The Phenix City Story

Year:	1955
Country:	USA
Language:	English
Genre:	Crime, Drama, Film-Noir
IMDB:	IMDB Page
Rating:	7.5 Rate
Collection:	Seen It Wishlist
Community:	4 Have Seen


Director	Phil Karlson
Selected Cast	John McIntire as Albert L. Patterson
	Richard Kiley as John Patterson
	Kathryn Grant as Ellie Rhodes
	Edward Andrews as Rhett Tanner

On DVD & Blu-ray World

DVD

Film Noir Classic Collection Vol. 5 - Warner Home Video - USA (2010)

Images

Comments and Reviews


Twistin 31st Aug 2016		Rated 8/10 Some online reviews for this film prefer to attach a racism subtext to this film, which I find perplexing. Race exists within the story, but that is simply because race exists period! Yes, it's Alabama, and yes, the real life John Patterson was a racist and segregationist in the George Wallace vein, but the movie never goes there. Aside from the response from a cop answering the phone call about the dead black girl, there is no trace of race and white indifference, despite some claims to the contrary. Unfortunately, modern audiences view everything through a grievance prism and peruse all media in search of injustice they might embrace and draw attention to. The introduction sequence is carelessly elongated and would only have been interesting if trimmed tight like the rest of the film. Otherwise, this is a very intense thriller considering its release date. Interestingly enough, director Phil Karlson more or less remade this film as Walking Tall with some scenes practically 1:1 shots, characters rubber-stamped, and the same string of events unfolding in the same order as that mostly fictional biopic which managed to be even more violent than its parent source. It's a story about a city run by criminals living above the law and decency standards of the community, characters muscling extreme brutality over anybody who dares to raise a voice in their direction (ie, when a gambler catches the house cheating him and speaks up, he's beaten within an inch of his life and dumped in the streets.) Children are hit by cars or outright murdered, a politician shot in cold blood - just a catalog of corruption. No marquee stars to get in the way of the storytelling, but it was nice seeing character actor Edward Andrews in such a serious role, rather than the comedy stereotype he's better known for. Also, Kathryn Grant is very cute. I would hesitate to even call this film noir, since it really doesn't follow the conventions of the genre, but it will certainly appeal to fans of the form or anyone else looking for a great, lost sleeper. 5 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?

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