The Defector (film)
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| The Defector | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Raoul Lévy |
| Produced by | Raoul Lévy Conrad von Molo |
| Written by | Raoul Lévy |
| Starring | Montgomery Clift Hardy Krüger Roddy McDowall |
| Music by | Serge Gainsbourg |
| Cinematography | Raoul Coutard |
| Editing by | Roger Dwyre Albert Jurgenson |
| Distributed by | Gaumont S.A.B. |
| Release date(s) |  October 20, 1966 November 16 November 24, 1967 May 17, 1968 |
| Running time | 106 min. |
| Country | France/Germany |
| Language | English |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
The Defector is a 1966 thriller film. Montgomery Clift plays Professor James Bower, an American physicist, who is effectively blackmailed by a shady CIA agent named Adam (Roddy McDowall), to help the CIA obtain secret microfilm from a defecting Russian scientist. The reluctant Bower travels to East Germany, undercover as an antiques collector, where he encounters an East German secret agent, Peter Heinzeman (Hardy Kruger), who is also a fellow physicist. Heinzmann is aware of Bower's meeting with Adam and his intention to steal the microfilm. However their mutual respect for one another complicate the proceedings.
This was Clift's last film and though obviously ill, he still manages to give a convincing performance in this very moody and sombre movie. This characterization is in stark contrast to the exuberance displayed by his leading lady, Macha Meril.
[edit] Cast
- Montgomery Clift as Prof. James Bower
- Hardy Krüger as Counselor Peter Heinzman
- Roddy McDowall as Agent Adam
- Macha Méril as Frieda Hoffman
- David Opatoshu as Orlovsky
- Christine Delaroche as Ingrid
- Hannes Messemer as Dr. Saltzer
- Karl Lieffen as The Major
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