All in all, the documentary does not lend itself to a ratings score.
If you're tuning in for a lengthy documentary on Phenix City's infamous corruption scandal and its exposure in 1954, you may be disappointed. Instead, only about the first fifteen minutes has directly to do with the notorious scandal that captured headlines nationally, including my own small town in Colorado. Instead the docu's mainly about the career of John Patterson, initially Attorney General, and then Governor of Alabama until 1966. As Att. Gen., he was instrumental in tackling mob control of the city, following his father's assassination in '54 when he too tried cleaning up the city as Alabama's earlier chief attorney. Tellingly, mob control started when city fathers started up casino gambling as a needed source of revenue -- (How Ironic). Then too, note FBI Hoover's terse response to Patterson's request for federal help against the mob! Also touched on is the conflict-ridden Freedom Bus Riders during the state's volatile desegregation period. Anyway, that early part's a dramatic send-off that pretty much invites interest even for the remaining hour or so that tracks Patterson's controversial career as Ala. Governor.
On the whole, the screen time is peopled by brief comments from a variety of interviewees, but mainly from an aged Patterson himself. These cameos flow by quickly as topics progress, so be prepared. Nonetheless, the documentary's slickly produced including vintage clips from the 50's and 60's, and is certainly informative about the life and career of Patterson, even if the details of the City's notorious scandals receive less attention.
All in all, the documentary touches on a number of interesting topics, so you may want to give it a try.
If you're tuning in for a lengthy documentary on Phenix City's infamous corruption scandal and its exposure in 1954, you may be disappointed. Instead, only about the first fifteen minutes has directly to do with the notorious scandal that captured headlines nationally, including my own small town in Colorado. Instead the docu's mainly about the career of John Patterson, initially Attorney General, and then Governor of Alabama until 1966. As Att. Gen., he was instrumental in tackling mob control of the city, following his father's assassination in '54 when he too tried cleaning up the city as Alabama's earlier chief attorney. Tellingly, mob control started when city fathers started up casino gambling as a needed source of revenue -- (How Ironic). Then too, note FBI Hoover's terse response to Patterson's request for federal help against the mob! Also touched on is the conflict-ridden Freedom Bus Riders during the state's volatile desegregation period. Anyway, that early part's a dramatic send-off that pretty much invites interest even for the remaining hour or so that tracks Patterson's controversial career as Ala. Governor.
On the whole, the screen time is peopled by brief comments from a variety of interviewees, but mainly from an aged Patterson himself. These cameos flow by quickly as topics progress, so be prepared. Nonetheless, the documentary's slickly produced including vintage clips from the 50's and 60's, and is certainly informative about the life and career of Patterson, even if the details of the City's notorious scandals receive less attention.
All in all, the documentary touches on a number of interesting topics, so you may want to give it a try.
