He loathed communism, taking up the anticommunist crusade i. Gordon douglas during a scene with dorothy hart in i was a communist for the fbi by warner brothers pictures. Anticommunist hysteria was at a peak during as taping began, and by the end of 1952, i was a communist for the f. The series was syndicated by ziv, and was broadcast from 1952 to 1954 by stations that bought it including wormutualnew york. Frank lovejoy and dorothy hart are starring, alongside philip carey, james millican, richard webb and konstantin shayne. Frank lovejoy a woefully underrated actor is quite good as cvetic. The lot for sale is a group of 4 vintage original movie theater advertising pamphlets printed 1950 1951. They are in good fair condition due to light age toning, bends, folds, and light soiling. I was a communist for the fbi 520625 a riot made to order. Communist leaders arrested in new york and pittsburgh, united states of america usa. I was a communist for the fbi is a film directed by gordon douglas with frank lovejoy, dorothy hart, philip carey, james millican, year.
Ms leader of american communist party israel amter seated, having been arrested by fbi. I was a communist for the fbi, made by warner brothers in 1951, is one of those movies that tends to be treated rather dismissively because its politics are no longer fashionable. Fbi considered its a wonderful life communist propaganda. The show was a well done and well financed endeavor, and worth preservation for that reason alone. Fbi files relating to the communist party of the united states of america cpusa.
Although there was an active communist party in italian politics during the cold war, italy was never a communist country. Cvetics memoirs were better dramatized by a 1951 radio series of the same title, starring dana andrews. I was a communist for the fbi movie trailer and videos. With frank lovejoy, dorothy hart, philip carey, james millican. Unless otherwise cited, all fbi documents relating to matt cvetic have been downloaded from the. The federal bureau of investigation are the good guys, for a nice change. Lovejoy, a common pittsburgh steelworker, is recruited by the fbi to infiltrate his union, which, in reality.
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. Reupload of otrr files with corrected metadata for ease of use. Operation solo was a longrunning fbi program to infiltrate the communist party of the united states and gather intelligence about its relationship to the union of soviet socialist republics, china, and other communist nations. I was a communist for the fbi dvdr 1951 warner archive. Harvey matusow played a similar role as ex communist. I was a communist for the fbi is a 1951 american film noir drama directed by gordon douglas, and featuring frank lovejoy, dorothy hart, philip carey, and james millican the film was based on a series of stories written by matt cvetic that appeared in the saturday evening post. Although gladio specifically refers to the italian branch of the nato staybehind organizations, operation gladio is used as an informal name for all of them. Dan leab published in history today volume 46 issue 12 december 1996. I was a communist for the fbi 1951 directed by gordon douglas genres spy film subgenres propaganda film, melodrama, message movie release date may 2, 1951 usa unknown run time 83 min.
Greece transliterated isolatin1 title ezisa treis zoes. I was a communist for the fbi 1951 rotten tomatoes. Dec 06, 2017 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. Rankin, the long serving, bombastic, and racist congressman from mississippi stated one of the most dangerous plots ever instigated for the overthrow of this government has its headquarters in hollywood. Ireland english title i was a communist for the fbi.
Regista, attori, sceneggiatori, musicisti e tutto il cast tecnico. It was also a radio show starring dana andrews with 78 episodes that ran from apr 23, 1952 until oct 14, 1953. A 1917 italian, anti communist poster from world war one. I was a communist for the fbi university of pennsylvania.
The foundation of the new pci took place ninety years after the transformation of the old communist party of italy into the old pci. The film was based on a series of stories written by matt cvetic. Other articles where i was a communist for the fbi is discussed. The fbi infiltrates one of their agents in the us communist party. On the big screen in 1951, the film version of i was a communist for the fbi was a problematic film, everything that makes it problematic today contributed to its success with audiences in 1951 and therefore the film remains a provocative document of a troubled time. I was a communist for the fbi, starring dana andrews, tells the supposedly true tale of matt cvetic, who infiltrated the communist party in the united states and reported every move back to the fbi for nine long years. 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. That day was 1951 and i was a communist for the fbi spoon fed the anticommunist prejudice of its era so hard and fast that youd be forgiven now for thinking that it was a parody but its not the slimy backstabbing communists in gordon douglas film may not. In real life, cvetic lost everything he lovedhis wife, children, parents, friendsexcept for his country and love for that country is. 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.
I was a communist for the fbi is a 1951 film noir by gordon douglas featuring frank lovejoy, dorothy hart, philip carey, and james millican. I was a communist for the fbi 530304 one way ticket, old. A factbased story about a man who posed as an american communist for years as part of a secret plan to infiltrate their organization. The stories were later turned into a bestselling book and radio series the story follows cvetic, who infiltrated. Leonard maltin praises this suspenseful political tales as low key, and effective. Heavy portent as director gordon douglas opens at laguardia airport, word is passed to the fbi men in pittsburgh douglas evans, richard webb of a menace en route, frank lovejoy as agent cvetic then narrates, in the warner bros.
I love its a wonderful life, but in 1947, the fbi considered this movie communist propaganda. I was a communist for the fbi was a show that came from the anticommunist hysteria at a peak in the 1950s, and by the end of 1952 i was a communist was scheduled on more than 600 stations. Gig youngand the redbaiting drama i was a communist for the fbi, with frank lovejoy as an undercover agent who infiltrates the communist party. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing i was a communist for the fbi near you. I was a communist for the fbi is frequently exciting, but also very much a product of its time, filled with patriotism and propaganda in equal measure.
