The Defection of Simas Kudirka

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.

Details

Status

Released

Release date

January 23, 1978

Original language

English

Spoken languages

English, Lithuanian, Russian

Countries

United States of America

Production

Paramount Television Studios,The Jozak Company,Paramount Television

Cast

Michael Stein,Peter Evans,Nicholas Saunders,Leo Grillo,Salem Ludwig,Shirley Knight,Don Wescott,Marvin Silbersher,Stephen Nuding,Richard Jordanand 23 more

Director

David Lowell Rich

Writer

Bruce Feldman

Producer

Gerald I. Isenberg,Richard Briggs,Gerald W. Abrams

Cinematography

Jacques R. Marquette

Music

David Shire

Budget

Not recorded

Revenue

Not recorded

IMDb

View on IMDb