The Defection of Simas Kudirka

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The Defection of Simas Kudirka

TV Movie

Drama

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.

Date: 01/23/1978

Rating: 6.0

Cast: Alan Arkin, Richard Jordan, Donald Pleasence, George Dzundza, John McMartin, Shirley Knight, Marvin Silbersher, Peter Evans, Ted Shackelford, Barton Heyman, Jack Blessing, Nicholas Guest, Matthew Arkin, Salem Ludwig, Donald Warnock, Nicholas Saunders, Warren Manzi, David Gibson, Thom Vegh, M.F. Bernier, Clarence Felder, Gedda Petry, Joe Sabia, Daniel Williams, Michael Stein, Joyce Vining Morgan, Don Wescott, Jack Lazare, Stephen Nuding, Kenneth Bradford, Leo Grillo, Bok Richardson, William Paul Steele

Alan Arkin