All language subtitles for Man.on.a.String.1960.1080p.BluRay.x264-nikt0.ENG

Smashing spy rings

and operating the United States'

own world-wide intelligence network

is the joint responsibility
of several federal agencies

here consolidated and fictively named

the U.S. Central Bureau of Intelligence.

At home and abroad, the CBI
works with maximum secrecy.

Its inspectors and special agents

supervise their units
and develop their cases

from undercover field offices.

Well, what's up?

- It's uncanny how the Russians

can smell out a double agent.

We were that close to
planting one of our men

at a listening post inside the Kremlin.

- Jan Hassert?

- Yeah.

Tossed off a train in Switzerland.

The director wants us
to develop Boris Mitrov.

Frank, I want you to take this case.

Leave for Los Angeles as soon as you can.

- Who'll brief me?
- Los Angeles.

They've had a string on
Mitrov for over a year now.

And there's a break expected
within the next 48 hours.

- Well, I might as well start packing.

In Los Angeles

is one of the CBI's busiest field offices.

Here, for more than 18 months,

special agents have been
watching the activities

of a certain Russian-born
American named Boris Mitrov.

- Boris Mitrov, born in Russia.

Well known musician
and Hollywood producer.

Robert Avery has been Mitrov's
assistant for about a year.

Colonel Vladimir Kubelov, nicknamed Vadja,

one of the Soviet Embassy's big shots

and ranking KGB officer in Washington.

Adrian Benson, an
American multimillionaire

and his third wife, Helen Benson.

Both are Communists.

Benson's trying to buy control

of the Boris Mitrov Film Studios.

Next.

And this is Boris Mitrov's
82-year-old father.

He came from Russia aboard
a Norwegian freighter

which docked in San Francisco yesterday.

- That's the break you've been expecting?

- Yes it is, Mr. Sanford.

The arrival of a gentle old man

at his son's home in Beverly Hills

is a turning point in the Mitrov case,

a case destined to evolve

into one of the most celebrated

counterintelligence
operations in CBI history.

- Papa, this is Helga and Sven.

They've been waiting to
make you comfortable.

- Welcome to America, Mr. Mitrov.

- Thank you.
- Welcome, sir.

- Thank you.

- Sven, will you get the luggage please?

- Yes, sir.
- Thank you.

- How do you do, Mr. Avery?

- Hello, Helga.

- Oh!

This is beautiful!

How many families live
here with you, Boris?

- One, Papa, just us.

- Well, you mean this is all,

all yours?

- And yours.

Everything is so big.

It must cost much money
to run a house like this.

- Well, in Hollywood you
have to live expensively

or nobody will believe
that you're successful.

That's so true.

Why don't I tell Helga to bring some tea?

Or would you rather have a drink, Bob?

- No thanks, I told
Dottie I'd be home early.

I'm glad you arrived safely, sir.

- I am glad to be here.

- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

- I'll see you at the
studio in the morning.

I'll be back in a minute, Papa.

From the layout of his house

to the identities of his associates,

the CBI already knows every
detail of Mitrov's life.

Wherever the subject
and his associates go,

they are covered by a
squad of special agents.

- So, Papa.

- So?

My picture and your
brothers', long time ago.

They disappeared,

and some of the men they worked with.

No one has heard from them.

- But they're all right, Papa.

I got word through the
Russian Embassy in Washington.

- The Russian Embassy knows this?

- Yes.

- In Moscow I ask question everywhere,

even at the Kremlin.

Nobody had an answer.

- You're here and they'll
be here, I promise you.

But Boris...

- Excuse me a minute, Papa.

- Well, good afternoon.
- Good afternoon.

- Vadja.
- Hello, Boris.

- I wasn't expecting you.

Papa, I want you to meet Vadja Kubelov.

He's been very helpful to us.

- How do you do?
- It's nice to see you.

- Always a pleasure to
meet my son's friends.

I hope you had a good voyage.

- Today was best of all.

Will you excuse me?

I still have to unpack.

- Oh, Sven will help you, Papa.

Did you have to come today, Vadja?

- I didn't wanna waste any more time

making our final arrangements.

To your good health, and your father's.

- Thank you for getting him here.

- You didn't think we
really would, did you?

- I don't know what I thought.

I've been trying for so long.

- Well, these things are never simple.

Boris, I'm sorry that you couldn't

have just taken my word for it

instead of making it part of a deal.

The papers, by the way, are all drawn up.

