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. Dave kehr, chicago reader he walked by night 1948, alfred. Ironically, given the negative image that it portrays of alabama, the movie was. Phenix city is a city in lee and russell counties in the u. Production mostly hews to provable incident, with some coloring or rearrangement for dramatic emphasis. 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 and got kind of hung up on wanting to see it. Rent the phenix city story dial 1119 1950 on dvd and blu. The working titles of this film were phenix city and wide open town.
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. 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. 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. Rent the phenix city story dial 1119 1950 starring john mcintire and richard kiley on dvd and bluray. My favorite scene in the movie has no turtle, but it does have a band and a sexy nightclub singer who sings the phenix city blues.
Director phil karlson showed just how good he was at merging welltold screen drama with vivid verisimilitude, and leaving no. This is the brutal dummydeath sequence from phil karlsons masterful film noir, the phenix city story 1955. The phenix city story vice, southern style, gets the expose treatment in phenix city story. It had an unusual triple premiere held on july 19, 1955 in phenix city, alabama, columbus, georgia and chicago, illinois nb. The phenix city story 2003 based on a sensational news story, this film looks at the murder of albert l. The fall and rise of phenix city malefactors register. Oct 29, 2014 the phenix city story john pattersons speech duration.
The phenix city story 2003 stream and watch online. Indeed, the phenix city story is as ripped from the headlines as you can getthe reallife saga it dramatizes having unfolded in eastern alabama only a year before the films releaseand the film emphasizes this by opening with a minute newsreel prologue. The phenix city story is a 1955 english film stars john mcintire, phil karlson, daniel mainwaring, crane wilbur, samuel bischoff, david diamond, harry sukman, harry neumann, george white, richard kiley, kathryn crosby, edward andrews, lenka peterson, biff mcguire, truman smith, jean carson, kathy marlowe, john larch, allen nourse, james edwards, helen. 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. Now someone has uploaded the film in 12 parts to youtube, and you can view it here.
Benning, georgia so soldiers were always crossing the bridge to gamble and find women. I think the opening true story sequence could be dumped without much loss, but it really doesnt affect the overall quality of the story. 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. The phenix city story film by karlson 1955 britannica. Tcm saturday matinee the phenix city story outro duration. The phenix city story the 1955 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio.
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. 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. Dvdrip torrent or any other torrent from video movies direct download via magnet link. The city, just across the bridge from georgias fort benning, has been at the mercy of mob rule for a hundred years. The phenix city story 1955, phil karlson neardocumentary treatment based on fact and filmed on the real locations of lawyer richard kileys return to clean up his crime ridden hometown of phenix, alabama. Several phenix city residents share their own accounts, and though they may. Watch river phoenixs final film, dark blood, on youtube. Meg myles in the phenix city story 1955 john mcintire in the phenix city story. The phenix city story 1955 directed by phil karlson. My name is nobody western english free and full movie henry fonda hd. The phenix city story john pattersons speech duration. 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. The phenix city story john pattersons speech youtube.
The phenix city story 1955 official trailer, organic. 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. 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. Rent the phenix city story dial 1119 1950 on dvd and. The biggest problem i had with the phenix city story was the opening 15 minutes of manonthestreet interview footage with the actual people who lived through the story.
Other articles where the phenix city story is discussed. The crime history in phenix city, alabama isnt limited to the 50s era of sin city. A crimebusting lawyer and his initially reluctant attorney father take on the forces that run gambling and prostitution in their small southern town. 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. 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. 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. Satans a woman all dressed up to kill satans a woman all dressed up to kill in a honky tonky city of sin with a sawdust soul perfumed with gin. Fox 54 and wtvm newsleader 9 anchor jason dennis revisits the sin city past of phenix city, al. Behind the bland title lies a barnstorming semihysterical thriller which pulls few punches in its attempt to chronicle the true story of an alabama town which was founded in the early 1800s by.
This bestseller is now available for the first time in paper. John pattersons motivational speech to the citizens after the mob murdered his father, the newly elected. The tragedy and the triumph of phenix city, alabama. Watch the phenix city story online 1955 movie yidio. The phenix city story 1955 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The biggest problem i had with the phenix city story was the opening 15 minutes of manon the street interview footage with the actual people who lived through the story. The phenix city story 1955 is a crime, drama movie starring john mcintire and richard kiley.
In the early 1950s, phenix city, alabama is known as sin city, u. With john mcintire, richard kiley, kathryn grant, edward andrews. 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. Part semidocumentary, part social problem film, part film noir, phil karlsons the phenix city story 1955 is a oneofakind window into a sordid and fascinating period in american crime history. Based on a sensational news story, this film looks at the murder of albert l. This post was originally written as part of my usa road trip series over at french toast sunday. 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. 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. 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 movie, which was shot on location, featured richard kiley as a crusading lawyer who seeks justice following his fathers murder. Patterson john mcintire, who hopes to win the an attorney generals job in alabama. Jun 08, 2015 4 thoughts on the phenix city story sjhoneywell on june 8, 2015 at 10.
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