Based on a true story, this documentarystyle caper film follows a federal agent on a dangerous assignment he must go underground to flush out a nefarious spy ring. I was a communist for the fbi was a show that came from the anti communist hysteria at a peak in the 1950s, and by the end of 1952 i was a communist was scheduled on more than 600 stations. Fbi files on the production show that they followed the production, release and reaction to the film quite closely. In many ways the series reflected the film noir genre of detective movies. I was a communist for the fbi online using any of the 3 radio players below. Lets shed a little sunlight on whats been passing for authoritative and accurate catalogsor researchof the radio program, i was a communist for the f.
The series capitalized on americas second red scare and the era of mccarthyism. Based on the book by the same name by matt cvetic, an undercover operative who joined the communist party to spy from within this series capitalized on the new red scare of the early 1950s. In real life, cvetic lost everything he lovedhis wife, children, parents, friendsexcept for his country and love for that country is. The film recounts how cvetic used his job as a pittsburgh steelworker to contact various american communist cell. I was a communist for the fbi 520611 american kremlin, old. What are i married a communist and i was a communist for the fbi. The most helpful provenances were newspaper listings. Part of our over 12,000 show library of old time radio. Based on the book by reallife undercover agent, matt cvetic, i was a communist for the fbi was a dramatization of cvetics life during the time he infiltrated the communist party of the united states of america cpusa.
The federal bureau of investigation are the good guys, for a nice change. He told his story in a series in the saturday evening post, and his experiences were then fictionalized in the old time radio show i was a communist for the fbi. Ziv company produced the syndicated radio series with the same title as the movie. In 1952, in the midst of the red scare of the 1950s, the frederick w. I was a communist for the fbi audiobook by matt cvetic. I was a communist for the fbi synopsis the true story of a federal agent who posed as a communist to gather information on subversives. It was also a radio show starring dana andrews with 78 episodes that ran from apr 23, 1952 until oct 14, 1953. I was a communist for the fbi is a film directed by gordon douglas with frank lovejoy, dorothy hart, philip carey, james millican, year. Nobody knows that he is with the fbi, neither his family. Synopsis the true story of a federal agent who posed as a communist to gather information on subversives. In 1951, warner brothers released a film based on these accounts entitled i was a communist for the fbi, starring with frank lovejoy as cvetic. Matthew matt cvetic march 4, 1909 july 26, 1962 was a pittsburgh native who was a spy and informant working for the federal bureau of investigation inside the communist party of the united states cpusa during the 1940s.
In 1941, the fbi asked citizen matt cvetic to join the communist party and report back on their activities. Anti communist films made during and after the red scare. Leonard maltin praises this suspenseful political tales as low key, and effective. The story is purportedly true, and is according to the. In terms of the actual story, one hardly need view it to know what is going to happen, what line it is going to take, and what kind of slanders it will indulge in. Released april 3rd, 2006, i was a communist for the f. Streamcloud i was a communist for the fbi 1951 deutsch. Although asked for input as well as endorsement, the f.
Stylishly directed by gordon douglas, and with more than a few film noirinspired action set pieces to commend it, warner bros i was a communist for the f. The fbi infiltrates one of their agents in the us communist party. Charles chaplin was among the first in hollywood suspected of communist. I was a communist for the fbi 1951 streamcloud deutsch. Among the forces heightening the social paranoia were selfappointed vigilante groups such as the american legion and the catholic war veterans, parts of the media including powerful reactionary press lords and journalists, and various federal and. Listen to 39 episodes of i was a communist for the fbi for free.
Since the script infers that among the reds subversive plans was the civil rights movement, i was a communist for the fbi is an embarrassing experience when seen today. The show was based on the book by matt cvetic and purportedly told of his adventures as an undercover. As a propaganda film, it works even better, giving one the impression that the communists had infiltrated many aspects of society and were more powerful than they. We offer 3 different ways for you to listen to our old time radio shows so that no matter what device you are using pc, laptop, android phone, iphone, ipad, kindle, tablet, etc. After emerging in 1950 to testify before congress about his experience, his exploits were chronicled in magazines, on the silver screen, and in a taut and entertaining radio series suggested by his real life adventures. Radio broadcast espionage thriller drama, produced 195254. From the real life experiences of matt cvetic published in the saturday evening post as i posed as a communist for the f. I was a communist for the fbi is a 1951 american noir crime film directed by gordon douglas starring frank lovejoy, dorothy hart, philip carey and. I was a communist for the fbi letterboxd social film. Cvetics memoirs were better dramatized by a 1951 radio series of the same title, starring dana andrews. With frank lovejoy, dorothy hart, philip carey, james millican. I was a communist for the fbi is a 1951 american noir crime film directed by gordon douglas starring frank lovejoy, dorothy. This causes big problems in the normal life of the agent. Free wallpapers download of i was a communist for the fbi movie, hero, heroine, etc is available in our gallery section.
I, scripter crane wilbur has fashioned an exciting film. The film was produced by bryan foy who was head of warners b picture unit until 1942 it was also a radio show starring dana andrews with 78 episodes that ran from april 23, 1952 until october 14, 1953. I was a communist for the fbi is every bit as ridiculous as its title would suggest. Watch i was a communist for the fbi movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. As just a movie, i was a communist for the fbi is quite good in that it moves quickly and has an element of real suspense, particularly the train track sequence, which is excellent. I was a communist for the fbi is a 1951 american film noir crime film directed by gordon douglas starring frank lovejoy, dorothy hart, philip carey and james millican. Aired 1952 1954 i was a communist for the fbi rode the coattails of the red scare, aired even though the fbi refused to cooperate with its production.
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