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Phil Karlson

Highest Rated: 100% 99 River Street (1953)

Lowest Rated: 29% The Flame of New Orleans (1941)

Birthday: Jul 2, 1908

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Former gag-man (for Buster Keaton), propman, studio manager and assistant director who turned out his first feature-length film in 1944. Karlson hit his stride in the 1950s with a brace of gritty crime melodramas noted for their realistic detail and graphic violence. Foremost among these were "Scandal Sheet" (1952), "99 River Street" (1953) and three 1955 films: "Tight Spot"; "Five Against the House"; and "The Phenix City Story" (in which the lead actor wore the actual clothes of the murder victim on whose story the film was based). Although he received a measure of critical attention and developed something of a cult following, Karlson remained a B director for the duration of his career. He scored a box-office success in 1973 with "Walking Tall."

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Highest rated movies

100% 81% 99 River Street
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100% 74% The Phenix City Story
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100% 88% Scandal Sheet
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83% 44% Hell to Eternity
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80% 76% Kansas City Confidential
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77% 71% Walking Tall
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67% 57% Tight Spot
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60% 37% Ben
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50% 56% Kid Galahad
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29% 55% The Flame of New Orleans
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Phil Karlson

Phil Karlson THE IMPOSTER, Ellen Drew, director Julien Duvivier, assistant director Phil Karlson on set, 1944 View more photos

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 50% Framed Director - 1974
77% 71% Walking Tall Director - 1973
60% 37% Ben Director - 1972
No Score Yet 30% Hornet's Nest Director $255.8K 1970
No Score Yet 44% The Wrecking Crew Director - 1968
No Score Yet 39% A Time for Killing Director - 1967
No Score Yet 52% The Silencers Director - 1966
No Score Yet 17% Alexander the Great Director - 1964
No Score Yet 30% Rampage Director - 1963
50% 56% Kid Galahad Director - 1962
No Score Yet 100% The Scarface Mob Director - 1962
No Score Yet 55% The Young Doctors Director - 1961
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Secret Ways Director - 1961
83% 44% Hell to Eternity Director - 1960
No Score Yet No Score Yet Key Witness Director - 1960
No Score Yet 89% Gunman's Walk Director - 1958
No Score Yet 48% The Brothers Rico Director - 1957
No Score Yet 26% 5 Against the House Director - 1955
100% 74% The Phenix City Story Director - 1955
No Score Yet 33% Hell's Island Director - 1955
67% 57% Tight Spot Director - 1955
No Score Yet 44% They Rode West Director - 1954
100% 81% 99 River Street Director - 1953
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Brigand Director - 1952
80% 76% Kansas City Confidential Director - 1952
100% 88% Scandal Sheet Director - 1952
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mask of the Avenger Director - 1951
No Score Yet No Score Yet Lorna Doone Director - 1951
No Score Yet 50% The Texas Rangers Director - 1951
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Tomahawk Trail Director - 1950
No Score Yet 50% Ladies of the Chorus Director - 1949
No Score Yet 20% The Big Cat Director - 1949
No Score Yet No Score Yet Down Memory Lane Director - 1949
No Score Yet No Score Yet Adventures in Silverado Director - 1948
No Score Yet No Score Yet Thunderhoof Director - 1948
No Score Yet No Score Yet Black Gold Director - 1947
No Score Yet No Score Yet Louisiana Director - 1947
No Score Yet No Score Yet Live Wires Director - 1946
No Score Yet 25% Dark Alibi Director - 1946
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bowery Bombshell Director - 1946
No Score Yet 10% Swing Parade of 1946 Director - 1946
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Missing Lady Director - 1946
No Score Yet No Score Yet Behind the Mask Director - 1946
No Score Yet No Score Yet Wife Wanted Director - 1946
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Shanghai Cobra Director - 1945
No Score Yet No Score Yet G.I. Honeymoon Director - 1945
No Score Yet No Score Yet A WAVE, a WAC and a Marine Director - 1944
No Score Yet No Score Yet Kilroy Was Here Director - 1942
29% 55% The Flame of New Orleans Assistant Director - 1941
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Black Doll Assistant Director - 1938

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Zane Grey Theatre Director 1959