The FBI Story (1959)

A dedicated FBI agent recalls the agency's battles against the Klan, organized crime and Communist spies.

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

Richard L. Breen (screenplay), John Twist (screenplay),

Stars:

James Stewart, Vera Miles, Murray Hamilton

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Stewart	...	John Michael ('Chip') Hardesty
Vera Miles	...	Lucy Ann Hardesty
Murray Hamilton	...	Sam Crandall
Larry Pennell	...	George Crandall
Nick Adams	...	John Gilbert ('Jack') Graham
Diane Jergens	...	Jennie Hardesty
Jean Willes	...	Anna Sage
Joyce Taylor	...	Anne Hardesty
Victor Millan	...	Mario
Parley Baer	...	Harry Dakins
Fay Roope	...	Dwight McCutcheon
Ed Prentiss	...	U.S. Marshal
Robert Gist	...	Medicine Salesman
Buzz Martin	...	Mike Hardesty
Ken Mayer	...	Casket Salesman (as Kenneth Mayer)

Storyline

The story of the FBI unfolds through the eyes of one of its agents. During his career he investigates gangsters, swindlers, the klu klux klan, Nazi agents and cold war spies.

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Plot Keywords:

spy | fbi agent | ku klux klan | oklahoma | gangster | 

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Taglines:

You are crouched in a basement stairway opposite a theatre in Chicago. Keep your eyes on that FBI man across the street. He has set the trap for deadly public enemy, John Dillinger...

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | History | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Geheimagent des FBI

Filming Locations:

46th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

149 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Two FBI agents were on the set at all times.

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Goofs

Ma Barker did not lead the Barker gang. Alvin Karpas did. She never participated in any of the robberies. FBI agents surrounded her house and Fred did open fire. Ma Barker was killed in the crossfire, not blasting away at FBI agents. The story was manufactured after a public outcry of federal agents gunning down an old woman.

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Quotes

Firing range instructor: [Holding up an automatic weapon] Let me repeat again - get to know this weapon. Craftiness can solve many a criminal case, but with hoodlums you sometimes need a good conscientious, hard-working machine gun.

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Connections

Spin-off The F.B.I. (1965)

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Soundtracks

"Pretty Baby"
(uncredited)
Music by Egbert Van Alstyne and Tony Jackson
Played during the barber shop scene

User Reviews

James Stewart is this Movie

This is a film that on the surface would seem to be all about J.Edgar Hoover giving himself a a big pat on the back for fighting Klansmen,going after Indian killers, hunting the famous gangsters of the 1930's, fighting Nazi's in the US and South America during world war 2 and Commies in New York during the early 1950's. Of course in 1959 we did not know about Mr. Hoover's obsession for keeping secret files on honest Americans, bugging people like the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr, but worst of all,his secret love affair with his deputy director,Clyde Tolson( If you want to know more about that subject, I suggest seeing the film Citizen Cohn). Hoover aside, This story of a life in the FBI as told by Jimmy Stewart makes for a decent, but dated film. Vera Miles as his devoted wife is also good. But Jimmy is the movie. As much as Hoover controlled production and always made sure the FBI was seen without fault, Jimmy Stewart gave the film a human side,quite an achievement considering Hoover was always looking over his shoulder. The background score is also pleasant. I have read recent online articles suggesting that this is a forgotten film. Jimmy Stewart was one of the greatest film stars of all time and none of his films should be forgotten. TCM was the last network to show it a long time ago and I hope they show it again.