the fbi story ( 1959 ) be warner bros. 149 minute epic tribute to the famous criminal investigation agency . from a book by don whitehead come a somewhat laborious screenplay by richard l. green and john twist and be direct with only a modicum of flair by mervyn leroy . however it do have splendid colour cinematography by joseph biroc and a helpful score by the studio musical magician max steiner . the movie chart the history of the bureau from it lowly beginning in the twenty to modern time and it all see through the recollection of age fastidious agent chip hardesty ( james stewart ) a he relate his investigative experience in flashback to a class of bud young agent . but it all very long winded and episodic . and a it progress it begin to look like a tv mini series instead of a major movie production a the young hardesty run the american crime gamut from take on such notorious criminal figure a baby face nelson and ma barker and dillinger etc . to sort out nefarious organisation like the ku klux klan and nazi spy ring and the red menace . and here it have to be say that only for the screen presence and appeal of it star the fbi story would probably have end up a forgotten disaster . moreover and this be another problem with the picture stewart be leave to carry the entire movie almost on his own . with the exception of vera mile who have the thankless role of be his long suffering but devoted wife he be surround by a cast of minor player . throughout you find yourself half expect someone like robert ryan and jack palance or even raymond burr to make a welcome entrance a a mobster or a police chief or whatever . but nothing quite as imaginative a that ever occur . pity . the film do however manage to give a good look inside the working of the bureau . with the help of stewart narration we learn about the thousand of men and woman who work for the organisation which include the hundred of agent in the field . and we be also treat to a peek inside headquarters which house the gigantic record section and we also get a glimpse of the chemist and fingerprint expert meticulously go through their daily chore . another plus for the movie be max steiner remarkable score . heard over the title be a powerful and rousing and determine march while for the picture gentler moment there be an attractive love theme . but quite ingenious be the menacing and ominous march theme for the ku klux klan sequence . and good still be the rhythmic latin american music the composer write for the south american scene especially the exciting fandango like orchestration for the arrival of the federal troop on horseback . the fbi story be one of five score the composer write in 1959 which include samuel bronston naval epic john paul jones and the charming rom com cash mccall and delmer daves seminal western the hanging tree and daves a summer place from which derive the young love theme which be to become a major hit tune for steiner well know a theme from a summer place . the fbi story just about pass muster a a movie thanks to biroc rich colour cinematography and steiner wonderful music and of course jimmie stewart who make anything watchable . classic but implausible line from the fbi story . a the bland nick adam ( who have just blow up a plane with 43 people on board and include his mother ) be be lead away handcuff he turn to the arrest officer and blurts represent in case i get any mail you can send it to canyon city prison for the next month or so after that you can send it to hell . wow .