The Defection of Simas Kudirka

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

Marvin Silbersher

as Cmdr. Burkalis

Peter Evans

as Mott

Ted Shackelford

as Blain

Barton Heyman

as Dr. Paegle

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