Gandy, hoovers personal secretary, had burned all of j. Broderick crawford was an amazing actor who brought j edgar hoover to life. A veritable hoarder of blackmail, hoover indelibly embodied by broderick crawford is a complicated lawbender out to scare others straight, policing his fellow government officials nearly as much as he does the people. Edgar hoover cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. Edgar hoover soundtrack cd details and availability. The files that escaped the shredder have become an incredible motion picture. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the private files of j. Edgar hoover fbi files offer cautionary tale as james. Edgar hoover gives us hoover the top cop, the platonic ideal of a cop running the platonic ideal of a cop organization in capitalist society.
The government is lifting the lid of secrecy from the confidential files of j. Written by dustin lance black, the film focuses on the career of fbi director j. Today, in a ceremony at the national archives building, archivist of the united states allen weinstein signed an agreement with assistant director of the fbi william hooton to transfer 210 cubic feet of historic fbi records to the national archives. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. The film stars leonardo dicaprio, armie hammer, naomi watts, josh lucas, and judi dench. Dirty linens are aired in this decadespanning peek at the secret machinations of notorious fbi director j.
Edgar is a 2011 american biographical drama film directed, produced and scored by clint eastwood. Edgar hoover is certainly larry cohens most ambitious movie. Edgar hoover dishes the dirt on the secret machinations of the notorious fbi director, mixing archival footage with fictionalized reenactments. Edgar hoover you are looking for thought provoking, serious and captivating movies about with fbi, president, gangsters, crimes, politics, ambition and society themes of biography and drama genre shot in usa. Webb is hired by reporter dave hindley john marley to dig up the dirt on the recently deceased hoovers personal and professional life. Edgar hoover was the head of the bureau of investigation from 1924 until he died in 1972. The secret life of j edgar hoover film the guardian. Edgar hoover casts broderick crawford as hoover, supported by a cast of hollywood notables. Edgar hoovers death 45 years ago, personal secretary helen gandy spent more than two months in the fbi directors house on a leafy northwest washington street rifling through his. Theoharis guide compiled by martin schipper a microfilm project of university publications of america an imprint of cis 4520 eastwest highway bethesda, maryland 208143389. Find out everything empire knows about private files of j. It stars broderick crawford as hoover, alongside an ensemble cast including jose ferrer, michael parks, rip torn, james wainwright, celeste holm, ronee blakely, john marley, michael sacks, brad dexter, tanya roberts in a cameo role, and in final screen appearances. These documents, now being released, tell some startling stories.
This biodrama offers an intriguing and fascinating look at the life and times of j. Edgar hoover, with broderick crawford portraying americas number one gman. The highlight of this transfer is the entire collection of director j. Edgar hoover, who was head of the fbi from 19241972. Under the administrations of coolidge, hoover, roosevelt, truman, eisenhower, kennedy, johnson and nixon, he was, many believed, the second most powerful man in. J edgar files private files of j edgar hoover j edgar.
For 54 years, she was the secretary to federal bureau of investigation director j. The film follows hoover from his racketbusting days through his reign. First cohens decadesspanning chronicle the private files of j. Edgar hoover official and confidential file edited by athan g.
Director larry cohen wanted to film at various authentic locations, but was repeatedly turned down for permission. Edgar hoover broderick crawford dan dailey jose ferrer 1978 the fbi director broderick crawford tracks the famous and the infamous for decades with his personal aide, clyde tolson dan dailey. Edgar hoover ruled the fbi as his personal kingdom. Gandy april 8, 1897 july 7, 1988 was an american civil servant. Though all seem to agree that crawford gives a stunning performance, the film has been the subject of no little controversy. It came at as the culmination of several years of hardhitting productions. A lot of familiar players dot the cast of the private files of j. J edgar is a woefully boring movie film the guardian. Larry cohens boldfacetabloidish the private files of j edgar hoover made in 1977, only five years after hoovers death was criticised on release as. Edgar hoovers most sensitive files those which contained information about the private lives of the most powerful people in the united states. Following hoover s death in 1972, she spent weeks destroying his personal file, thought to be. The film sweeps through hoovers illustrious career, covering the bringing down of dillinger, the fall of mccarthy, and more. Although it was a mixture of fact and fiction, the essence of truth rang loudly throughout the movie.
Tolson apparently could smooth a lot of hoovers rough edges out and on at least one occasion the film shows tolson saving the publicity minded hoover from a real public relations disaster. A new book reveals details of the historic 1971 burglary of an fbi office in media, pa. Edgar hoover so if youre a stargazer youll like the film. Edgar hoover 18951972 was a complex, devious and difficult man who was respected in his lifetime as a paragon of civic responsibility. Edgar hoover is a 1977 american biographical drama film written, produced, and directed by larry cohen. Edgar hoover mgm limited edition collection i just watched this film. Legendary indie genre auteur larry cohen presents a doublefeature of sordid and legitimately thoughtprovoking entertainment.
Edgar hoover files have been the source of a great deal of controversy, which still holds true, decades after his death. What was actually in question by the committee looking into this was the fact that clyde tolson, hoovers number two at the fbi and partner, and ms. The first director of the fbi, he remained in office for 48 years, from his appointment after the first world war to his death in 1972, achieving fame and. Edgar hoover is told in flashback by former fbi agent dwight webb a young and almost unrecognizable rip torn. She exercised great behindthescenes influence on hoover and the workings of the bureau. Edgar hoovers private files indicate that hoover told robert f. Excerpt from ronald kesslers the secrets of the fbi. Edgar hoover for five decades, the fbis famed chief amassed highly personal information on key politicians. Completed in 1978 but never theatrically released by its distributor, the private files of j.
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