Main Cast: Richard Widmark, Sonja Ziemann, Charles Regnier, Walter Rilia, Howard Vernon
Release Year: 1961
Country: US
Run Time: 112 minutes
Plot
Shortly after Soviet tanks crush the 1956 Hungarian uprising, adventurer for hire Mike Reynolds (Richard Widmark) goes to communist Budapest to rescue one of the revolt's leaders, Professor Jansci. There's just one big problem; the professor doesn't want to go. While the plot is minimal, this simple actioner conveyed the dark atmosphere of Cold-War Hungary very well -- and it gave American audiences their first look at a ravishing young Senta Berger. ~ Michael P. Rogers, All Movie Guide
Senta Berger - Elsa; Heinz Moog - Minister Sakenov; Oskar Wegrostek - The fat man; Stefan Schnabel - Border official; Helmuth Janatsch - Janos; John Horsley - Jon Bainbridge; Raul Retzer - Special Agent; Adi Berber - Sandor; Jochen Brockmann - the Commandant; René Kolldehoff; Elisabeth Neumann-Viertel - Olga; Hubert Von Meyerinck - Hermann Sheffler
Credit
Isabella Schlichting - Art Director, Werner Schlichting - Art Director, Leo Bei - Costume Designer, Phil Karlson - Director, Aaron Stell - Editor, John Williams - Composer (Music Score), Rudolf Ohlschmiddt - Makeup, Mutz Greenbaum - Cinematographer, Richard Widmark - Producer, Bob Simmons - Stunts, Alistair MacLean - Screenwriter, Jean Hazelewood - Screenwriter, Alistair MacLean - Book Author
American adventurer Michael Reynolds is hired by an international espionage ring to smuggle a noted scholar and resistance leader, Professor Jansci, out of Communist-ruled Hungary. Reynolds goes to Vienna to see the professor's daughter, Julia, and he persuades her to accompany him to Budapest. Once there, Reynolds is kidnapped by freedom fighters who take him to the professor's secret headquarters.
Meanwhile, one of Jansci's trusted aides is captured by the Hungarian Secret Police and forced to reveal the professor's hiding place. Reynolds, Julia, and Jansci are quickly rounded up and taken to Szarhaza Prison, where they are tortured by the sadistic Colonel Hidas. They are rescued by a resistance fighter known as The Count, who tricks the Communists into placing the prisoners in his custody. At the last moment the ruse is discovered, and The Count is killed as the other three race to the airport where a chartered plane is waiting. Hidas pursues them but is killed in an accident on the runway. Safe at last, Reynolds, Julia, and the professor leave Hungary.
