The FBI Story? More like The Boring Story: Special Agent Jimmy Stewart Harangues Drowsy Quantico Recruits. 

The FBI Story is a 1959 film from director Mervyn LeRoy starring James Stewart, Vera Miles, Murray Hamilton, Larry Pennell, Nick Adams, Diane Jergens, Jean Willes, Joyce Taylor, and Victor Millan.

Oh, and let's not forget, this film introduces a sharp newcomer named J. Edgar Hoover, as himself! To be fair, Hoover should also get a producer credit, given that he had a lot of editorial control over the film. He even apparently demanded that his bud LeRoy re-shoot certain parts of the story, to make the FBI look better. Frankly, we're not sure that the entrenched, controversial bureau director succeeded as a script doctor.

This film — based on a book by Don Whitehead — follows Stewart's clean-cut, constantly-complaining FBI Agent Chip Hardesty throughout his career. And his run at the FBI is as long and winding as this movie is long-winded. Thrill as Hardesty chews out his kids, deals with his wife's griping, and whines about his job. Oh, and also combats the Ku Klux Klan, investigates the Osage Indian murders, and tangles with rogues like John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, and Machine Gun Kelly.

Sounds cool? Well, somehow ... it's not.

Listen to Áine and Kevin surveil topics like long run times, disapproving fathers, the Space Canine Patrol Agents, bad speeches, and David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.

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