The Impossible Spy (TV 1987)

Young Israeli husband Eli Cohen is recruited by the Mossad in the early 1960's and sent to Syria. Telling his wife he has a new job that requires extensive business travel, he takes up ... See full summary »

Director:

Jim Goddard

Writers:

Douglas Livingstone, Marty Ross

Stars:

John Shea, Eli Wallach, Sasson Gabai

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Shea	...	Eli Cohen
Eli Wallach	...	Yacov
Sasson Gabai	...	General Haled
Michal Bat-Adam	...	Nadia Cohen
Rami Danon	...	Amram
Chaim Girafi	...	Salloum (as Haim Gerafi)
Jack Cohen	...	Assan
Anat Barzilai	...	Galela
Yossi Kenan	...	Nassim
Judith Milo	...	Madame Massim
Victor Kamar	...	Major Massim
Fahami Shishtawi	...	Syrian Border Captain
Shlomo Sadan	...	Syrian Colonel
Jonathan Cherchi	...	Syrian Radio Operator
Yitzhak Aloni	...	Mossad Radio Operator

Storyline

Young Israeli husband Eli Cohen is recruited by the Mossad in the early 1960's and sent to Syria. Telling his wife he has a new job that requires extensive business travel, he takes up residence in Syria, where he befriends a high-ranking Syrian government official and provides invaluable information to Israel. On a visit home, his wife pleads with him to leave his job so he can be home more, and his handler tells him he has accomplished enough, but he decides to return to Syria one last time. One day he learns of an attack on a kibbutz scheduled for that night; he abandons normal precautions in order to warn Israel as quickly as possible, and is caught.

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Plot Keywords:

israel | syria | israeli | 1960s | espionage | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Janson Media

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 November 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mies joka ei voinut olla vakoilija

Filming Locations:

Israel

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), IMGC, Quartet International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

A lukewarm telling of a true spy story.

"The Impossible Spy" is a so-so spy flick and docudrama which tells of renowned Israeli spy Eli Cohen and his penetration of the Syrian government in the years prior to the Six Days War. The film has the look of a low budget indie and, though it's well meaning and earnest, it is not a very elegant flick. Furthermore, much of the story seems too obvious to be real spy stuff which probably just means it's true. Recommended for those into spy flicks or the history of the Syrian/Israel conflict of the 1960's.