We'll drive out to the
Bensons' tomorrow afternoon

so you can sign them.

- What does a banker know
about running a studio?

- For our purposes, he doesn't
have to know very much.

- No, I suppose not.

Vadja.

- What about my brothers?

- They weren't part of our agreement.

- No, but you said you'd get them over

as soon after my father
arrived as it was possible.

- Well, we'll discuss it some other time.

- We'll discuss it now.

- Oh Boris, we're friends in
spite of all this business

but surely you must know by now

that I can't put that ahead of my work.

If you want to help
your brothers, you can.

It all depends entirely on
your future work for us.

To your brothers.

An invisible electronic beam

directed against the window pane

enables agents to record conversations

taking place inside.

Vadja.

- Hello, Helen darling.

- And you're Boris Mitrov.

Vadja's told us so much about you.

And this is my husband, Adrian.

- How do you do?

- Vadja.
- Adrian.

- Well, make yourselves comfortable

and I'll see we get something to drink.

Let me help you?

- Sit down.

Well, I'm glad we're finally

going to get these famous papers signed.

- I'm sure you are.

I suppose you intend to make changes

in the operation of the studio?

- As many as necessary to
integrate my work for Vadja

into the framework of
an established company,

so that I can operate
with greater security.

- How far can Boris be pushed?

- Well, he has no choice
now that his father is here.

If we can get him to come along willingly,

I think he'll be very useful.

- You do all those things

and you'll wreck the company and me!

My reputation's been built on hard work

and I intend to keep it that way.

Of course, it's
your reputation we're buying.

- Well, gentlemen, I hope
you're through talking business.

It's time to relax.

Oh Boris, we're so glad

that you've come in with us at last.

Let's drink to our new venture.

What would you like?

- Well, it's a bit early
but, oh, scotch will do.

Week after
week, outside and inside,

agents watch the studio whose control

Boris has been forced
to give up to Benson.

- Testing, one, two, three.

Does anybody read me?

Mr. M just entered the studio.

- All right, thanks.

Mr. Sanford, that was Agent
Johnson reporting in, sir.

Mr. M just went into the studio.

- Fine, are we ready?

- Well, as soon as we
hear anything in there

we flip the switch and she rolls.

- You're an hour late.

What happened?

- We'll never get this picture done.

Everything's going wrong.

- I've seen you weather
tougher storms than this.

- I've had something on my mind lately.

It's nothing to do with the work.

- You haven't noticed what's
been going on, have you?

Benson's fired most of our best men,

slowed down production,
and I don't know what else.

Why did you sell out, Boris?

The company was doing all right.

- There was still more
going out than coming in.

- You could cut down
on expenses, you know.

- How?

- Well, stop giving so many parties.

- Once you've lived a
certain way for a long time,

you forget how to cut down.

- It isn't just the money, is it?

- No, it isn't just the money, Bob.

Hello, Helga, is my father there?

Look, Papa, I may be a little
late for dinner tonight

so don't you worry.

It's just business.

All right, Papa, bye bye.

- Boris?
- Yes.

- I'm letting Avery go

and hiring an office manager of my own.

You're to be in New York
the day after tomorrow.

- You can't come in here and
give me orders like that.

- They're Vadja's orders.

He told me if you were reluctant

to remind you of his
promise about your brothers.

- There's a man I
wouldn't trade places with

for anything you can name.

Thanks, Joe.

As the case becomes hotter,

the Bensons' house is
surreptitiously spotted

from top to bottom with
electronic eavesdropping devices,

for in the cutthroat game
of international espionage

the CBI can resort to
methods not permissible

for ordinary law enforcement agencies.

Darling, where have you been?

- Why did you have to wake me up?

Why don't you wake up
the whole neighborhood?

- But I've been looking for you.

Weren't we supposed to
have dinner at the club?

- I had to take Vadja to the plane.

- Oh.

Where are you going?

- To New York, on a
special mission for Vadja.

- With Vadja is probably more like it.

- Don't be ridiculous!

You've never criticized
Vadja's orders before.

- How long will you be away?

- Well, that depends
upon Vadja, doesn't it?

In New York,
Boris knows he must wait

for word from Vadja.

Any attempt to communicate directly

would violate a fundamental
rule of espionage.

- Would you like some tea, Papa?

- I'd like a little rest first.

- All right.

- This is his room.

- Mr. Mitrov?
- Yes.

- My name is Frank Sanford, special agent.

