The FBI Story

Knoxville, TN, 1924, small-time federal agent Chip Hardesty (James Stewart) and librarian Lucy (Vera Miles, her first scene) are playing it coy until they reach the stacks, where they discuss marriage and his career with the crime bureau, a flashback in The FBI Story, 1959.

Starting in contemporary time, veteran agent Chip Hardesty (James Stewart) lecturing trainees, segues to his early days in Tennessee, with boss Dakins (Parley Baer) and colleague Crandall (Murray Hamilton), early in The FBI Story, 1959.

Before the credits, Mervyn LeRoy directs a chilling and largely accurate recounting of a terrible true crime, aided by narration of star James Stewart, Nick Adams the villain Graham, Luana Anders his mother, opening The FBI Story, 1959.

A dedicated FBI agent (James Stewart) thinks back on the agency's battles against the Klan, organized crime and Communist spies in The FBI Story (1959).