The most amazing plot in 3300 years of espionage!!
Review:
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This little cold war story tells the tale of an ordinary man caught up in the intrigue of the atomic spy scandal of the 1940's in Canada. Working as a code clerk in the Soviet embassy in Canada Igor Gouzenko learns that atomic secrets are being forwarded to Stalin through his office. The problem for the Soviet Union is that while in Canada Gouzenko begins to realize that the government he works for and fought for is more of a threat to its people than a protector. He also realizes that the Canadians around him are decent people and no threat to his people. Then the action begins, he steals copies of the information being stolen and tries to go to the Canadian Government and press and gets nowhere. Finally, when the NKVD police from the embassy show up at his apartment and they cause such a ruckus the neighbors call the local Canadian Police the nature of the documents are revealed. One of those immortal lines is uttered by the Cop when told the papers are property of the Soviet Union;"All Stolen Property must be Identified at the Police Station". This is followed by a look by the Cop equivilent to "Go ahead,Make my day". Some might try to say this film is an anachronism and too "hawkish" but the facts are true and the fall of the Soviet Union has backed it up. The acting is by a group of "journeymen and women",the direction is as simple as that of "The Longest Day",to tell an incredible tale that no fiction writer could dream up.'
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Excellent film dealing with Soviet spies operating in Canada during World War 11 and afterward.
The spying was done out of the Soviet embassy in Canada. There were plenty of non-Canadians involved in the spy ring as well.
This film was a true story. Dana Andrews gives a subdued performance as a Soviet decoder who comes to appreciate democracy. He is soon joined in Canada by his wife who is played by Gene Tierney. She brings a simplicity to the role as the Soviet wife who also comes to respect a democratic way of life.
There is an excellent performance by Eduard Franz, who plays an disenchanted alcoholic Soviet official, whose disdain for Soviet life will lead him back to the Soviet Union.
The film is exciting since it shows how no one wanted to listen to Andrews unraveling of the spy ring.'
Director: William A. Wellman
Writers: Milton Krims (screenplay), Igor Gouzenko (personal story)
Cast
Dana Andrews ... Igor Gouzenko
Gene Tierney ... Anna Gouzenko
June Havoc ... Nina Karanova
Berry Kroeger ... John Grubb, aka 'Paul'
Edna Best ... Mrs. Albert Foster
Stefan Schnabel ... Col. Ilya Ranov
Nicholas Joy ... Dr. Harold Preston Norman, aka 'Alec'
Eduard Franz ... Maj. Semyon Kulin
Frederic Tozere ... Col. Aleksandr Trigorin (as Frederic Tozčre)
Country:USA
Language:English
Runtime:87 min
Sound Mix:Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Color:Black and White
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