Film

The Defection of Simas Kudirka

1978 · 1h 40m · TV Movie · Drama

IMDb

7.1

Based on the true story of the attempted defection in 1970 by a Lithuanian seaman seeking political asylum in the United States. Kudirka was denied asylum and returned to the Soviets, charged with treason, and sentenced to ten years of hard labor. It was later discovered and verified that his mother had been born in Brooklyn and gone to Lithuania at a young age, which meant she was a U. S. citizen. As a result, Kudirka was declared a U. S. citizen and in 1974 released by the Soviets.

Alan Arkin

Simas Kudirka

Richard Jordan

Cmdr. Edward Devon

Donald Pleasence

Capt. Vladimir Popov

George Dzundza

Gruzauskas

John McMartin

Phillip Chadway

Shirley Knight

Genna Kudirka

Marvin Silbersher

Cmdr. Burkalis

Peter Evans

Mott

Ted Shackelford

Blain

Barton Heyman

Dr. Paegle

Jack Blessing

Kabek

Nicholas Guest

Baltrunar

Matthew Arkin

Petras

Salem Ludwig

Assistant Supervisor

Donald Warnock

Stender

Nicholas Saunders

Soviet Chairman

• David Lowell RichDirector
• Bruce FeldmanWriter
• Richard BriggsProducer
• Gerald W. AbramsExecutive Producer
• Gerald I. IsenbergExecutive Producer
• Jacques R. MarquetteDirector of Photography
• David ShireOriginal Music Composer
• John A. MartinelliEditor

Release date

January 23, 1978

Status

Released

Original language

English

Runtime

1h 40m

Genres

TV Movie, Drama

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