The Defection of Simas Kudirka

January. 23,1978      
Rating:
7.1
Trailer Synopsis Cast

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.

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
Ted Shackelford as  Blain
Barton Heyman as  Dr. Paegle
Jack Blessing as  Kabek
Nicholas Guest as  Baltrunar

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