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The FBI Story

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The FBI Story

Released Sep 24, 1959

2h 29m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

60%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Recounting his storied FBI career, veteran agent Chip Hardesty (James Stewart) narrates events occurring from the 1920s to the 1940s. After marrying Lucy Ann (Vera Miles), a local librarian, Hardesty is supposed to resign from the agency. But when he hears J. Edgar Hoover speak, he has a change of heart, fully embracing the agency. As he travels from one investigation to another with his partner, Sam Crandall (Murray Hamilton), Hardesty faces down famous mobsters, Klansmen and spies.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

LeRoy's film, which conventionally and routinely employs the elements of police cinema, looks almost like a highly apologetic propaganda ad about the men with the FBI badge. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/10

Oct 21, 2021

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

LeRoy's picture is an uncritical, decently made salute to the FBI and Edgar Hoover

Rated: B-

Apr 28, 2011

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Seems to have an endless amount of stories at its disposal.

Rated: B-

Apr 21, 2011

Full Review

Diana Saenger

About.com

Several things about this film left me less than enthusiastic about it.

Rated: 2.5/5

Aug 19, 2006

Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

Hoover was very proud of The FBI Story. If you can stay awake through it, you might like it, too.

Rated: 5/10

Aug 8, 2006

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David H

I agree with those who saw the film as a blatant propaganda piece, but I still enjoyed it. (How can you not like a Jimmy Stewart film?) What interested me most was the section about the Osage killings in Oklahoma. That story was just one small piece of the film, though, and I'm looking forward to seeing the upcoming film Flowers of the Killer Moon which is an adaptation from the book of the same name, which I read and think highly of.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/12/23

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steve d

Fairly generic but it works.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Ed M

Pretty good movie. But it's jimmy Stewart so he elevates it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/01/22

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s r

Saw this a long time ago and I remember it having some interesting perspectives on the FBI and its agents.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Written produced and directed by J. Edgar Hoover... no, not really. But, their propaganda piece was heavily influenced by Hoover and is essentially a recruiting film.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

Interesting, but dated. James Stewart is always excellent!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/27/21

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Mervyn LeRoy

Director

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

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Synopsis

Recounting his storied FBI career, veteran agent Chip Hardesty (James Stewart) narrates events occurring from the 1920s to the 1940s. After marrying Lucy Ann (Vera Miles), a local librarian, Hardesty is supposed to resign from the agency. But when he hears J. Edgar Hoover speak, he has a change of heart, fully embracing the agency. As he travels from one investigation to another with his partner, Sam Crandall (Murray Hamilton), Hardesty faces down famous mobsters, Klansmen and spies.

Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 24, 1959, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Runtime: 2h 29m

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