenix city story online 1955 movie yidio. View the official lists that include the phenix city story.
Tcm saturday matinee the phenix city story intro youtube. 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 working titles of this film were phenix city and wide open town. Approved 1h 40min crime, drama, filmnoir 14 august 1955 usa. Feb 18, 2011 this is the brutal dummydeath sequence from phil karlsons masterful film noir, the phenix city story 1955.
Patterson has big plans for his son john and his family when they return home after his military service in germany. It was karlsons gritty eye that created the dark look the tv series was known for. Alabamas sin city just a memory 50 years after notorious. The phenix city story 1955 the movie database tmdb. Riding a wave of popularity, he was elected governor in 1958. The may 4, 1954 primary in phenix city was typically corrupt. The phenix city story is a 1955 film that i happened to come across while looking for a birthday present for a classic movie lover. 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.
Benning, georgia so soldiers were always crossing the bridge to gamble and find wo. What the people of phenix city, alabama went through before that notorious vice and gambling town was spotlighted by the murder on june17, 1954, of albert patterson, its leading antivice crusader, is vividly and terrifyingly pictured in an uncommonly good little film, the phenix city story. Jun 23, 2004 he became attorney general and the subject of a b movie titled the phenix city story. Based on a true story, this film noir, is shot in a gritty style that exposes the seedy underbelly of southern crime in the phenix city story 1955. Patterson john mcintire, who hopes to win the an attorney generals job in alabama. The phenix city story john mcintire richard kiley kathryn grant 1955 the son richard kiley of an illfated anticrime crusader john mcintire tries to clean up his notorious alabama hometown. Many people feel a pivotal event occurred in 1999 when the phenix city allstars won the national little league championship, bringing favorable media attention to the town. The phenix city story vice, southern style, gets the expose treatment in phenix city story. Dvdrip torrent or any other torrent from video movies direct download via magnet link. 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. In this semidocumentary, an alabama town is run by a crime syndicate thats grown fat on prostitution and crooked gambling, directed at soldiers from fort. The phenix city story is a different and violent filmnoir based on the true story of the assassination of albert pat l. Sep 12, 2015 a crimebusting lawyer and his initially reluctant attorney father take on the forces that run gambling and prostitution in their small southern town. 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.