The Defector
L'espion
Synopsis
An American scientist is sent by the CIA to East Germany to retrieve a secret microfilm from a Soviet scientist interested in defecting to the West but the Stasi secret police's surveillance complicates matters.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Defector - Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2011-07-12
Top Cast
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Montgomery Clift
Professor James Bower
Hardy Krüger
Counselor Peter Heinzmann
Macha Méril
Frieda Hoffmann
David Opatoshu
Orlovsky
Christine Delaroche
Ingrid Weiß
Hannes Messemer
Dr. Saltzer
Karl Lieffen
Major Windisch
Uta Levka
Mädchen unter der Dusche
Roddy McDowall
Agent Adams
Johannes Buzalski
Agent (uncredited)
Eckart Dux
Professor James Bower (voice) (uncredited)
Jean-Luc Godard
Orlovsky's Friend (uncredited)
Eduard Linkers
Fluchthelfer Franz Ritter (uncredited)
Franz Rudnick
Dr. Saltzer (voice) (uncredited)
Rolf Zacher
Tommy (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 20, 1966
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Raoul Lévy
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Guenette, Raoul Lévy
- Original Score
- Serge Gainsbourg
- Original Title
- L'espion
- Country of Origin
- France, Germany
- Spoken Languages
- English, German
- Runtime
- 1h 40m
- Production Studios
- Rhein Main, Productions et Éditions Cinématographiques Françaises
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Raoul Lévy
Robert Guenette, Raoul Lévy, Paul Thomas
Serge Gainsbourg
Raoul Coutard
Albert Jurgenson
Raoul Lévy, Julien Derode
Department Leadership Roster
Raoul Coutard
Director of Photography
Raoul Lévy
Director
Serge Gainsbourg
Original Music Composer
Raoul Lévy
Producer
Albert Jurgenson
Editor
Robert Guenette
Screenplay
Raoul Lévy
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Defector.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Defector
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Defector about?
An American scientist is sent by the CIA to East Germany to retrieve a secret microfilm from a Soviet scientist interested in defecting to the West but the Stasi secret police's surveillance complicates matters.
Who directed The Defector?
The Defector was directed by Raoul Lévy.
Who stars in The Defector?
The principal cast of The Defector includes Montgomery Clift, Hardy Krüger, Macha Méril, David Opatoshu, Christine Delaroche.
When was The Defector released and how long is it?
The Defector was released in 1966 with a total runtime of 1h 40m.
Who composed the musical score for The Defector?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Defector was composed by Serge Gainsbourg.
Is The Defector based on a book or true story?
The Defector is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Paul Thomas".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Defector?
The Defector holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.).