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Phil Karlson
Director 1908 - 1985

Phil Karlson

Chicago, Illinois

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Phil Karlson (July 2, 1908, Chicago, Illinois – December 12, 1985, Los Angeles, California) was a film director known for his no-nonsense film noirs. Karlson directed 99 River Street, Kansas City Confidential and Hell's Island all with... Read full bio →

Directed Films

Every film this person directed

28 titles
Framed

Framed

Phil Karlson 1975 1h 46m

Joe Don Baker plays a gambler who is framed for a crime he did not commit. A corrupt legal system leads him into a plea bargain and four years behind bars. By the time he gets out of prison, he's determined to put together the pieces of his frame-up and dole out the justice he was denied to those responsible.

Walking Tall

Walking Tall

Phil Karlson 1973 2h 5m 8.0

Ex-wrestler and Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser walks tall and carries a big stick as he tussles with county-wide corruption and moonshining thugs.

Ben

Ben

Phil Karlson 1972 1h 34m

A lonely boy becomes good friends with Ben, a rat. This rat is also the leader of a pack of vicious killer rats, killing lots of people.

Hornets' Nest

Hornets' Nest

Phil Karlson 1970 1h 50m 6.0

An American commando who's the sole survivor of a parachute jump into WWII-era Italy leads a group of children in a campaign of sabotage against the Nazis.

The Wrecking Crew

The Wrecking Crew

Phil Karlson 1968 1h 45m 6.0

When Count Contini attempts to destroy the world's economy by masterminding the theft of $1 billion in U.S. gold, ICE chief MacDonald summons secret agent Matt Helm to stop him.

The Silencers

The Silencers

Phil Karlson 1966 1h 42m 7.0

Matt Helm (Dean Martin) is called out of retirement to stop the evil Big O organization who plan to explode an atomic bomb over Alamagordo, NM, and start WW III.

Kid Galahad

Kid Galahad

Phil Karlson 1962 1h 36m 4.5

Kid Galahad is a 1962 musical film starring Elvis Presley as a boxer. The movie was filmed on location in Idyllwild, California and is noted for having a strong supporting cast. Most critics rate it as one of Presley's best performances. The film is a remake of the 1937 original version starring Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis, and Humphrey Bogart.

Gunman's Walk

Gunman's Walk

Phil Karlson 1958 1h 35m

A powerful rancher always protects his wild adult son by paying for damages and bribing witnesses, until his crimes become too serious to rectify.

The Brothers Rico

The Brothers Rico

Phil Karlson 1957 1h 32m 6.0

Eddie Rico, the erstwhile bookkeeper for a big Mafia boss, is now making a living as an honest merchant in Florida with his family. Things go sour when the police start a search for his syndicate-linked brothers who are on the lam after a big hit, forcing Eddie to get involved with the Mafia again.

Tight Spot

Tight Spot

Phil Karlson 1955 1h 37m 6.5

A former model, serving time in prison, becomes a key witness in a trial against a notorious gangster. She is put under protective watch by the District Attorney in a posh hotel, but the crime kingpin makes attempts to get to her.

The Phenix City Story

The Phenix City Story

Phil Karlson 1955 1h 40m 7.5

Phil Karlson's docudrama based on the notorious Phenix City -- a city known for it's gambling, crime and prostitution rackets.

Hell's Island

Hell's Island

Phil Karlson 1955 1h 24m

Down-on-his-luck Mike Cormack is hired to fly to a Caribbean island to retrieve a missing ruby. On the island, possibly involved with the ruby's disappearance, is his ex-girlfriend.

5 Against the House

5 Against the House

Phil Karlson 1955 1h 24m 5.6

Former war-time Army buddies now students in college decide to rip off a Reno casino.

99 River Street

99 River Street

Phil Karlson 1953 1h 23m 6.5

A former boxer turned taxi driver earns the scorn of his nagging wife and gets mixed up with jewel thieves.

Scandal Sheet

Scandal Sheet

Phil Karlson 1952 1h 22m 7.0

A tabloid editor assigns a young reporter to solve a murder the editor committed himself.

Kansas City Confidential

Kansas City Confidential

Phil Karlson 1952 1h 40m 7.5

An ex-convict sets out to uncover who framed him for an armored car robbery.

The Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers

Phil Karlson 1951 1h 14m 5.0

In 1874, unable to eliminate a gang of notorious outlaws, the Texas Rangers hire two former convicts to assist with the tracking and the destruction of the Sam Bass gang.

Thunderhoof

Thunderhoof

Phil Karlson 1948 1h 17m 8.0

Two men, one woman and one horse get into trouble.

Ladies of the Chorus

Ladies of the Chorus

Phil Karlson 1948 1h 1m 6.0

A chorus girl falls in love with a wealthy young man, but their relationship is jeopardized by her mother's fears about the reaction of his family.

Kilroy Was Here

Kilroy Was Here

Phil Karlson 1947 1h 10m 6.0

"Kilroy Was Here" was a popular expression during World War II, but it's not much fun to John J. Kilroy, who has to try to live with all the jokes and wisecracks regarding his name.

Wife Wanted

Wife Wanted

Phil Karlson 1946 1h 13m

Career-slipping movie star Carole Raymond buys in as a real estate partner of Jeff Caldwell. Actually, through his secretary, Nola Reed, Caldwell runs a matrimonial bureau and, with the aid of his associate, Lee Kirby, they defraud and blackmail a large group of lonely people.

The Missing Lady

The Missing Lady

Phil Karlson 1946 1h

While investigating the theft of a valuable jade statue known as "The Missing Lady" -- and the subsequent murder of an art dealer -- imperceptible sleuth Lamont Cranston aka the Shadow finds himself being blamed for the crime. It doesn't help the Shadow's claims of innocence when more bodies begin piling up.

Live Wires

Live Wires

Phil Karlson 1946 1h 5m

Slip, who has difficulties in keeping any job for long, is hired by the District Attorney's office to serve summons and warrants to problematic citizens.

Dark Alibi

Dark Alibi

Phil Karlson 1946 1h 1m 6.3

After three men are convicted of bank robberies, Charlie becomes suspicious. After some investigation Charlie finds the men are innocent and that the fingerprint evidence used to convict them had been forged. Charlie then proceeds to find the true bank robbers.

Bowery Bombshell

Bowery Bombshell

Phil Karlson 1946 1h 5m

Slip, Sach, Bobby, Whitey and Chuck unsuccessfully try to sell a dilapidated car to a street cleaner for a fabulous amount, so they can get enough money to save Louie's Malt Shop.

Behind the Mask

Behind the Mask

Phil Karlson, William Beaudine 1946 1h 8m

Falsely accused of murdering a crooked newspaper reporter, suave detective Lamont Cranston -- aka the Shadow -- vows to track down the real killer.

The Shanghai Cobra

The Shanghai Cobra

Phil Karlson 1945 1h 4m 6.0

Someone is attempting to steal radium stored in a bank. Death by cobra venom connects a number of murders. Charlie Chan investigates.

G.I. Honeymoon

G.I. Honeymoon

Phil Karlson 1945 1h 10m

In this romantic comedy, set during WW II, an newlywed army couple are unable to consummate their marriage, as on their wedding night the husband is called away to sentry duty. Later they try again, but as he has just completed a 37-mile hike, he finds himself too tired to work up any enthusiasm for conjugal bliss.

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