Directed by:
Phil KarlsonCinematography:
Harry NeumannComposer:
Harry SukmanCast:
John McIntire, Richard Kiley, Kathryn Grant, Edward Andrews, Lenka Peterson, Biff McGuire, James Edwards, George Mitchell, Richard Rust, Gil Perkins, Sol Gorss (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
In this semidocumentary, an Alabama town is run by a crime syndicate that's grown fat on prostitution and crooked gambling, directed at soldiers from Fort Benning across the river. Lawyer John Patterson, back from the army, is triggered by what he sees to join the reformers with a plan: to run his father Albert for state attorney general. The syndicate responds with escalating violence: is no one safe? (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (1)
If you don't find out anything about the film in advance, you might be surprised (if you don't read this comment) that it is a documentary. The film tells the story of the town of Phenix City, and the opening part of the film is shot like a documentary. There is also a voiceover that provides further information about the town, which was indeed controlled by crime, culminating in the death of newly elected district attorney Albert Patterson. It is thus a docudrama depicting what happened in the town in 1954. The scene with the little girl is incredibly terrifying, and I didn't believe Scorsese when he talked about it. It really gives you the chills, and you don't actually see any violence. And it's not the only scene like that. The finale is very gritty, and you'll realize that as early as 1955, there were filmmakers who weren't afraid to depict violence as it is. Yes, it’s still somewhat restricted, but it definitely won't leave you indifferent.
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