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

  • 1951
  • Approved
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
I Was a Communist for the F.B.I. (1951)
Film NoirCrimeDramaMysteryThriller

In Pittsburgh, PA, an F.B.I. agent works to undermine the Communist party, but his brothers and his teenage son think he's a real Red.In Pittsburgh, PA, an F.B.I. agent works to undermine the Communist party, but his brothers and his teenage son think he's a real Red.In Pittsburgh, PA, an F.B.I. agent works to undermine the Communist party, but his brothers and his teenage son think he's a real Red.

  • Director
    • Gordon Douglas
  • Writers
    • Crane Wilbur
    • Matt Cvetic
    • Pete Martin
  • Stars
    • Frank Lovejoy
    • Dorothy Hart
    • Philip Carey
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gordon Douglas
    • Writers
      • Crane Wilbur
      • Matt Cvetic
      • Pete Martin
    • Stars
      • Frank Lovejoy
      • Dorothy Hart
      • Philip Carey
    • 32User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination total

    Photos5

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    Top Cast99+

    Frank Lovejoy
    Frank Lovejoy
    • Matt Cvetic
    Dorothy Hart
    Dorothy Hart
    • Eve Merrick
    Philip Carey
    Philip Carey
    • Mason
    James Millican
    James Millican
    • Jim Blandon
    Richard Webb
    Richard Webb
    • Ken Crowley
    Konstantin Shayne
    Konstantin Shayne
    • Gerhardt Eisler
    Paul Picerni
    Paul Picerni
    • Joe Cvetic
    Roy Roberts
    Roy Roberts
    • Father Novac
    Edward Norris
    Edward Norris
    • Harmon
    • (as Eddie Norris)
    Ron Hagerthy
    Ron Hagerthy
    • Dick Cvetic
    Hugh Sanders
    Hugh Sanders
    • Clyde Garson
    Hope Kramer
    • Ruth Cvetic
    James Adamson
    • Picket
    • (uncredited)
    Ernest Anderson
    Ernest Anderson
    • Black Man
    • (uncredited)
    Sugarfoot Anderson
    Sugarfoot Anderson
    • Black Man
    • (uncredited)
    William Bailey
    William Bailey
    • Lawyer
    • (uncredited)
    Al Bain
    Al Bain
    • Crowd Member
    • (uncredited)
    Janet Barrett
    Janet Barrett
    • Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Gordon Douglas
    • Writers
      • Crane Wilbur
      • Matt Cvetic
      • Pete Martin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews32

    6.11.1K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'I Was a Communist for the F.B.I.' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

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    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      The Communist Party USA was established in 1919. In 1921 it changed its name to The Workers Party of America. It was banned in 1954 by an act of Congress (the Communist Control Act of 1954). At its peak in 1944 the membership rose to 80.000 members but by mid-1950s it dropped to only 5000 members, including 1500 FBI informants.
    • Goofs
      Early in the film there's a shot at an airport where we see planes moving outside a window. The outside shot is flipped: the "PAN AMERICAN" logo on the side of the plane is backwards.
    • Quotes
      • Gerhardt Eisler: A very enjoyable evening. Close the door. Blandon, you did exceedingly well
      • Jim Blandon: [chuckles] Thanks. Those niggers ate it up, didn't they?
      • Matt Cvetic: You mean, Negroes, don't you, Jim?
      • Jim Blandon: [shrugs] Only when I'm trying to sell them the party line
      • Gerhardt Eisler: They're very useful comrades
      • Matt Cvetic: There's going to be trouble on the streets tonight
      • Jim Blandon: Well, if there isn't, I've been wasting the Party's time. Anyone want a drink? Do you mind?
      • Gerhardt Eisler: Go ahead
      • Jim Blandon: Comrades, comrades! You know, Matt calls them comrades too, only he believes it. You see, Matt, if one of that crowd goes out into the street tonight and picks a fight with a white man, and... well, kills him maybe... then he gets convicted by a White jury, we can go to bat and raise a defence fund. Am I correct, Mr Eisler?
      • Gerhardt Eisler: Ahha... just like in the Scottsboro case
      • Jim Blandon: Exactly, do you know that the Party raised nearly two million? Yes, nearly two million dollars just to defend those six niggers and all it cost was 65,000...
      • Gerhardt Eisler: ...to lose the case
      • Jim Blandon: Right. Yes, we made a tremendous profit on that deal. Shall I tell him what was done with it?
      • Gerhardt Eisler: No, no. No, Blandon. I am afraid the National Committee wouldn't like that
      • Matt Cvetic: In other words, Jim, your speech had a double purpose
      • Jim Blandon: Bright boy, Matt. The Pittsburgh Branch needs dough. We're always in the red!
    • Connections
      Featured in The Fifties (1997)

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    FAQ1

    • Is this based on a book?

    Details

    • Release date
      • May 5, 1951 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ich war FBI Mann M.C.
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 23m(83 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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