mark.waltz It's been over 65 years since this social drama of political intrigue cane out. Here we are, in a very different era, and while communism may not be the issue, one of the major countries from where it came is. The world is fighting different battles, but the goal is the same: to save democracy, and keep free countries free and out of the hands of tyranny and evil, self-serving issues. This semi documentary is tons better than other anti-communist, propaganda films of the same time (the worst, "Big Jim McClain" starring John Wayne), and quite shocking, even today. If you compare the situations of the early 1950's with situations today, it's ironic how they compare, even if methods today seem more sinister and obvious thanks to excessive media and social networking.This story focuses on FBI agent Frank Lovejoy and his family, impacted by his newest assignment, exposing the methods of the communist party to destroy democracy. The methods are brutal and horrifying, yet true to live, even today. Race wars, riots, class division, strikes, sudden and unexpected violence: all ways of stirring up the masses. Sound familiar from your favorite news channel or website? They're all here.The infiltration of these spies are everywhere: in the unions, the offices, even the schools. Hey, what's better than influencing the minds of the young in a period of time long before safe spaces? Lovejoy has his hands full, even aiding a communist party member (Dorothy Hart) who realizes the truth and risks her life to stop them. With sensational photography, truly sinister villains and a message for even our age, this is a reminder that our freedoms cannot be taken for granted, and must always be continually fought for. Differing opinions are one thing, but taking away free thinking must never be allowed to infiltrate a free world.

calvinnme According to the Wikipedia, "I Was a Communist for the FBI" was the name of a series of articles written by Matt Cvetic that appeared in the Saturday Evening Post. The stories were later turned into a best-selling book, an American espionage thriller radio series, and also this motion picture. Mr. Cvetic's articles were the true story of his undercover life, but the radio show and this film were largely fictionalized for dramatic effect. Matt Cvetic was actually an undercover agent for the FBI posing as a Communist for nine years. It is true that he alienated his family and friends as a result of them believing that he was actually a Communist, and even wound up divorced as a result of his assignment, although the divorce is not mentioned in the film. It is not true that the Communists posed as big a threat to the U.S. from within as is shown in the motion picture. The film itself is quite interesting and a pretty good thriller in its own right. It will keep you guessing as to whether or not Cvetic's true identity will be revealed before he is finished collecting information.You just have to forget about the stretching of the truth that goes on here and enjoy this film for what it is - a window into a particularly paranoid time in America with a good pace to it. A film that is equivalent to it and made about the same time is the better known "Big Jim McLain" starring John Wayne. It too has many wild stereotypes, but the action is good and you just have to remember when and why it was made. If you do that, you should thoroughly enjoy both films.

Mike-764 Matt Cvetic is a loyal communist in a Pittsburgh steel mill who works to recruit workers into the party, even though this isolates himself from his son, family, and neighbors. What makes this even more difficult is that Cvetic is actually an FBI agent posing as a Communist in order to obtain information about party activities. The party is trying to create a strike at the mill, whereby the pro-strike movement will lead the workers into a wave of propaganda. Cvetic also has to contend with beautiful Eve Merrick, a party member and teacher at his son's school who finds the fact that Cvetic is a double agent. When Eve learns the ugly truth about the party's real motives, the reds decide she must be liquidated and Cvetic must aid her without endangering himself. The film should have plenty of suspense and double crossing but there is very little in this film but (by today's standards) very cheesy propaganda and little action or thrills. Lovejoy is very good in the main role, but even he and the rest of the cast seem listless. Few surprises here and how did this film receive a Oscar nod for best documentary? Rating, 4.

Andy Sandfoss The most disturbing thing about this film is not that it's a load of hogwash (the CPUSA was never really as much an espionage threat as the movie makes out). The troubling aspect is the way that it whitewashes the wholly unsavory tactics of the FBI and the UnAmerican Activities Committee. Secret informants, gossip turned into accusations, warrantless searches - these are the kind of things secret police thugs like the KGB did, and presumably, what the good patriotic Americans were fighting. Yet the FBI did them and didn't bat an eye. That's the only realistic part of this movie, and they present it with no sense of shame at all. Add to this undermining the Constitution itself by having only Communists invoke the Bill of Rights. The film also makes thinly veiled accusations that the black civil rights movement was communist-inspired, another pack of lies. It's extremely difficult in this day to excuse such outrageous propaganda, even understanding the paranoia of the times, when one realizes how damaging it was to real people then.