I Was a Communist for the F.B.I.

I Was a Communist for the F.B.I. Photos

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Cast & Crew

Frank Lovejoy
Matt Cvetic

Dorothy Hart
Eve Merrick

Philip Carey
Mason

Richard Webb
Ken Crowley

James Millican
Jim Blandon

Ron Hagerthy
Dick Cvetic

Paul Picerni
Joe Cvetic

Frank Gerstle
Tom Cvetic (uncredited)

Russ Conway
Frank Cvetic (uncredited)

Hope Kramer
Ruth Cvetic

Kasia Orzazekski
Mrs. Cvetic (uncredited)

Edward Norris
Harmon

Ann Morrison
Miss Nova (uncredited)

Konstantin Shayne
Gerhardt Eisler

Roy Roberts
Father Novac (uncredited)

Paul McGuire
FBI Agent McIntyre (uncredited)

Gordon Douglas
Director

Bryan Foy
Producer

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Audience Reviews for I Was a Communist for the F.B.I.

• 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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