United States Central
Bureau of Intelligence.

This is Inspector Jenkins,
also with the CBI.

- Please.

After you.

- Your father came in with you.

Where is he?

- In his room, resting.

Won't you sit down?

May I offer you gentlemen a drink?

- No, thank you.

- We're going to show you
some photographs, Mr. Mitrov.

- Well, have you anything to say?

- What can I say?

If I tried to explain,

you probably wouldn't believe me anyway.

- We'll listen.

- It's hard to know where to begin.

It all happened so gradually.

- Vadja...
- Vladimir Kubelov.

- Yes.

When I first met him...

- How long ago was that?

- About 10 years ago.

Look, I know it's not very
popular to like Russians,

especially someone connected
with the Soviet Embassy,

but I was born a Russian.

I know they're not all bad.

- Nobody with any
intelligence thinks they are.

But it happens you're not
talking about just any Russian.

This man is the Soviet Chief of Espionage

for the United States and Canada.

- I didn't know that then.

- I don't believe you're
gonna see much more of him.

The state department is
asking Moscow to recall him

because of his affair with Mrs. Benson.

- His successor is liable
not to be as generous.

Your income's liable to take a big drop.

- I never accepted any money from Kubelov.

- You took everything else:

Expensive presents, dinners, champagne,

cases of liquor, caviar by the pound.

These things cost money.

- They had nothing to do with it.

They were gifts.

- Gifts in return for writing letters

of introduction to people
you knew in Europe,

letters certifying that the
bearers were talent scouts

employed by your company.

- I don't see any harm in that.

- What about your personal
introductions here,

introducing Communist agents
to prominent people you knew?

That wasn't harmful either?

- I was in so deep.

- Deep enough to allow your business

to be used as a cover up for espionage?

- That's the price they were asking

for allowing my father to come to America.

- You have an answer for
everything, haven't you?

I'm sure you'll have one
for why you came to New York

on their orders once your
father was safely here.

- My brothers weren't safe.

- In other words, you
were perfectly willing

to betray your country
to help your family.

- Look, it's like I said before.

It all happened so gradually.

Look, I'm not going to defend what I did.

- You can't.

Mr. Mitrov, do you know the penalty

for having collaborated
with espionage agents?

- It's not something you like
to let yourself think about.

You better start

thinking about it right now.

- Am I under arrest?

- We came here today
only to talk with you.

- Why?

- Because you can be useful to us.

- Why, I don't understand.

- It's very simple.

You're valuable to the Russians

because of your position and contacts.

You're valuable to us
for different reasons.

You're Russian-born, you
speak the language fluently,

and they trust you a little

because of what you've done.

- What is it you want me to do?

- After you've had time
to think this over,

we'll talk again.

Don't bother, we know the way.

- Boris.

- You heard?
- Yes.

I think they meant me to.

So finally it has been put into words.

They've said what I tried so hard

not to let myself even think.

- Apparently you didn't try hard enough.

But you thought it just the same.

- Oh Boris, I am not a fool.

I wondered why a man like myself

who for years had been
what the Soviets call

an enemy of the people should suddenly be

the one person in town who
gets food parcel from America

and money and other special privileges.

But I stopped wondering when I was given

the permit to leave Russia.

Then I knew what it must be.

Oh Boris, how could you do it?

How could you?

- Not how, why.

And I'll tell you why.

For you, for you and my brothers.

- You had no right to decide for us!

- I had no right to save your lives?

- No!

Nothing what could have
happened to me in Russia

would be as bad what I have
overheard today in this room.

- That's enough!

I don't ask you to be grateful.

All I ask is that...

- All you ask me to tell
you what you did is good.

Well, Boris, I will not say this to you.

- Who are you, anyway?

God sitting in judgment?

What would you have done had
it been my brothers and me?

How does anyone know until
they have to face it?

- Oh Boris, I am not judging you.

I am an old man.

I have only a few more years at best.

You have a lifetime, a whole lifetime,

but you made a mistake.

Your brothers are dead.

No matter what lies they tell you,

I know they were killed
because they had courage.

They spoke out against tyranny.

I would have been killed too,

but I was so old it was easier

just to let me starve to death.

- They're not dead.

They're not dead!

- They are dead.

By tapping telephones,

the CBI learns that Vadja has asked Boris

to meet him on a sightseeing boat.

Equipping a squad of special agents

with ingeniously disguised
shortwave transmitters,

the bureau sends them along as tourists.

