The Defector (1966)
"L'espion" (original title)

Montgomery Cliff (in his last role) plays James Bower, an American physicist visiting West Germany who's recruited by a shady CIA agent, named Adam, to help them with the defection of a ... See full summary »

Director:

Raoul Lévy

Writers:

Robert Guenette (screenplay), Raoul Lévy (screenplay),

Stars:

Montgomery Clift, Hardy Krüger, Roddy McDowall

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Montgomery Clift	...	Prof. James Bower
Hardy Krüger	...	Counselor Peter Heinzmann (as Hardy Kruger)
Roddy McDowall	...	Agent Adams
Macha Méril	...	Frieda Hoffmann
David Opatoshu	...	Orlovsky
Christine Delaroche	...	Ingrid Weiß
Hannes Messemer	...	Dr. Saltzer
Karl Lieffen	...	Major Windisch
Uta Levka	...	Mädchen unter der Dusche

Storyline

Montgomery Cliff (in his last role) plays James Bower, an American physicist visiting West Germany who's recruited by a shady CIA agent, named Adam, to help them with the defection of a Russian scientist. But an East German secret agent, named Peter Heinzeman, learns of Bower's meeting with Adam and threatens Bower to mind his own business, while Bower learns of a back story to all this involving stolen microfilm that each side wants.

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Plot Keywords:

leipzig germany | smurf | lead actor's last film | border crossing | german german border | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France West Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Defector

Filming Locations:

Alte Pinakothek, Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

PECF, Rhein Main

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First major role in an English language film for Moroccan actress Macha Méril.

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Connections

Referenced in Montgomery Clift (1983)

User Reviews

Clift's final bow...a dated Cold War programmer, but not without some interest

Physicist from the US is blackmailed into aiding the CIA in the acquisition of top secret microfilm from a defecting Russian scientist (something to do with the moon-landing, and how the Russkies want to get there before the Americans do). Traveling to East Germany under an alias, the professor must keep his wits sharp as several nefarious characters already know his identity and his purpose in being in the country. Co-production from France and West Germany proved to be the final film of star Montgomery Clift (willing, but looking wan). Writer-producer-director Raoul Lévy, who adapted his screenplay from Paul Thomas's novel "The Spy", had an interesting eye for details, and he got solid performances from an international supporting cast (Lévy committed suicide two months after the picture's release). Still, the plot is a leaden one, with a dated Cold War theme and corny overtures to the spy game. The dubbing is often obtrusive, although Raoul Coutard's location photography (in curious colors) is quite attractive, and Clift's presence alone heightens the interest. ** from ****