The Defection of Simas Kudirka
100 mins
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.
Marvin Silbersher
Cmdr. Burkalis
Peter Evans
Mott
Donald Warnock
Stender
Nicholas Saunders
Soviet Chairman
Warren Manzi
Radio Operator
Thom Vegh
Cipola
M.F. Bernier
Colley
Gedda Petry
Marija
Joe Sabia
Durgas
Daniel Williams
Seaman Nance
Joyce Vining Morgan
Mrs. Paegle
Don Wescott
Prosecutor
Jack Lazare
Old KGB Man
Stephen Nuding
Young KGB Man
Kenneth Bradford
Capt. Sloan
Leo Grillo
Thomas
Bok Richardson
Adm. Ritter
William Paul Steele
Cmdr. Sullivan
Bruce Feldman
Writer
Richard Briggs
Producer
Gerald I. Isenberg
Executive Producer
David Shire
Original Music Composer
Jacques R. Marquette
Director of Photography
John A. Martinelli
Editor
William Hiney
Art Direction
Richard Lapham
Music Editor