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The Defector

Play trailer Poster for The Defector 1966 1h 46m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 25% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
A U.S. scientist (Montgomery Clift) spies for a CIA agent (Roddy McDowall) in East Germany; a Soviet agent (Hardy Kruger) tries to get him to defect.
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The Defector

Critics Reviews

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Ruth Batchelor Los Angeles Free Press Dec 6, 2019
The film may be outdated now, but it's worth seeing Clift at the end of his career. Go to Full Review Tony Mastroianni Cleveland Press Nov 15, 2018
There is more than one twist at the end of this movie and one particularly subtle and surprising one at the very end. Watch for it. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Sep 20, 2012
C+
The last film from the pale looking Montgomery Clift. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Graeme D @RT75363828 Aug 4, 2024 A cold war curiosity. Montgomery clift gives a courageous performance against some very poor direction. See more Sep 28, 2018 Good plot, good scenery, but oddly disconnected production. See more panayiota k @Penny672 May 22, 2015 The plot confused me but i don't care, this was Monty's last film. Despite his health problems, he seemed energetic and concentrated- not to mention handsome! See more Jul 11, 2014 This should be a good film, but it lacks any verve until the final few scenes and the major theme of the political side of being a spy just doesn't cut it as a storyline. See more Sep 15, 2012 descent cold war thriller See more Jan 8, 2012 In his last film role, Montgomery Clift plays an American physicist visiting West Germany who is forced into spying for the CIA. This type of film was commonplace in the 1960s and done much more effectively. Basically only of interest for Clift fans and those who like Hardy Krà 1/4ger who also stars. See more Read all reviews
The Defector

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Cast & Crew

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Raoul Lévy

Director

Montgomery Clift

Prof. James Bower

Hardy Krüger

Counselor Peter Heinzmann

Roddy McDowall

Agent Adams

Macha Méril

Frieda Hoffmann

David Opatoshu

Orlovsky
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The Defector

The Defector (1966) The Defector (1966) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A U.S. scientist (Montgomery Clift) spies for a CIA agent (Roddy McDowall) in East Germany; a Soviet agent (Hardy Kruger) tries to get him to defect.
Director
Raoul Lévy
Producer
Raoul Lévy, Conrad von Molo
Screenwriter
Robert Guenette, Raoul Lévy
Production Co
PECF
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 22, 2009
Runtime
1h 46m
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