This may enable them to find out

what actually transpires
between Boris and Vadja.

- How are you today?

- All right.

From trucks along the shore,

as well as from a small craft following,

agents keep the sightseeing
boat within radio range.

- Vadja, did you really
want me here in New York

or was this Benson's idea?

- It doesn't matter.

If my plan works out,

Benson won't be having many more ideas.

What do you mean?

Never search for a meaning.

Just do as you're told.

- But who am I working for?

- From now on, directly with me.

I want you to go on giving parties,

big, lavish parties people really enjoy.

We'll foot the bills.

I want a number of, how shall I say,

colleagues to have the opportunity

or mingling with influential Americans,

making contacts on a social level.

Outwardly these affairs will be

to inspire mutual confidence

to promote Soviet-American friendship.

- Well, parties are no problem for me.

- I know that.

The point is, I have a new
man coming in this week.

I want you to give a party

and invite him and Helen Benson.

- Well, it's my father's
birthday on Friday.

He'll be 83.

I was planning on giving
a small cocktail party.

- That's perfect.

Invite them both to that.

- All right.

Vadja, I have something rather
distressing to tell you.

You're going to be recalled, to Moscow.

- Thanks.

I appreciate you telling me.

I'll take care of it.

- Bye.

Tapes of everything recorded

go to 6665th Avenue,

one of the CBI's undercover
field offices in New York.

You're going to
be recalled, to Moscow.

- Mr. M is here.

- Send him in.

- Good afternoon.

- Mr. Mitrov, come in and sit down.

- Thank you.

- Well, how do you feel
about your situation?

- Well, I'm very grateful for
the chance you're giving me.

- No one said anything about
giving you a chance, Mitrov.

We're making a deal.

- I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way.

- Okay.

Now the main thing you've got to remember

is that if there's any noticeable change

in your attitude toward them,

it could be extremely dangerous.

- Well, I thought of that
when I met with Vadja

on the excursion boat yesterday afternoon.

- Oh?

What took place at that meeting?

- Well, he told me he wanted me

to work directly with him from now on.

- But what did you tell him?

- That he was being sent back home.

- Why did you do that?

- Well, I figured maybe you wanted me to.

Certainly you're aren't
trusting me with any secrets.

- Did you tell him where
you found this out?

- I made up a story about having dinner

with some state department people

who thought it very funny

that the First Secretary
of the Soviet Embassy

was being sent all the way back to Moscow

for having committed
adultery in Washington.

- Of course, we only have your word

that that's what you said.

- Oh, but it's true.

- I hope so, for your sake.

Mr. Sanford will tell you
about the plans we've made.

- It's been arranged
for you to go to Berlin.

- What?

- Ostensibly to produce documentary films

for the United States government.

- Send him in.

We're assigning a special
agent to go with you.

We know you'll find him
helpful, up to a point.

- Special Agent Avery.

- Hello, Boris.

- Is there anything more you want from me?

- Not now, just be ready to
leave on a minute's notice.

- Good afternoon, gentlemen.

- Goodbye, Mr. Mitrov.

- Good afternoon, Mr. Mitrov.

You gonna be able to
handle this all right?

- I don't know, I'll work it out somehow.

- Remember, Avery, a double
agent means double danger.

- Yes, sir, I realize it.

- That Mitrov's been a fast
talking showman all his life.

I'm still never sure when the actor stops.

- He's playing it safe.

Everything he's done so far

strengthens his position on both sides.

- Well, it's a beautiful jacket.

- I'm glad you like it.

- Oh yes, it's so American.

That's what I like.

- You're lookin' very young today, Papa.

- Oh, I feel young.

- Mr. Mitrov?
- Yes.

- A Mr. Avery is here to see you, sir.

- Bob Avery here?
- Yes.

- Well, tell him to come right in.

- No.

I'll see him myself.

Excuse me, Papa.

You wanted to see me?

- Yes, Boris, I wanted to tell you how,

well, I came to tell you

that we're leaving tonight for Berlin.

- All right, I'll be ready.

- Boris, if we're gonna
be working together

it'd be a lot easier if we
could go on being friends.

- Sanford and Jenkins aren't
very friendly toward me.

Why should you be?

- I know you better.

I saw it all happening, and,

well, they don't understand
you as well as I do.

- Come have some coffee.

Papa's anxious to see you.

And thanks, Bob.

Under the surface

of Papa Mitrov's birthday party,

there goes on a deadly game of espionage

and counterespionage.

