{"id":70555,"date":"2021-03-15T15:49:01","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T22:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=70555"},"modified":"2021-03-19T16:24:45","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T23:24:45","slug":"private-files-of-j-edgar-hoover-the-1977","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=70555","title":{"rendered":"Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover, The (1977)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;There are no secrets in Washington.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-J-Edgar-Hoover-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-J-Edgar-Hoover-Poster-194x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-70556\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-J-Edgar-Hoover-Poster-194x300.png 194w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-J-Edgar-Hoover-Poster-664x1024.png 664w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-J-Edgar-Hoover-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-J-Edgar-Hoover-Poster-175x270.png 175w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-J-Edgar-Hoover-Poster.png 719w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen J. Edgar Hoover (Broderick Crawford) dies suddenly in 1972, his secretary (Ellen Barber) rushes to shred his massive &#8220;personal files&#8221;, filled with secrets about numerous political elites &#8212; including Robert Kennedy (Michael Parks), Martin Luther King, Jr. (Raymond St. Jacques), FDR (Howard Da Silva), JFK (William Jordan), and others. Meanwhile, a former FBI agent (Rip Torn) reflects on his years of service to Hoover, as well as the &#8220;open secret&#8221; of Hoover&#8217;s deep friendship with his closest aide (Dan Dailey).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Biopics<\/li>\n<li>Blackmail<\/li>\n<li>Broderick Crawford Films<\/li>\n<li>Celeste Holm Films<\/li>\n<li>Dan Dailey Films<\/li>\n<li>Jose Ferrer Films<\/li>\n<li>Larry Cohen Films<\/li>\n<li>Political Corruption<\/li>\n<li>Rip Torn Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nSo-called &#8220;guerrilla filmmaker&#8221; Larry Cohen &#8212; best known for directing <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=70509\"><em>It&#8217;s Alive!<\/em> (1974)<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=70536\"><em>God Told Me To<\/em> (1976)<\/a> &#8212; was bold to make this openly critical film about notorious FBI head J. Edgar Hoover at a time when Hoover had only been dead a few years, and politicians were understandably leery about having the skeletons in their closets exposed. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Crawford.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Crawford.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70588\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Crawford.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Crawford-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Crawford-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Crawford-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/RVvLv_pTiM4\">Thanks to ingenuity and grit<\/a> &#8212; as well as former First Lady Betty Ford&#8217;s appreciation for Dan Dailey, in what ended up being his final role: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Dailey.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Dailey.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Dailey.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Dailey-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Dailey-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Dailey-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8212; Cohen managed to direct this movie in many of its original locations, including casting Hoover&#8217;s actual barber and waiter:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Barber.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Barber.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70587\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Barber.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Barber-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Barber-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Barber-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Waiter.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Waiter.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70590\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Waiter.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Waiter-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Waiter-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Waiter-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, the film itself isn&#8217;t all that satisfying or comprehensible unless you happen to be an American history buff with knowledge of the various rapid-fire events unfolding between the 1920s and 1970s; as noted by Janet Maslin in her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1980\/03\/11\/archives\/screen-the-private-files-of-hooverthe-director.html\">review for the New York Times<\/a>, the movie &#8220;hovers midway between soap opera and expose&#8221;, and &#8220;mostly barrels along at a flat, uninteresting pace, with no big scenes to give it any structure.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>With that said, I felt much better informed after following up by watching an actual documentary about Hoover, which filled in many gaps, and helped me understood writer-director-producer Larry Cohen&#8217;s intent to highlight the rampant corruption (no surprise!) behind just about every political situation and figure in U.S. history &#8212; and how Hoover managed to keep his position for decades due to his savvy intelligence. Among many scenes, we see young Hoover (James Wainwright) taking over the FBI just after <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Palmer_Raids\">the Palmer Raids<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Young-Hoover.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Young-Hoover.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Young-Hoover.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Young-Hoover-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Young-Hoover-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Young-Hoover-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; Hoover&#8217;s desire to give the FBI both respectability and authentic clout: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Range.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Range.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Range.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Range-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Range-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Range-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; the deep mistrust Hoover held for women (Ronee Blakley, Celeste Holm) who were romantically interested in him at various points in his career:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Blakley.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Blakley.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70594\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Blakley.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Blakley-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Blakley-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Blakley-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Holm.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Holm.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70595\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Holm.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Holm-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Holm-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Holm-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; the role Hoover&#8217;s hovering mother (June Havoc) may have played in his personality and\/or sexual orientation:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Mom2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Mom2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70607\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Mom2.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Mom2-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Mom2-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Mom2-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; Hoover&#8217;s frustration at suddenly being the underling of a much-younger RFK (and how he managed to reassert his authority):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-RFK2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-RFK2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-RFK2.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-RFK2-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-RFK2-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-RFK2-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; Hoover&#8217;s close alliance with Joe McCarthy (George Wallace):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-McCarthy.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-McCarthy.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70603\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-McCarthy.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-McCarthy-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-McCarthy-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-McCarthy-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and Hoover&#8217;s lifelong addiction to gambling, which may have led to his avoidance of dealing with the Mafia. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Gambling.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Gambling.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Gambling.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Gambling-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Gambling-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Gambling-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> You&#8217;ll have to give wide berth to the appearances of the actors playing various Big Names in History here, who look almost nothing like their real-life counterparts (see if you can guess who&#8217;s on screen in each of the stills below): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Da-Silva-FDR.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Da-Silva-FDR.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70605\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Da-Silva-FDR.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Da-Silva-FDR-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Da-Silva-FDR-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Da-Silva-FDR-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-LBJ-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-LBJ-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-LBJ-1.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-LBJ-1-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-LBJ-1-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-LBJ-1-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-MLK.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-MLK.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-MLK.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-MLK-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-MLK-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-MLK-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>(1. FDR, 2. LBJ, 3. MLK.) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> I haven&#8217;t (yet) seen Clint Eastwood&#8217;s 2011 film <em>J. Edgar<\/em>, starring Leonardo Di Caprio in the title role, though I&#8217;m especially curious now to check it out in comparison. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A boldly scathing (for the time) look at Hoover&#8217;s instrumental role in shaping the FBI<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Politics.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Politics.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"288\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70589\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Politics.png 528w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Politics-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Politics-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Private-Files-Politics-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though of course it&#8217;s worth a look if you&#8217;re interested in Hoover and the FBI. Listed as a Cult Movie in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0076567\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1980\/03\/11\/archives\/screen-the-private-files-of-hooverthe-director.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/unobtainium13.com\/2020\/03\/16\/18-days-of-paranoia-3-the-private-files-of-j-edgar-hoover-dir-by-larry-cohen\/\">Through the Shattered Lens Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;There are no secrets in Washington.&#8221; Synopsis: When J. Edgar Hoover (Broderick Crawford) dies suddenly in 1972, his secretary (Ellen Barber) rushes to shred his massive &#8220;personal files&#8221;, filled with secrets about numerous political elites &#8212; including Robert Kennedy (Michael Parks), Martin Luther King, Jr. (Raymond St. Jacques), FDR (Howard Da Silva), JFK (William Jordan), and others. Meanwhile, a former FBI agent (Rip Torn) reflects on his years of service to Hoover, as well as the &#8220;open secret&#8221; of Hoover&#8217;s&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=70555\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=70555"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70672,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70555\/revisions\/70672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=70555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=70555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=70555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}