The FBI Story

"You are crouched in a basement stairway opposite a theatre in Chicago. Keep your eyes on that FBI man across the street. He has set the trap for deadly public enemy, John Dillinger..."

1959 2h 29m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 45

DramaCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A dedicated FBI agent recalls the agency's battles against the Klan, organized crime and Communist spies.

“You are crouched in a basement stairway opposite a theatre in Chicago. Keep your eyes on that FBI man across the street. He has set the trap for deadly public enemy, John Dillinger...”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

James Stewart
John Michael ('Chip') Hardesty
Vera Miles
Lucy Ann Hardesty
Murray Hamilton
Sam Crandall
Larry Pennell
George Crandall
Nick Adams
John Gilbert ('Jack') Graham
Diane Jergens
Jennie Hardesty
Jean Willes
Anna Sage
Joyce Taylor
Anne Hardesty

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Writers: Richard L. Breen, John Twist
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

67 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, shot by Joseph F. Biroc. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Max Steiner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Philip W. Anderson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

ERA

Did you know

James Stewart and Vera Miles and Murray Hamilton carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "You are crouched in a basement stairway opposite a theatre in Chicago. Keep your eyes on that FBI man across the street. He has set the trap for deadly public enemy, John Dillinger...".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0052792 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 45 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Mervyn LeRoy directs. Joseph F. Biroc behind the camera. Max Steiner scores. Philip W. Anderson cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

167 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, shot by Joseph F. Biroc. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Max Steiner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Philip W. Anderson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5James Stewart and Vera Miles and Murray Hamilton carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "You are crouched in a basement stairway opposite a theatre in Chicago. Keep your eyes on that FBI man across the street. He has set the trap for deadly public enemy, John Dillinger...".
7IMDB entry: tt0052792 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 45 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.