Agent of Influence (TV 2002)

This story of espionage and counter-espionage is based on the novel by Ian Adams. Suspicious circumstances surrounded the mysterious death of a Canadian diplomat. At the height of The Cold ... See full summary »

Director:

Michel Poulette

Writers:

Ian Adams, Riley Adams,

Stars:

Christopher Plummer, Marina Orsini, Ted Whittall

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Plummer	...	John Watkins
Marina Orsini	...	Diane Fletcher
Ted Whittall	...	Robert Madison
Shaun Johnston	...	David Present
Kurtis Sanheim	...	Sean Fitzpatrick
Alain Goulem	...	Murray Fletcher
Terry Lawrence	...	Chris Hayden
Paul Coeur	...	Charles Adair
Gregory Hlady	...	Gregory Aloysha
Cas Anvar	...	Khamal Rashid
Norman Edge	...	Fletcher Sr.
Pierre Rivard	...	Mario Béliveau
Al Holt	...	Charles Blackburn
Doug MacLeod	...	James Jesus Angleton (as Douglas MacLeod)
John Dunn-Hill	...	Andrei Gromyko

Storyline

This story of espionage and counter-espionage is based on the novel by Ian Adams. Suspicious circumstances surrounded the mysterious death of a Canadian diplomat. At the height of The Cold War in October 1964, John Watkins, Canada's former ambassador to Moscow and a close friend of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, is kidnapped and held in a hotel for questioning by the RCMP at the urging of the CIA. Several days into the interrogation he died. The official obituary claimed that he suffered a heart attack in the company of friends during a farewell supper celebrating his illustrious career.

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Plot Keywords:

cia | espionage | cold war | secret agent | canadian spy | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 2002 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Un agent d'influence

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Agent Productions, Alberta Film Development Program of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, The, Alberta Filmworks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"UNCHAIN MY HEART"
Written by Bobby Sharp and Teddy Powell
Used with the permission of B-Sharp Music Company

User Reviews

Some Canadiana in the midst of the Iraq War coverage

Watched this film in mid April on CTV. What an interesting, yet disturbing story of the CIA railroading of a Canadian Ambassador to USSR.

Christopher Plummer is awesome as the Canadian diplomat who's chosen to take a fall and possibly implicate Prime Minister Pearson by the CIA during the middle of the cold war.

Alhtough hammed up for TV, it's incredibly unsettling to know that this kind of McCarthyism was very real. Makes one wonder how much truth is being reported today?

A great made for TV movie. Even a nice twist at the end. Based on a the book by Ian Adams which in turn is based on a true story. I give it an 8/10