- Helen, how nice of you to come.

- How nice of you to ask me.

Have you met Mr. Victor Darvas?

- How do you do?

- It's a pleasure.
- How do you do, sir?

- Come along and meet my father.

- Thank you.

- Oh, Mr. Darvas, may I
present General Everson.

- General Everson, Mr. Darvas.
- General.

- Papa, may I present Mrs. Benson.

- How do you do?
- How do you do?

- Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, Mr. Foy.

- Hello.

- Helen, it's important I
get in touch with Vadja.

Something unusual has happened.

- This is a party for
my Boris too, you know.

He's leaving tonight to make
some pictures in Germany

for the American government.

Bon voyage.

- Thank you, Papa.

- Oh, that's wonderful.

- Keeping the B-58s tonight?

- Yes, sir.

The Pentagon's writing off a
long-range bomber entirely.

- Boris, this is very serious.

- I know, but I only got
the call this morning.

It's an emergency.

The man they were sending
was suddenly taken ill.

I could hardly refuse.

- No, I don't suppose you could.

Of course, this spoils Vadja's plans

for working with you.

- I had no way of
reaching him to tell him.

- I think Vadja should
know about it at once.

Would you be able to
take care of Mr. Darvas

if I were to slip out quietly?

- Oh yes.

Besides, there's some other
people I want him to meet.

Don't you worry about that.

- All right.

And Boris, if I shouldn't
be able to reach Vadja

before you leave, where can he find you?

- In Berlin, Hotel Amzoo.

- Hotel Amzoo.

- Yes.
- Amzoo.

All right.

Oh, and if I don't see you, best of luck.

- Thank you.

- Helen.

- Vadja.

Didn't you tell Boris

that he was to work here in
New York directly with you?

- Of course.
- Well, he's going to Berlin

to make some official
films for the government.

- Why hasn't he told me?

- Well, he says he didn't know himself

until this morning, and...

Where are you going?

To Moscow, my dear.

I've been recalled.

- Recalled?

- On charges of scandalous conduct.

The embassy thinks your charming husband

complained about us to
the state department.

- Oh, Vadja, you frighten me.

I can't believe it.

- Don't worry, Helen.

He's made his last mistake,

and I'll take up the matter
of Boris going to Berlin

as soon as I get home.

- Vadja.

You must take me with you.

You can't make me stay here with Adrian.

You won't, will you?

You can't, you can't.

Back in California,

badly shaken by the news about Vadja,

Helen Benson finds another
shock awaiting her at home.

- What is this?

- Microphones.

In here.

Here.

The lamps, everywhere.

In the studio, in my office,

every room in the house.

Look at this, a transmitter.

Even the cars were wired.

- How did you find out?

- A microphone detector, I bought it.

The Secret Service must know everything

about everybody, even Vadja.

Why didn't you leave?

- I couldn't leave without you.

Let's get outta here.

We still have a chance
if we can stick together.

Knowing well
that federal authorities

have collected enough evidence

to convict them and all their associates,

including Boris Mitrov,

the Bensons decide to make for the border

and seek asylum in Mexico.

- Your license, please.
- Oh.

- Benson.
- That's right.

- Hold it here, please.

- We'll never make it.

- It's just a spot check.

We're both American citizens.

They can't hold us, unless
they've been alerted.

- The way you alerted
the state department?

- What are you talking about?

- Didn't you complain to
them about Vadja and me?

- Any complaints I have
to make about Vadja

and his phony friend Boris Mitrov

I'll take directly to Moscow.

- Los Angeles?

This is Tijuana.

I have the Bensons outside.

To arrest
the Bensons at this stage

would create headlines.

Moreover, it would make impossible

an audacious plan the CBI is counting on

to score a major victory
against Soviet espionage

by sending Boris Mitrov into the Kremlin

as an American counterspy.

- Sorry I kept you waiting.

You may go now.

- Thank you.

Overnight,
the Mitrov case shifts

to West Berlin, still
a free world metropolis

though completely surrounded
by Communist East Germany

and Soviet East Berlin.

As the chief avenue of escape to freedom

for millions of Germans fleeing communism,

West Berlin is inevitably
a center of intrigue

and undercover work.

Operating here are agents
of four Soviet controlled

Russian, Czech,

Polish, and East Germany's newly organized

secret police, the MSS.

At West Berlin's Tempelhof Airport,

Boris and Avery are met by
the German production manager

for the Mitrov film project.

