The Defection of Simas Kudirka
23/01/1978
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.
Movie Information
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
M.F. 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
