The Defection of Simas Kudirka (1978)
1h 40m
Running Time
January 23, 1978Release Date
The Defection of Simas Kudirka (1978)
1h 40m
Running Time
January 23, 1978Release Date
Plot.
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.
Where to Watch.
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This Movie Is About.
Cast & Crew.
![Alan Arkin](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/5772-alan-arkin.webp)
Alan Arkin
Simas Kudirka
![Richard Jordan](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/8644-richard-jordan.webp)
Richard Jordan
Commander Edward Devon
![Donald Pleasence](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/4795-donald-pleasence.webp)
Donald Pleasence
Captain Vladimir Popov
![John McMartin](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/33463-john-mcmartin.webp)
John McMartin
Phillip Chadway
![George Dzundza](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/5072-george-dzundza.webp)
George Dzundza
Gruzauskas
![Shirley Knight](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/32522-shirley-knight.webp)
Shirley Knight
Genna Kudirka
![David Lowell Rich](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/221556-david-lowell-rich.webp)
David Lowell Rich
Director
![Bruce Feldman](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Bruce Feldman
Writer
![Marvin Silbersher](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Marvin Silbersher
Cmdr. Burkalis
![Peter Evans](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Peter Evans
Mott
![Richard Briggs](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Richard Briggs
Producer
![Ted Shackelford](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/84068-ted-shackelford.webp)
Ted Shackelford
Blain
![David Shire](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/95749-david-shire.webp)
David Shire
Composer
![Barton Heyman](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/4220-barton-heyman.webp)
Barton Heyman
Dr. Paegle
![Jacques R. Marquette](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Jacques R. Marquette
Cinematographer
![John A. Martinelli](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
John A. Martinelli
Editor
![Jack Blessing](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/33682-jack-blessing.webp)
Jack Blessing
Kabek
![Nicholas Guest](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/4932-nicholas-guest.webp)
Nicholas Guest
Baltrunar
![Matthew Arkin](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/42029-matthew-arkin.webp)
Matthew Arkin
Petras
![Salem Ludwig](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/263802-salem-ludwig.webp)
Salem Ludwig
Assistant Supervisor
![Donald Warnock](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Donald Warnock
Stender
![Nicholas Saunders](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Nicholas Saunders
Soviet Chairman
![Warren Manzi](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Warren Manzi
Radio Operator
![David Gibson](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/180089-david-gibson.webp)
David Gibson
Garvey
![Thom Vegh](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Thom Vegh
Cipola
![M.F. Bernier](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
M.F. Bernier
Colley
![Clarence Felder](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/8528-clarence-felder.webp)
Clarence Felder
Picnic Man
![Gedda Petry](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Gedda Petry
Marija
![Joe Sabia](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Joe Sabia
Durgas
![Daniel Williams](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Daniel Williams
Seaman Nance
![Michael Stein](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/31454-michael-stein.webp)
Michael Stein
Yakov
![Joyce Vining Morgan](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Joyce Vining Morgan
Mrs. Paegle
![Don Wescott](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Don Wescott
Prosecutor
![Jack Lazare](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Jack Lazare
Old KGB Man
![Stephen Nuding](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Stephen Nuding
Young KGB Man
![Kenneth Bradford](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Kenneth Bradford
Capt. Sloan
![Leo Grillo](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Leo Grillo
Thomas
![Bok Richardson](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Bok Richardson
Adm. Ritter
![William Paul Steele](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
William Paul Steele
Cmdr. Sullivan
![William Hiney](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
William Hiney
Art Direction
Details.
Wiki.
The Defection of Simas Kudirka is a 1978 American made-for-television drama film based on actual events, featuring Alan Arkin as Simas Kudirka, a Lithuanian merchant seaman who attempts to defect from the Soviet Union to the United States by jumping onto a U.S. Coast Guard cutter. Among the movie's awards are two Emmys wins and three more Emmy nominations. The movie was directed by David Lowell Rich.