He is Hans Grunwald,

rumored to be a former
Gestapo stool pigeon.

- This is Bob Avery, my assistant.

- How do you do?

- I have a car here for you

and I've left the shooting schedule

of our first picture at your hotel.

- That's "The Spirit of West Berlin"?

- That's right.
- I like the script.

It should make many
tourists want to come here.

- Oh good, we hope so.

The Hotel Amzoo
is on the Kurfurstendam,

the Fifth Avenue of Berlin.

- It's Mitrov all right.

- From now on it's four on, four off.

- Hello.
- Morning, sir.

- I'm Mr. Mitrov.
- Sir?

- Herr Mitrov?
- Yes.

- I'm the manager.

- Welcome.
- How do you do?

- How do you do?

- Your apartment's on the fifth floor.

I hope you find it comfortable.

- I'm sure we will, thank you.

Thank you very much for
meeting us at the airport.

Oh, and I'd like the production conference

- at 9:30 in the morning.
- Very well.

Is there anything further I can do

- to help you get settled?
- No, thank you.

- We'll see you at the studio.
- Right.

- You know, it's kind of an odd feeling

not knowing what you're
going to be doing next.

- Other than making pictures,

we're not going to do anything except wait

until they make a move.

- Suppose they don't?

- They will.

But in the meantime, I think I'd better

fill you on what you have to know.

- Which is practically everything.

- Sometimes the less you know, the better.

There's one thing, however.

If I'm not around and you want to get word

to our firm, you write out the message

and you drop it in this box.

Now.

Pushing and pulling this knob

signals that there's a
message to be picked up.

It's two way switches.

It works the same in case

they want to get in touch with us.

- But why all this rigamarole?

- It's safer.

We try never to come face to face

with any of our own people.

- You mean, I can't betray
anyone I don't know,

is that it?

- No, no, no, no, you
mustn't think that at all.

It's standard operating procedure

and it applies to everybody.

- I'm sorry.

You know, for someone who's just arrived,

you seem to know this place pretty well.

What kind of a hotel is this?

- Well, I think our company works closely

with the management here,

but that's a subject we never discuss.

With Boris still awaiting word

from Vadja Kubelov, work at the studio

begins on schedule.

But then the trouble starts.

Boris and Avery feel themselves

under constant surveillance,

and in production many problems and delays

suggest one thing, sabotage.

- No.

Nobody hurt.

- Second accident this week.

Whose carelessness?

We lose another half day.

- I'll fire the man responsible.

- You're the production
manager, aren't you?

Then you're the man responsible.

You either get the job done properly

or I'll get somebody who can.

Stop standing around.

Get back to your place!

- You were a little rough
on him, weren't you, Boris?

Accidents happen.

- I never have liked him.

I know that man.

Herr Hartmann.

Isn't that Otto Bergman?

- Yes, he's a wonderful old man.

- Good violinist.
- Of course he is.

When did he come on the set?

- Grunwald hired him yesterday.

- About the only good
thing he's ever done.

- Otto.
- Boris!

- Otto Bergman.
- Boris.

- It's so good to see you.

How long has it been?

- Years and years.

I've seen you before,

but I didn't want to disturb you.

- Disturb me?

Come, we'll have some coffee.

In West Berlin,

a tiny island in a sea of communism,

it is prudent to be wary of all strangers.

- Thank you very much.
- You're welcome.

- So.

Tell me, what's been happening to you?

- They call me Lucky Otto.

I survived Hitler's concentration camp,

and now I escaped from the
Communists in East Germany.

Otto, if there's
anything I can do to help.

- There is.

Have Grunwald fired.

- What?

Why?

- Grunwald works for the
Russian secret police.

I know it, and so does some of the crew.

Boris and Bob Avery

regularly keep an eye on
West Berlin's nightclubs

with occasional visits to the Resi,

a popular dance hall.

The Resi is an ideal place

for making unobserved contacts.

Guests may telephone
anonymously to other tables

and also communicate by a pneumatic tube.

- Hello?

Yes?

Who?

Mr. Mitrov?

Yes, just a minute.

An admirer of yours at
one of the other tables.

A lady, and she knows your name.

That's a great system.

Hello?

Yes.

Yes, she does.

In Washington?

Yes, of course.

I'll be delighted, thank you.

- Mr. Mitrov, how nice to see you.

- It's a pleasure.

You said on the phone that
we had met in Washington

and that you knew my brothers?

