The Defector (film)

Infobox Film
name = The Defector


image_size =
caption =
director = Raoul Lévy
producer = Raoul Lévy
Conrad von Molo
writer = Raoul Lévy
narrator =
starring = Montgomery Clift
Hardy Krüger
Roddy McDowall
music = Serge Gainsbourg
cinematography = Raoul Coutard
editing = Roger Dwyre
Albert Jurgenson
distributor = Gaumont S.A.B.
released = flagicon|Germany October 20, 1966
flagicon|US November 16
flagicon|Sweden November 24, 1967
flagicon|Finland May 17, 1968
runtime = 106 min.
country = France/Germany
language = English
budget =
amg_id = 1:89083
imdb_id = 0060295

"The Defector" is a 1966 thriller film. Montgomery Clift plays Professor James Bower, an American physicist, who is effectively blackmailed by a shady CIA agent named Adam (Roddy McDowall), to help the CIA obtain secret microfilm from a defecting Russian scientist. The reluctant Bower travels to East Germany, undercover as an antiques collector, where he encounters an East German secret agent, Peter Heinzeman (Hardy Kruger), who is also a fellow physicist. Heinzmann is aware of Bower's meeting with Adam and his intention to steal the microfilm. However their mutual respect for one another complicate the proceedings.

This was Clift's last film and though obviously ill, he still manages to give a convincing performance in this very moody and sombre movie. This characterization is in stark contrast to the exuberance displayed by his leading lady, Macha Meril.

Cast

* Montgomery Clift as Prof. James Bower
* Hardy Krüger as Counselor Peter Heinzman
* Roddy McDowall as Agent Adam
* Macha Méril as Frieda Hoffman
* David Opatoshu as Orlovsky
* Christine Delaroche as Ingrid
* Hannes Messemer as Dr. Saltzer
* Karl Lieffen as The Major