The Defection of Simas Kudirka
movie
Released January 23, 1978
Overview
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.
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
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Marvin Silbersher
as
Cmdr. Burkalis
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Peter Evans
as
Mott
Ted Shackelford
as
Blain
Barton Heyman
as
Dr. Paegle
Jack Blessing
as
Kabek
Nicholas Guest
as
Baltrunar
Crew
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Bruce Feldman
as
Writer
David Lowell Rich
as
Director
Gerald W. Abrams
as
Executive Producer
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William Hiney
as
Art Direction
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Jacques R. Marquette
as
Director of Photography
David Shire
as
Original Music Composer
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John A. Martinelli
as
Editor
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Gerald I. Isenberg
as
Executive Producer
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Richard Briggs
as
Producer
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Richard Lapham
as
Music Editor