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      Man on a String

      1960 1 hr. 32 min. Mystery & Thriller List
      Reviews During the height of the Cold War, espionage between the United States and the Soviet Union runs rampant. In the middle of it all, Boris Mitrov (Ernest Borgnine) -- who was born in Russia but became a U.S. citizen -- turns against his adopted country to become a spy for the communists. However, Mitrov's spy network is compromised, leading the CIA to easily capture him. Fortunately for Mitrov, the CIA wants to use his abilities to make him a counterspy for the U.S. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      victor o I've seen Ernest Borgnine here and there as a supporting lead, I know he's been a leading man before but nothing that speaks to me. Plus, he practically owns supporting character roles with his strong but warm personality. It was the story itself that got me interested after learning about it on a History Channel special on the Cold War and I got to admit I was pleasantly surprised watching this. The 1950s were the heyday of the hysteria of the Cold War with people seeing Russian spies everywhere. Thanks to some shows like The Americans and Black Widow, it turns out some of that hysteria was justified as the Soviet Union planted thousands of spies across the United States to bring it down either in a war or peace. Thankfully the Cold War has ended with the fall of the Soviet Union, and it's thanks to real-life people like Boris Morros who brought it down. This movie is a dramatization of Boris Morros' life as a counterspy for the Soviet Union for over a decade. Called Boris Mitrov for the dramatic license but this is an amazing telling of his story, one that should be told and taught in classrooms when learning about the Cold War. From being manipulated into spying for the Soviets as a way to get his father into the United States after obtaining the right to enter it himself, Mitrov worked among communist sympathizers within the entertainment industry and went far publicly as a composer but doing his bit for the Soviets. But thanks to the American intelligence services finding out about Mitrov convince him that the Soviets had lied to him for years and had done him a disservice in spying for them. They turn him and like a true patriot get him to spy against the Soviets. Mitrov is so successful a counterspy as he obtains almost incredible access to Soviet espionage activities that he truly was a hero uncovering such a massive plot against America. I was surprised to enjoy this movie, a great spy thriller story, as well as Borgnine's talent as a leading man. He is more than the happy-go-lucky character actor that I have often seen him. What a great film and a great performance. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Man on a String

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      Critics Reviews

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      Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Borgnine, the love-starved butcher Marty of a few years ago, gives another persuasive performance in this true-life spy thriller. Oct 15, 2019 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Flat, dated and unbelievable anti-communist propaganda film. Rated: C Aug 27, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis During the height of the Cold War, espionage between the United States and the Soviet Union runs rampant. In the middle of it all, Boris Mitrov (Ernest Borgnine) -- who was born in Russia but became a U.S. citizen -- turns against his adopted country to become a spy for the communists. However, Mitrov's spy network is compromised, leading the CIA to easily capture him. Fortunately for Mitrov, the CIA wants to use his abilities to make him a counterspy for the U.S.
      Director
      Andre de Toth
      Screenwriter
      John H. Kafka, Virginia Shaler
      Genre
      Mystery & Thriller
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (DVD)
      Apr 13, 2011