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This Story Was First Told with James Stewart in The FBI Story(1959) -- And a Lot Differently

posted 4 years ago by ecarle (14979)
2 replies | jump to latest

For matters of comparison, check out how the true story of Communist spies passing secrets hidden in coins plays in the final part of "The FBI Story" versus how Steven Spielberg and his writers treated the tale 56 years later in "Bridge of Spies."

In The FBI Story, made at the peak of the Cold War, the Commies are dangerous enemies "right within our midst, living among us" and James Stewart's lugubrious narration makes them seem slimy indeed.

The Commie is played by a thug-like guy in The FBI Story(one of the two killers in Bullitt); but in the Spielberg film, he's a quiet, gentle, amusing man played by Mark Rylance in the role that won him an Oscar.

Bridge of Spies takes note of Cold War tensions and of lawyer Tom Hanks desire to keep the Commie on ice to trade for captured spy U-2 pilot Gary Powers, but everything about the story plays much "nicer" in the Spielberg film than in the Stewart film. What a difference half a century and the fall of the Soviet Union makes!

For now...

[–] Redsfan001 (6004) 2 years ago

I will have to check out the Stewart version.

I must say that Hanks character was excellent (James Donovan) as the film really was mostly about his experience.

Also this movie is ripe for rewatch not only because of the increased tension with Russia, but also because of Viktor Bout/Brittney Griner/Trevor Reed/Paul Wheelan's paths have intersected with history.

[–] ecarle (14979) 2 years ago

I will have to check out the Stewart version.

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The Stewart version is one of separate different episodes in "The FBI Story" (1959) and as I post this , we are months away from the release of a major movie based on ANOTHER episode in that movie.

The next one will be "Killers of the Flower Moon," from Martin Scorsese with Leo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro, based on the true story of how some Oklahoma Native Americans got rich after striking oil on their rocky reservation and were murdered by whites for their money. DeNiro is the crime boss, but Leo turned down the FBI man role(Stewart The FBI Story) and that has gone to geeky Jesse Plemons. Leo is playing a conflicted conspirator -- husband of a Native American woman.

So if you watch 1959's The FBI Story, you will see that Bridge of Spies and Killers of the Flower Moon are...remakes?

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I must say that Hanks character was excellent (James Donovan) as the film really was mostly about his experience.

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It was one of Hanks better later roles. I like three aspects of it:

How he is forced to become hated because of who he defends -- and then not defended by those who forced him to do it.
How he re-fashions his insurance tort negotiation techniques("No..ONE accident...ONE plaintiff") into hostage negotiation.
How he is mugged for his overcoat in the freezing cold of East Germany and plays the movie out with a bad cold.

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Also this movie is ripe for rewatch not only because of the increased tension with Russia, but also because of Viktor Bout/Brittney Griner/Trevor Reed/Paul Wheelan's paths have intersected with history.

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First thing I thought of given recent events! Oh to see history through the movies.