Handlung
Der langjährige und vielfach ausgezeichnete FBI-Beamte John Michael ('Chip') Hardesty (James Stewart) hält eine Vorlesung über die Methoden der Behörde, die zu einer Reise in die Vergangenheit und einer Geschichte über die Entwicklung des FBI wird. Hardesty berichtet über verschiedene wichtige Ermittlungen, an denen er teilgenommen hat, von einer Reihe von Klu Klux Klan-Morden in den frühen 20er Jahren über die großen Bandenkriege der 30er Jahre, in denen Gangster im großen Stil von den Behörden verfolgt wurden und die Banken terrorisierten bis zur Inhaftierung sämtlicher im Land wohnender Bürger ausländischer Herkunft zu Kriegszeiten. Im Kalten Krieg der 50er waren die Beamten dann in kommunistische Spionage involviert, ehe Hardesty nun langsam vor der Pensionierung steht. Parallel dazu erleben Hardesty und Kollegen Glücksmomente und Tragödien in und um ihre Familien herum...
Regie
Besetzung
James Stewart
John Michael ('Chip') Hardesty
Vera Miles
Lucy Ann Hardesty
Murray Hamilton
Sam Crandall
Larry Pennell
George Crandall
Nick Adams
John Gilbert ('Jack') Graham
Diane Jergens
Jennie Hardesty
Jean Willes
Anna Sage
Joyce Taylor
Anne Hardesty
Victor Millan
Mario
Parley Baer
Harry Dakins
Paul Genge
"Whitey"
Fay Roope
Dwight McCutcheon
Ed Prentiss
U.S. Marshal
Robert Gist
Medicine Salesman
Buzz Martin
Mike Hardesty
Ken Mayer
Casket Salesman (as Kenneth Mayer)
Michael Smith
George Crandall at 12 (uncredited)
Patrick Whyte
Major (uncredited)
Al McGranary
Mr. Ballard (uncredited)
Victor Adamson
Train Passenger (uncredited)
Luana Anders
Mrs. Graham (uncredited)
Audley Anderson
Farmer (uncredited)
Herb Armstrong
Frank Nash (uncredited)
Eleanor Audley
Mrs. King - Graham's Mother (uncredited)
Benjie Bancroft
FBI Agent (uncredited)
David Barclay
FBI Agent #3 (uncredited)
Fern Barry
Farmer's Wife (uncredited)
Charles Bateman
FBI Agent (uncredited)
Barbara Beall
Party Guest (uncredited)
Kimberly Beck
Jennie Hardesty at 2 (uncredited)
Shirley Bonne
Party Guest (uncredited)
Nesdon Booth
Sandy - Driver (uncredited)
Richard Boyer
Ticket Agent (uncredited)
Chet Brandenburg
Construction Worker (uncredited)
Jerry Brent
Western Union Boy (uncredited)
Lowell Brown
Party Guest (uncredited)
Peter Brown
FBI Agent at Hearting (voice) (uncredited)
Charles Brunner
Bill Smith (uncredited)
Theona Bryant
Edith Crandall (uncredited)
Henry Casso
Man in Phone Booth (uncredited)
Dick Cherney
FBI Agent (uncredited)
Robert Clarke
Bartender (uncredited)
Mary Lou Clifford
Indian Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
Bud Cokes
FBI Agent (uncredited)
Alan Craig
Fred Barker (uncredited)
Jane Crowley
Ma Barker (uncredited)
John Damler
Denver S.A.C. (uncredited)
Jeanne Dante
Party Guest (uncredited)
Susan Davis
Party Guest (uncredited)
Angelo De Meo
Fred Hunter (uncredited)
Sayre Dearing
Airport Employee (uncredited)
Gabriel Del Valle
Argentine Policeman (uncredited)
Vera Denham
Farmer's Wife (uncredited)
Paul Denton
FBI Agent (uncredited)
Ann Doran
Mrs. Ballard (uncredited)
Joan Dupuis
Party Guest (uncredited)
Robin Eccles
Anne Hardesty at 4 (uncredited)
Mary Ann Edwards
Marge (uncredited)
Tippy Elam
Shoeshine Boy (uncredited)
Ben Erway
Justice Dept. Lawyer (uncredited)
Ella Ethridge
Farmer's Wife (uncredited)
Sam Flint
Doctor (uncredited)
George Ford
Plane Passenger (uncredited)
Terry Frost
Craig (uncredited)
Michael Garrett
Insurance Salesman (uncredited)
Kenneth Gibson
Graduation Audience Member (uncredited)
Arthur D. Gilmour
Major (uncredited)
James Gonzalez
FBI Agent (uncredited)
Roy Gordon
Emmett Reese (uncredited)
Rand Harper
Assistant Denver S.A.C. (uncredited)
Elizabeth Harrower
Clerk (uncredited)
Harry Harvey
Mrs. King's Neighbor (uncredited)
Les Hellman
Kirby (uncredited)
Jack Henderson
Hardware Store Owner (uncredited)
Tex Holden
Townsman (uncredited)
Judd Holdren
Party Guest (uncredited)
J. Edgar Hoover
J. Edgar Hoover (uncredited)
Rand Hopper
Assistant Denver S.A.C. (uncredited)
Carroll House
Dover (uncredited)
Sid Kane
George Metzger - Espionage Agent (uncredited)
Stacy Keach, Sr.
