The Defector ( L'espion )

The Defector (DVD) (*)

$20.99

Original Title: L'espion
Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Portuguese ( Subtitles )
Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
Spain ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
95 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Filmographies
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1966 and produced in:
France ( France, Benelux )
Germany ( Germany, Central Europe )

Directed By:
Raoul Lévy

Actors:
Montgomery Clift ..... Professor James Bower
Hardy Krüger ..... Counselor Peter Heinzmann
Macha Méril ..... Frieda Hoffmann
David Opatoshu ..... Prof. Orlovsky
Christine Delaroche ..... Ingrid Weiß
Hannes Messemer ..... Dr. Saltzer
Karl Lieffen ..... Major Windisch
Uta Levka ..... Mädchen unter der Dusche
Roddy McDowall ..... Agent Adams
Johannes Buzalski ..... Spitzel
Jean-Luc Godard ..... Prof. Orlovsky's Freund und Doppelagent
Eduard Linkers ..... Fluchthelfer Franz Ritter
Rolf Zacher ..... Tommy

Synopsis:

American Physics Professor Jim Bower is coerced by less than ethical means by CIA Agent Phil Adams, who he thought was a friend, for an unofficial job in East Germany: to retrieve some microfilm containing top secret information from Soviet physicist Dr. Grushenko about the Russian space tests, and smuggle the microfilm back to the west. Grushenko will only provide the information to Bower, a colleague who translated many of his works from Russian into English. Bower, an art history buff, was traveling to Leipzig and Dresden anyway to view an art restoration project underway, making his cover even more legitimate. Adams has no intention of helping Grushenko defect if that is his want as he is more useful to western governments in his current scientific capacity in the Soviet Union providing secret information to the west. As it is an unofficial job, Bower is provided no protection directly from the CIA. Upon his arrival in Leipzig, Bower is made well aware that the Soviet state security service suspects/knows of his mission with regard to Grushenko. Peter Heinzmann, a young scientist in his own right, was recruited by state security to lead the case, Heinzmann believing because his scientific background would help in understanding Bower's every action. Heinzmann not being a 'policeman' in the trained sense often leads to differences between him and his handler, Orlovsky, whose tactics are more heavy handed. While in Leipzig, Bower begins an open association with Frieda Hoffmann, a colleague of one of his Leipzig contacts. Their association may be purely personally romantic, purely professional or a bit of both, they needing to be flexible with this story for their own protection against the watchful eyes of state security. What Bower and Heinzmann learn about the case may bring them closer together as individuals, and potentially at odds with the people who brought them into their respective job.

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 11 December, 2025.