The Defection of Simas Kudirka

The Defection of Simas Kudirka

100 mins | Drama, TV Movie | Jan. 23, 1978

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.

The Defection of Simas Kudirka

100 mins | Drama, TV Movie | Jan. 23, 1978

The Defection of Simas Kudirka
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.
IMDb rating 7.1
Producers Paramount Television, The Jozak Company
Original title The Defection of Simas Kudirka
Directors David Lowell Rich
Writers Bruce Feldman

Cast

Alan Arkin

as Simas Kudirka

Richard Jordan

as Cmdr. Edward Devon

Donald Pleasence

as Capt. Vladimir Popov

George Dzundza

as Gruzauskas

John McMartin

as Phillip Chadway

Shirley Knight

as Genna Kudirka

Marvin Silbersher

as Cmdr. Burkalis

Peter Evans

as Mott

Ted Shackelford

as Blain

Barton Heyman

as Dr. Paegle

Jack Blessing

as Kabek

Nicholas Guest

as Baltrunar

Matthew Arkin

as Petras

Salem Ludwig

as Assistant Supervisor

Donald Warnock

as Stender

Nicholas Saunders

as Soviet Chairman

Warren Manzi

as Radio Operator

David Gibson

as Garvey

Thom Vegh

as Cipola

Mark Bernier

as Colley

Clarence Felder

as Picnic Man

Gedda Petry

as Marija

Joe Sabia

as Durgas

Daniel Williams

as Seaman Nance

Michael Stein

as Yakov

Joyce Vining Morgan

as Mrs. Paegle

Don Wescott

as Prosecutor

Jack Lazare

as Old KGB Man

Stephen Nuding

as Young KGB Man

Kenneth Bradford

as Capt. Sloan

Leo Grillo

as Thomas

Bok Richardson

as Adm. Ritter

William Paul Steele

as Cmdr. Sullivan