The FBI agent

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Movie
German title The FBI agent
Original title 'G' Men
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1935
length 85 minutes
Rod
Director William Keighley
script Seton I. Miller
production Louis F. Edelman
Hal B. Wallis
Jack L. Warner
music David Buttolph
Bernhard Kaun
camera Sol Polito
cut Jack Killifer
occupation

The Fed is an American thriller from director William Keighley from the year 1935 . It never came into German cinemas.

action

Attorney James Davis, who has just turned down a client's uninteresting request, welcomes his friend Buchanan from the FBI . He suggested that he also apply to the FBI, but Davis initially refused. Later, Buchanan is about to arrest a member of a gang, but is shot from behind by an accomplice. When Davis learns about this, he is determined to go to the FBI to bring down the gangsters, some of whom he knows from his youth.

Davis pays a visit to his friend and patron McKay, who works in the entertainment business, and tells him his decision. McKay, who also works with criminals, agrees and so they part ways for the time being. In the ballroom, Davis meets Jean, with whom he has a close relationship, and kisses her goodbye. Then he drives to Washington to the FBI, where Jeffrey McCord is responsible for him. He accompanies Davis in the training program and is amazed at his boxing and shooting skills. Davis begins to flirt with Jeffrey's sister Kay, but she doesn't like it.

After a bank robbery, Davis eagerly interferes in the investigation. Due to a gardenia left behind at the crime scene, he concludes on the gangster Leggett, whom he knows from before - the tip is spot on. When it becomes clear that Leggett shot Buchanan too, Davis desperately wants to be put on him. But because of his lack of experience, he has to back down - Agent Farrel gets the job. After meeting McKay in secret, he has to fear for his job, but McCord forgives him one last time and doesn't fire him.

In the weeks that followed, a crime wave hit the American Midwest with numerous murders and thefts. The country's legislators recognize the gravity of the situation and offer the FBI more leeway: The agents are now allowed to carry and use firearms. When Agent Farrell is killed, Davis is finally allowed to hunt down the gangsters. He tracks down Leggett and arrests him at his apartment. Kay then wants to take the gangster to prison alone, but Davis pursues him to be on the safe side. Back in the office, Davis experiences a surprise: his old friend Jean is interrogated because she has been married to Collins, a member of the gang, for some time. Davis speaks to her in private and coaxes a clue about Collins' whereabouts from her.

Davis and the agents appear in large numbers in front of the house in which the gangster gang - with McKay as a hostage - has holed up. An exchange of fire ensues with many deaths on the part of the criminals. McKay also got it, which takes Davis seriously. After this incident, Davis wants to quit his job, but McCord asks him to stay in order to finally crush the gang. Collins now manages to escape and visit his wife Jean. When Davis and McCord knock on Jean's door, Collins shoots them. Davis was able to warn his colleague in time so that both of them can get away alive. Kay McCord, realizing Davis saved her brother's life, tends to Davis' gunshot wound. Collins manages to kidnap Kay and hide it in a garage. He shoots Jean because he thinks she betrayed him to the FBI. Jean saves himself to the hospital, calls Davis the hiding place with the last of his strength and gives him one last kiss goodbye. In Collins hiding place, there is an exchange of fire between Collins and Davis. Collins, who escapes by car, is shot at by McCord, who has since arrived. Collins drives fatally into the wall of a house. Happy Kay McCord and Davis leave the scene.

History and reception

The FBI agent was shot over a month and a half in 1935 and grossed over $ 1 million in total.

The script for the film was personally reviewed by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover , and a team of agents even checked that every detail in the film was correct. The film was supposed to help cultivate the image of the so-called G Men , agents of the FBI.

Critics ascribe an important role in the development of gangster films to the film . It is considered to be the first film to focus on the work of the police in the fight against crime. In particular, the internal structure of the FBI and its methods of investigation are presented in detail. It is indicative of the development of the genre that the main role of the agent is played by James Cagney , who previously became famous as a gangster actor. Because the heroization of the main character in The FBI Agent is reminiscent of the same gangster films, the patterns of which were taken up and further developed in this film.

In the televised version, the film is preceded by a short opening credits (shot in 1949) in which an FBI man stands in front of his trainees and shows them the film to demonstrate how the police officers worked at the time. This shows that the film also has documentary features.

Awards

Oscar 1936

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