Incredibly, i was a communist for the fbi was nominated for an academy award as the best documentary of the year. Canada english title i was a communist for the fbi. The film was produced by bryan foy who was head of warners b picture unit until 1942. Its actually a fairly wellmade and effective thriller with a definite film noir flavour. This causes big problems in the normal life of the agent. The party has admitted heavy losses in membership in turin, milan and other northern cities, and all communistdominated trade unions in italy haie tended to lose membership and vitality. I was a communist for the fbi 520604 card game in the. Harvey matusow played a similar role as excommunist. The film received was nominated for an academy award in the category for best documentary. Leab, the records of the federal bureau of investigation. The unhappy life and times of matt cvetic leab, daniel j.
The 1952 syndicated series starred dana andrews as reallife undercover agent matt cvetic, whose book of the same title provided the inspiration for the radio series and a hollywood film. I was a communist for the fbi 1951 film movieplayer. No one was allowed to know he was undercover, and both he and his family suffered because of it. Find similar and related movies for i was a communist for the fbi 1951 gordon douglas on allmovie. Dan leab looks at a classic cold war movie and the shadowy figure who inspired it. Hungerford, frontpage editorial cartoon, pittsburgh postgazette, july 26, 1951. Great movie to see what was going on during the time and after wwii, and. I was a communist for the fbi motion picture the vault. I was a communist for the fbi 1951 directed by gordon. Aug 27, 2014 communist leaders arrested in new york and pittsburgh, united states of america usa. In i was a communist for the fbi he plays matt cvetic, a slovenian last name which makes it all the more likely that cvetic would turn into a communist. I was a communist for the fbi 1951 05051951 us crime 1h 23m user score.
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. In 1952, in the midst of the red scare of the 1950s, the frederick w. I was a communist for the fbi 1951 the movie database. I was a communist for the fbi is a 1951 english film stars frank lovejoy, gordon douglas, crane wilbur, matt cvetic, pete martin, bryan foy, edwin b. According to variety, a sequel is said to be in the. It is 1951 and mccarthy has started the war on the new enemy, the communists.
The leader of italy s communist party, palmiro togliatti, was one of communisms brighter stars. The show was based on the book by matt cvetic and purportedly told of his adventures as an undercover. Italy remained allied to the western world or, as we liked to call it. Well, thats at least what the film tries to tell you. The gains made by the party in southern italy during 1949 have been largely nullified now that the government has at last begun to put into action sortie. The icy moment marking the outbreak of the cold war after 1945 remains a matter of vigorous debate.
Anti communist hysteria was at a peak during as taping began, and by the end of 1952, i was a communist for the f. Released on may 02 of 1951 in the usa, i was a communist for the fbi also known as ich war fbi mann m. I was a communist for the fbi tom secker 3rd october 20 november 19th, 2019 from 1941 to 1950 matt cvetic successfully infiltrated and spied on the communist party of. 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. Pittsburgh celebrated the films april premiere with a matthew cvetic day, complete with parade. I was a communist for the fbi tom secker 3rd october 20 november 19th, 2019 from 1941 to 1950 matt cvetic successfully infiltrated and spied on the communist party of the united states on behalf of the fbi. Synopsis i had to sell out my own girl so would you. The true story of a federal agent who posed as a communist to gather information on subversives. Leonard maltin praises this suspenseful political tales. I was a communist for the fbi 1951, scheda completa del film di gordon douglas con frank lovejoy, dorothy hart, philip carey. The most helpful provenances were newspaper listings. Six persons, identified by the fbi as secondary communist party leaders were arrested here today.
I was a communist for the fbi film by douglas 1951. 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 james millican. I was a communist for the fbi 1951, a film by gordon. 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. Operation gladio is the codename for clandestine staybehind operations of armed resistance that was planned by the western union wu, and subsequently by nato, for a potential warsaw pact invasion and conquest in europe. I was a communist for the fbi motion picture part 2 of 2 view.
Cvetic was an fbi undercover agent that joined the communist party as a spy. He had been cooperating with stalin, and his party was a member in good standing in the cominform. They are each 4 page pamphlets 1 sheet folded in half. The closing of the program was great, as andrews said, i was a communist for the fbi.
Although the propagadnda is blunt, its easy to overlook how enormously popular i was a communist for the fbi was in its day. Its a wonderful life 1946 is 11th in afis list of the 100 best american movies ever made. I was a communist for the fbi motion picture part 1 of 2 view i was a communist for the fbi motion picture. Strangely, the latter film was nominated for an academy award for best documentary. The pci, which took the name from the 19261991 italian communist party, emerged in 2016 from the merger of the communist party of italy pcdi with splinters from the communist refoundation party prc and minor groups.
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. I was a communist for the fbi motion picture i was a communist for the fbi motion picture part 1 of 2 view. Ziv broadside for billboard magazine promoting i was a communist for the f. It officially began in 1958 and ended in 1977, although morris and jack childs, two of the principal agents in the operation, had been involved with the bureau for. 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. A federal agent on a dangerous assignment he must go underground to flush out a nefarious spy ring. 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.
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