I Was a Communist for the FBI (1951)

44% of users liked it
(140 ratings)

The real Matt Cvetic was a borderline alcoholic with a nasty disposition (he once allegedly beat his sister-in-law so badly she required hospitalization). But Cvetic was also a fervent anti-communist, and so, for a brief period in the early 1950s, he was a folk hero. I Was a Communist for the F.B.I.… More The real Matt Cvetic was a borderline alcoholic with a nasty disposition (he once allegedly beat his sister-in-law so badly she required hospitalization). But Cvetic was also a fervent anti-communist, and so, for a brief period in the early 1950s, he was a folk hero. I Was a Communist for the F.B.I. is the semi-true story of how Cvetic (played by Frank Lovejoy) renounced his friends and family and embraced the Red cause--on behalf of the F.B.I., for whom he was a volunteer undercover agent. The film recounts how Cvetic used his job as a Pittsburgh steelworker to contact various American Communist cell leaders, and how he exposed their insidious plans to overthrow the American government. 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. Cvetic's memoirs were better dramatized by a 1951 radio series of the same title, starring Dana Andrews. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 22 min.
Directed By: Gordon Douglas
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: May 5, 1951 Wide
Studio: Warner Bros.

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A propaganda film from Warner Brothers about the Communist influences in America.

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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

            Konstantin Shayne as Gerhardt Eisler

            Paul Picerni as Joe Cvetic

            Roy Roberts as Father Novac

            Ron Hagerthy as Dick Cvetic

            Hugh Sanders as Garson

            Hope Kramer as Ruth Cvetic

            Ernest Anderson
            
            Sugarfoot Anderson as Black Man

            William Norton Bailey
            
            Mildred Boyd as Woman

            Russ Conway as Frank Cvetic

            Roy Engel as Jackie's Father

            Douglas Evans as Chief Agent

            William Forrest as Senator Wood

            Frank Gerstle as Tom Cvetic

            Mary Ellen Hokanson
            
            Charles Horvath as Good Leader

            Anne Kimbell
            
            Lenita Lane as Principal

            Lyle Latell as Cahill

            George Magrill as Man

            Frank Marlowe
            
            Paul McGuire as McIntyre

            David McMahon as Masonvitch

            Bert Moorhouse as Senator Gray

            Ann Morrison as Miss Nova

            Edward Norris as Harmon

            Jimmy O'Gatty as Goon

            Kasia Orzazewski as Mrs. Cvetic

            Barry Reagan as Officer

            Michael Ross as Foreman

            Charles Sherlock
            
            Barry Sullivan as Worker

            Phil Tully as Irish Mick

            Howard Negley as Union Chairman

            James Gonzales as Brennan

            William Lester as Brown

            James Adamson as Picket

            Richard H. Gordon
            
            Grace Lenard as Wife

            Robert "Buddy" Shaw as Lawyer

            John Crawford as McGowan

            Janet Barrett
            
            Charles Colean as Brakeman

            Karen Hale as Secretary

            Paula Sowl as Student

            Paul Bradley
            
            Joseph Darr Smith as Goon
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