One of the most violent, grim, and realistic movies of the 1950s, The Phoenix City Story has become a classic crime film noir.
It is also one of the best features of Phil Karlson, an underestimated director who has never received the critical attention he deserves.
Grade” A- (**** out of *****)
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Theatrical release poster
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Made by Allied Artists, written by Daniel Mainwaring and Crane Wilbur, the movie stars John McIntire, Richard Kiley and Kathryn Grant.
The film benefited from a “triple premiere” held on July 19, 1955 in Phenix City, Alabama, Columbus, Georgia and Chicago, Illinois.
The film is inspired by the actual 1954 assassination of Albert Patterson, who had just been nominated as the Democratic candidate for the position of Alabama Attorney General. His platform was all about cleaning up Phenix City, a city controlled by organized crime.
Sadly, Patterson was murdered in Phenix City, and the outcry that followed resulted in the imposition of martial law by the state government.
In a corrupt Alabama town, the law can do little to stop the criminal activities of Rhett Tanner, particularly in the wide-open “red-light district” area. Most of the police do not even try; some are actually on Tanner’s payroll.
Urged to run for office and clean up Phenix City, Albert “Pat” Patterson wants no part of the thankless and impossible job. Instead, he would rather spend time with his family–he is seen welcoming home his son John after the latter’s military service.
However, soon hell breaks out, with John getting caught in the middle when Clem Wilson, a thug working for Tanner, and others who assault innocent citizens.
Patterson finally agrees to get involved in reforming the town, but as soon as he is elected ad nominee, he is killed.
It is now up to John to avenge the death of his father, risking himself and his family.
Director Karlson is skillful at blending a timely story with visual verisimilitude. Fast paced, The Phenix City Story moves along with bracingly dynamic energy that befits the urgency of its situations.
The picture’s first half–up to the more conventional courtroom sequences in the second–is particularly impressive in all departments.
Shot on location in Alabama with a documentary-like look, the movie captured the ambiance and tenor of its Deep South setting better than most films of the era.
In a manner that recalls such excellent films about corruption and political greed as the Oscar winners On the Waterfront and All the King’s Men, the filmmakers capture the terror imposed on innocent if weak and passive citizens.
The central issue, of course, is when and under what condition a man needs to get involved actively in the dirty politics of crime. Some characters begin (a la Bogart) with the claim, “I stick my neck out for nobody,” only to find themselves fully participating in life-threatening work for a good collective cause
John McIntyre, usually a secondary character actor (he excelled as the sheriff in Hitchcock’s Psycho) gives a compelling lead performance as the martyred crusader.
Ray Jenkins, one of two reporters of the Phenix City story for the Columbus Ledger, whose coverage won the 1955 Pulitzer Prize for Meritorious Public Service, has claimed that the film departed from reality: “The film was a rush job intended to capture public interest while the story was still unfolding. As a result, the film leaves the impression that the local mafia that ran the vice industry in Phenix City killed Albert Patterson. Subsequent indictments and trials demonstrated beyond doubt that the assassination was politically motivated.”
The film depicts an inflammatory scene in which the mob kills a young black girl and then tosses her body onto the lawn of the Patterson home as a warning. Jenkins asserts that. “Nothing remotely like this episode actually happened.”
Some prints include a long newsreel-style preface including newsman Clete Roberts interviewing the actual participants. in the case
Well-received, the movie was extremely popular with viewers. Made on a budget of $350,000, it generated more the $2.2 million at the box office.
Critical Status
In 2019, the film was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Cast
Richard Kiley as John Patterson
John McIntire as Albert Patterson
Kahryn Grant as Ellie Rhodes
Edward Andrews as Rhett Tanner
James Edwards as Zeke Ward
Lenka Peterson as Mary Jo Patterson
Biff McGuire as Fred Gage
Truman Smith as Ed Gage
Jean Carson as Cassie
Kathy Marlowe as Mamie
John Larch as Clem Wilson
Allen Nourse as Jeb Bassett
Helen Martin as Helen Ward
Otto Hulett as Hugh A. Bentley
George Mitchell as Hugh Britton
Ma Beachie as Herself
Meg Myles as the Poppy Club singer
Credits:
Directed by Phil Karlson
Produced by Samuel Bischoff, David Diamond
Screenplay by Daniel Mainwaring, Crane Wilbur
Music by Harry Sukman
Cinematography Harry Neumann
Edited by George White
Production and distribution company: Allied Artists Pictures
Release date: August 14, 1955
Running time: 100 minutes
Note:
TCM showed this gem of a movie on June 30, 2020, and it often plays in Eddie Muller’s “Dark Alley” series.
