The Defector (1966): cast, story & where to watch
1966 · Film · ★ 5.5
Released in 1966, The Defector is an action, thriller and drama film directed by Raoul Lévy, running about 100 minutes.
What it’s 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’s in it. The Defector stars Montgomery Clift as Professor James Bower, Hardy Krüger as Counselor Peter Heinzmann, Macha Méril as Frieda Hoffmann and David Opatoshu as Orlovsky, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.5/10, The Defector has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Defector page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Defector tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Defector (1966)?
- In US, The Defector is available to rent or buy from Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Defector worth watching?
- The Defector holds an audience score of 5.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, thriller and drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Defector?
- The Defector stars Montgomery Clift, Hardy Krüger, Macha Méril, David Opatoshu and Christine Delaroche.
- When was The Defector released?
- The Defector was released in 1966, with a runtime of about 100 minutes.