I Was a Communist for the FBI

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Cast

Frank Lovejoy
as Matt Cvetic

Dorothy Hart
as Eve Merrick

Philip Carey
as Mason

James Millican
as Jim Blandon

Richard Webb
as Crowley

Ron Hagerthy
as Dick Cvetic

Paul Picerni
as Joe Cvetic

Frank Gerstle
as Tom Cvetic

Russ Conway
as Frank Cvetic

Hope Kramer
as Ruth Cvetic

Kasia Orzazewski
as Mrs. Cvetic

Edward Norris
as Harmon

Ann Morrison
as Miss Nova

Konstantin Shayne
as Gerhardt Eisler

Roy Roberts
as Father Novac

Paul McGuire
as McIntyre

Douglas Evans
as Chief Agent

Janet Barrett
as Secretary

Karen Hale
as Secretary

Joseph Smith
as Goon

Jimmy O'Gatty
as Goon

Frank Marlowe
as Worker

Barry Sullivan
as Worker

Michael Ross
as Foreman

Lenita Lane
as Principal

Alma Mansfield
as Teacher

Anne Kimbell
as Student

Paula Sowl
as Student

Charles Sherlock
as Man

George Magrill
as Man

Grace Lenard
as Wife

Erik Neilsen
as Jackie

Roy Engel
as Jackie's Father

William Lester
as Brown

John Crawford
as McGowan

Ernie Anderson
as Black Man

Sugarfoot Anderson
as Black Man

Johnny Bradford
as Dobbs

James Gonzales
as Brennan

David McMahon
as Masonvitch

Charles Horvath
as Good Leader

Phil Tully
as Irish Mick

Howard Negley
as Union Chairman

Bobby Gilbert
as Picket

James Adamson
as Picket

Mary Alan Hokanson
as Woman

Mildred Boyd
as Woman

Barry Reagan
as Officer

Hugh Sanders
as Garson

Lyle Latell
as Cahill

Charles Colean
as Brakeman

Richard H. Gordon
as Lawyer

William Bailey
as Lawyer

Paul Bradley
as Lawyer

Robert "Buddy" Shaw
as Lawyer

William Forrest
as Senator Wood

Bert Moorhouse
as Senator Gray

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Critic Reviews for I Was a Communist for the FBI

Audience Reviews for I Was a Communist for the FBI

• Nov 28, 2013

  Described as a film noir drama directed by Gordon Douglas, I expected something with a substance... petty that all it had was a propaganda machine from guys who are even better in doing things they accuse others of... but as the main character Mark Cvetic (Frank Lovejoy) said ,"(I) had the brains to see this slimy thing to what it is." The film was based on a series of stories written by Matt Cvetic that appeared in The Saturday Evening Post, and those stories were later turned into a best-selling book and radio series. It seems that most of the communists in America were simple thugs, racist, vindictive, and tools of a totalitarian foreign power, the Soviet Union - but that is with a reason. This film and radio show are, in part, artefacts of the McCarthy era, as well as a time capsule of American society during the Second Red Scare. The purpose of both are partly to "warn" people about the threat of Communist "subversion" of American society. The movie is really over-acted ultra-patriotic, very similar of what was made in Germany just few years before the World War II started. The story follows Cvetic, who infiltrated a local Communist Party cell for nine years and reported back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation on their activities. Frank Lovejoy wasn't too bad, but I just cannot stand unnatural dialogue and robotic acting which was shown by most of the actors including Dorothy Hart, Philip Carey, and James Millican. Think and tell me... which political party leadership members are not cynical opportunists, racists who are interested only in seizing power on behalf of their party and not in improving social and labour conditions not just in the U.S. but anywhere in the world? Which political group will not exploit ethnic tensions to get their way? I haven't witnessed one yet! There are honest people in all these groups but they never become leaders - they are just sheep for the wolves in a sheep skin. And it was always like that. Well, I look at this propaganda as an offence for those honest people, doesn't matter on which side they belonged. Thanks to my friend who recommended this, and I am glad I saw it - but for the different reasons - I am glad and at the same time very sad that I could realize how huge hatred could be towards fellow brothers and sisters because they just have different way of thinking.
  Panta O Super Reviewer

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