- We've never met, Herr Mitrov.

I merely mentioned them
to simplify matters.

You are to come with me.

- Where are we going?

- To East Berlin, if
you have no objection.

- No, please.

Just before dawn,

Boris Mitrov disappears
through the Brandenburg Gate

into Soviet East Berlin.

- Herr Mitrov.

Herr Mitrov.

Yes, yes, Your Honor.

- You are a witness in
the trial of Otto Bergman.

Do you declare yourself as
willing to tell the truth?

- Yes, of course, but I don't understand.

- The prisoner has been accused of crimes

against the people of the
German Democratic Republic.

Other witnesses have already testified.

- I've known this man for a long time

- but I don't think that...
- Do not think.

Just tell me, did the prisoner tell you

of a plan to sabotage your film?

- No, no, he did not.

- Did he or did not say that
your production manager,

Hans Grunwald, works for
the Russian secret police?

- Does he?

- Did he or did he not say it?

As well as admitting he was a member

of a secret organization responsible

for the accidents on your set?

- Boris.

For god sakes, help me!

- Yes.

- Thank you.

Otto Bergman, I find you guilty of conduct

endangering the security of
the German Democratic Republic.

- Where are we going now?

- One of our officials is waiting for you.

- Yes?

Where?

Right.

- How do you do, Mr. Mitrov?

My name is Rosnova.

Sit down.

Colonel Kubelov needs your
help in a delicate matter.

- Colonel Kubelov is in Berlin?

- That does not concern you.

- What does he want?

- My government plans to
invite 50 prominent Americans

to go to Moscow.

They'll be guests of the state

and able to travel wherever they please.

Colonel Kubelov would like you

to have the names checked.

- Well, what kind of a check?

- All of them are supposed to
admire Soviet achievements.

We want to know if this is so.

- Any reason why these
particular people were chosen?

- Mr. Mitrov, we don't
want to waste champagne

and caviar on those who
only pretend to like us.

- Well, let me think.

I have a friend who does
legal research for my scripts.

It may take time, but
she'll get the facts.

- Good.

I will tell Colonel Kubelov.

You're at the Hotel Amzoo?

- That's right.

- Your room number?

- 509.

When you're ready, call
this number in West Berlin.

They'll arrange for us to meet.

Back in West Berlin,

it becomes clear to Boris and Avery

that the events in East
Berlin were just one more move

in the desperate game
both sides are playing.

- This is great, Boris, just great.

They must be planning to use you.

This is quite a list.

- I'm glad you're pleased.

I had to kill a man to get it.

- You didn't kill Bergman.

You know that as well as I do.

I certainly helped.

- What else could you have done?

- I could have lied!

- Look, Boris, in this business

you have to forget nearly
every human feeling

except your love for your country.

Maybe you're right, Bob.

I'm beginning to see a lotta
things I never saw before.

It's all so strange.

Everything you read and hear,

you just don't believe it.

And then one thing happens

and suddenly you know it's very true.

- Believe me, it is.

- Another thing I better tell you, Bob.

Ever since that day in New York

when I first had to face up

to what I'd been doing, and my shame,

and wanting to prove something
to my father, myself,

I've just been going along.

- Right now let's get this list
of names off to Washington.

Within minutes,

the names are automatically
coded and transmitted

by shortwave teletype to Inspector Jenkins

at CBI headquarters in Washington.

- You ran these names through the files?

- Yes, sir.

None of them is a party member.

None with a criminal record.

Nothing caught our notice.

- Well, here are three that the Russians

would never let in to Moscow.

- No, why?

- Well, they all contributed
large sums of money

to the counter-revolutionary movements.

- The Russians know this?

- Of course they do.

I think it's just another one

of their smart ways to test Boris.

- Teletype Avery a 200-word summary

on everything we know
about all of these people.

- Good idea.

- It might impress them
with Boris' resourcefulness.

If this works, Avery can
proceed according to plan.

Then we'll find out for
sure if we can trust Boris.

In due course,

a confidential report on the political

and financial standing
and the personal habits

of every individual on Vadja's
guest list reaches Rosnova.

- Hello.

- Sir.
- Thank you.

- Oh, Mr. Mitrov.
- Yes?

- A man from the Russian
Tourist left this for you.

- Oh, thank you very much.

Invitation to Moscow to discuss
cultural exchange programs.

Train ticket.

Official permit.

- So this is it at last.

- You expected it?

