60 minutes of paranoia, propaganda, and a pre-Hawaii Five-O Jack Lord.
Project X was one of a cycle of anti-Red films produced in the late 1940s. Keith Andes plays an ex-Communist who is strongarmed into cooperating with the Feds. Pretending to become a "comrade" again, Andes rejoins the local Communist cell. Moving about freely, he is able to track down a gang of spies who are smuggling atomic secrets. Filmed on location in New York, Project X has the surface "feel" of a documentary, though the dialogue is strictly from the funny papers. Keep an eye out for a very young Jack Lord.
Acting
Jack Lord's brief, intense screen presence.
Production
NYC location shooting adds gritty authenticity.
Director
Edward Montagne
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Part of Hollywood's 1947-1954 'Red Scare cinema' wave, churned out to feed moral panic.
Director Edward Montagne later produced The Phil Silvers Show—quite the tonal leap from communist hunters.
US
