J. Edgar Hoover (1987)

Director:

Robert L. Collins

Writer:

Robert L. Collins (teleplay)

Stars:

Joe Regalbuto, Walker Edmiston, John McLiam

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joe Regalbuto	...	William C. Sullivan
Walker Edmiston	...	Harry S. Truman
John McLiam	...	A. Mitchell Palmer
Charles Hallahan	...	Joseph McCarthy
Art Hindle	...	John F. Kennedy
Robert Harper	...	Clyde Tolson
Andrew Duggan	...	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Louise Fletcher	...	Annie M. Hoover
David Ogden Stiers	...	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Rip Torn	...	Lyndon Baines Johnson
Treat Williams	...	J. Edgar Hoover
Charles Levin	...	Producer
Ford Rainey	...	Harlan Fiske Stone
Harvey Vernon	...	Senator George William Norris
William Traylor	...	Nicholas de B. Katzenbach

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

president | u.s. president | fbi chief | j. edgar hoover | fbi | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 January 1987 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Finnegan/Pinchuk Productions, RLC Productions, Showtime Networks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last TV project of Andrew Duggan.

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Connections

Referenced in The Walker (2007)

User Reviews

Great source for fascinating bio meets pitiful effort.

With the advent of time (15 years) after the late FBI Director's death, one would think this an agreeable amount of time to assess the triumphs and failures of such a figure. After all, he clung to power for 48 years in a city where anyone's career can be reduced to piffle in a matter of moments.

Why then, such a dull and lifeless biographical movie, as this? There's no insight, no private or public turmoil, no revelations, no interesting conjecture as to the why or wherefore pertaining to certain abuses, the nature of his relationship with Clyde Tolson, the Assistant Director of the FBI, etc.etc.

All we're allowed to see is the by-the-textbook timeline, following his rise and his death, and the President's he serves along the way. Nothing of real note here, unless you entertain yourself by comparing how much the actors look like the people they're supposed to be portraying.

An earlier made for tv movie, made in 1977, called "The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover," rates far superior (and that's not saying much) to this. However, at least the latter is entertaining, which is more than can be said for this red herring.