Main Cast: Michael Caine, Laurence Olivier, Susan George, Robert Powell, Charles Gray
Release Year: 1984
Country: UK
Run Time: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
This spy film purports to be inspired by the true story of Kim Philby (1912-1988), a British intelligence officer and Soviet spy during the 1940s and '50s who gained international notoriety when he blew his cover and defected to the USSR in 1963. But this fictional, unsophisticated, if not naive docudrama portrays a world of espionage in a cross between Nancy Drew and Sam Spade, and Philby's real story is buried in the process. The film opens with British double agent Philip Kimberly (Michael Caine) undergoing complete plastic surgery by order of his Soviet bosses, while his death is announced in the world press. With a different name and face, Kimberly -- now Kuzminsky -- is sent back to England in the guise of a Soviet citizen to retrieve a secret list of names he supposedly hid several years ago. Kusminsky/Kimberly defects at the British passport control, and later escapes his British guards -- leading to a manhunt by both British and Soviet agents. His chief nemesis is Admiral Scaith (Laurence Olivier) and the man he assigns to the case, Jaime Fraser (Robert Powell) -- who just happens to be living with Kimberly's daughter. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Michael Medwin - Milroy; Vladek Sheybal - Gen.Zorin; Anthony Dawson - Vicar; David Allister - Sgt. Lloyd; Robert Austin - 2nd KGB Man; Maureen Bennett - Susan; Yuri Borienko - Russian Trainer; Peter Burton - Douglas Ransom; Patrick Dawson - Ginger; John Franklyn-Robbins - English Doctor; Thomas Heathcote - Gamekeeper; Jennifer Jayne - Nurse; Peggy Marshall - Polly; Juliet Nissen - Miss Fortescue; Maggie Rennie - Mrs. Ransom; Matthew Scurfield - 1st KGB Man; Eric Sevareid - Eric Sevareid; Jana Sheldon - Air Hostess; Bill Shine - Commissionaire; P.G. Stephens - Driver; Sabine Sun - Dr. Zilenka; David Kelly - Cameron; Richard Aylen - Older Kimberley; Ian Masters - Special Branch Man; Richard Borthwick - Policeman; Peter Hutchins - Connolly; Anthony Shaw - Matthews
Credit
John Roberts - Art Director, Terry Smith - Costume Designer, Terence Young - Director, Alan Strachan - Editor, Derek Trigg - Editor, John Cameron - Composer (Music Score), Michael Stringer - Production Designer, James Cameron - Production Designer, Freddie Francis - Cinematographer, Benjamin S. Fisz - Producer, Joe Eisinger - Screenwriter, Dorothea Bennett - Book Author
