Released:
1978-01-23

Overview:
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.

Director:
David Lowell Rich

Runtime:
1h 40min

Genre:
TV Movie, Drama

• 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