Machine Gun Kelly (uncredited)
Rickey Kelman
Mike Hardesty at 10 (uncredited)
George Khoury
Alvin Karpis (uncredited)
Walter Kightly
FBI Agent (uncredited)
Kay E. Kuter
Barber (uncredited)
Morgan Lane
Party Guest (uncredited)
Eddie Little Sky
Henry Roanhorse (uncredited)
Robert Locke Lorraine
Plane Passenger (uncredited)
William Lovett
Party Guest (uncredited)
Jenni Lynn
Jennie Hardesty at 4 (uncredited)
Ted Mapes
FBI Agent (uncredited)
Lori Martin
Anne Hardesty at 8 (uncredited)
Russ McCubbin
Ku Klux Klan Member / Man Setting In Diner (uncredited)
David McMahon
Klansman (uncredited)
Tom Monroe
Klansman (uncredited)
Ray Montgomery
Driver (uncredited)
Burt Mustin
Uncle Fudd Schneider (uncredited)
Dorothy Neumann
Landlady (uncredited)
Ron Nyman
Commuter at Airport (uncredited)
Alan Paige
Checker (uncredited)
George Pembroke
Chief of Civil Aeronautics Board (uncredited)
Bob Peoples
Sam Cowley (uncredited)
Scott Peters
John Dillinger (uncredited)
Bob Peterson
Pretty Boy Foyd (uncredited)
William Phipps
Baby Face Nelson (uncredited)
John Pickard
Klansman (uncredited)
Murray Pollack
FBI Agent (uncredited)
Jim Porcupine
Indian Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
James Porta
Argentine Policeman (uncredited)
Charles Postal
Justice Dept. Lawyer (uncredited)
John Quijada
Argentine Policeman (uncredited)
Paul Ravel
Counterman (uncredited)
Grandon Rhodes
Minister at Funeral (uncredited)
Herman Rudin
Hoodlum (uncredited)
Emily All Runner
Servant Girl (uncredited)
Grant Scott
Party Guest (uncredited)
George Selk
Organist / Janitor (uncredited)
Dorothy Skyeagle
Rita Smith (uncredited)
Mabel Smaney
Passerby Outside Theatre (uncredited)
Gil Smith
Mike Hardesty at 6 (uncredited)
Paul Smith
Albert Shaw (uncredited)
Charles Soldani
Indian on Train (uncredited)
Bert Spencer
FBI Agent (uncredited)
Vincent St. Cyr
Dan Savagehorse (uncredited)
Glenn Stensel
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
Michael Switlick
Anne's 3-Year-Old Son (uncredited)
Forrest Taylor
Wedding Minister (uncredited)
Guy Teague
Deputy Marshal (uncredited)
Jack Tesler
Operator (uncredited)
Roy Thinnes
Party Guest (uncredited)
William J. Thomas
Janitor (uncredited)
Clyde Tolson
FBI Agent (uncredited)
Alfred Tonkel
Druggist (uncredited)
John Truax
Boyd (uncredited)
John Varnum
Brackenridge (uncredited)
James Vickery
Schaeffer (uncredited)
Elmore Vincent
Farmer (uncredited)
Ed Wagner
Sawyer (uncredited)
Selene Walters
Polly (uncredited)
Maurice Wells
Speaker (uncredited)
Adam West
Man on Two-Way Radio (voice) (uncredited)
Will J. White
Silvano / J. Edgar Hoover (uncredited)
Guy Wilkerson
Cliff Eberhardt (uncredited)
Tom Wilson
Chicago Passerby (uncredited)
Herbert Winters
FBI Agent (uncredited)
Britt Wood
Farmer (uncredited)
Roque Ybarra
Murdered Indian (uncredited)
Chief Yowlachie
Harry Willowtree (uncredited)