- Well, after the bureau sent the reports

on those 50 people they'd asked for,

it was bound to happen.

- Now what am I supposed to do in Moscow?

- I don't know.

You're a musician, Boris.

You'll have to play it by ear.

- Yeah, but...

- Anything you see or
hear could be valuable.

Boris, you've got to realize

that the minute you leave
here, you're on your own.

If you get into trouble,
we won't even know you.

- I'm aware of that, but...

- And one more thing I've
got to tell you officially.

The bureau would never force a man

to go on a job like this.

You're free to make up your own mind.

- Free.

No, I'm not.

I must go.

- I was sure you'd say that.

- Up to a moment ago, I wasn't.

Bob, if anything should happen to me,

my father will be completely alone.

- He'll be taken care of.

- Thank you.

- Well, I have a few final instructions.

- Okay, go ahead.

- This is a lighter.

It's also an electric pistol.

It fires tiny cyanide bullets.

It couldn't be more deadly.

Here, let me show you how it works.

This is the safety.

It reloads automatically.

You've got 49 slugs left.

- I'm sorry, I could never
use anything like that.

- The instinct for
self-preservation is pretty strong.

Now one more thing.

We need a code word to warn you

in case we learn that you're in danger.

It's gotta be something connected

with the picture business
and something distinctive.

- Distinctive.

Code.

How about cinerama?

You can always use that in a wire.

- Good, cinerama it is.

From now on when you
hear that word, get out,

get going, run for your life.

Ahead of
Boris Mitrov lies Moscow,

capital of the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics.

Here in the largest
and most important city

of the Russian motherland,

he will be on his own
facing his ultimate ordeal.

Here he must keep his eyes
open and his mind alert.

Everything he sees he
must be ready to report,

for however unimportant it may seem to him

it may be of help to the CBI.

Boris is to arrive in Moscow

at the Belorussian station

along with travelers
and tourists from Minsk

and other cities of Western Russia.

I, Boris Mitrov,
am a stranger in the city

that for many years was my home.

Moscovites are my own people.

They are warm and friendly by nature.

They look happier now,
better off than I remember.

I don't remember the
summers being so warm.

Parts of Moscow haven't changed at all.

The Bolshoi Theatre, it will never change.

Life is so simple in the theater.

All problems are solved in three acts.

It's not so easy in real life.

Pretending you're a loyal Russian

when actually you're an American spy.

The punishment for a spy is death.

Will I betray myself?

This skyscraper is new.

Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Foreign Office.

I have an appointment here
with General Nikolai Chapayev,

the director of the KGB.

I must not appear nervous.

Comrade Kubelov.

- Chapayev, may I present Boris Mitrov.

- General Chapayev.
- How do you do?

- Welcome to Moscow.

I hope you had a pleasant trip.

- It was very pleasant.

- You have been away
from Moscow a long time.

- And what a change.

I'm overwhelmed.

- Yes, in 40 years we have become

a colossus of civilization and progress.

- In the United States,

they think that you're preparing for war.

- Why should we have
to make war on America

if we can outproduce her,
blanket her economically.

We can leave her so far behind

that she will cease to be a major power.

- You believe that?

- I know it, for one reason.

Time is on our side.

From now on, it is the
major duty of every agent,

especially in North America,

to build up a strong belief
in Russia's invincibility.

The world must be convinced

that it is useless to
oppose her, in any field.

Mr. Mitrov, presently you are working

for the American government.

- Yes, supposedly.

- Now let me ask you a question.

How is it they didn't suspect you

when you received and accepted

an invitation to Moscow?

- They wanted me to come,

on the chance I might pick up

some information of value to them.

- How are we going to know

this is not actually your purpose?

- Well, I'm unable to prove it.

By the way, I almost forgot to commend you

on the accuracy of your report

on the people we are
going to invite to Moscow.

- Thank you very much.

- We eliminated the three
from the guest list.

May I present my congratulations as well.

- And now we want you to enjoy

all Moscow has to offer until
we are ready to talk again.

I will see you soon.

- Thank you, goodbye.
- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- Now what do you say?

- I am not sure.

Will you never stop suspecting?

- All I am sure of is one double agent

in the higher brackets
will destroy us both.

Enjoy Moscow, they said,

until one of them wants me again.

For 10 years I was fooled

into believing my brothers were alive.

Every so often I see someone on the street

who reminds me of them.

Today is Tuesday.

Red Square is to the Communist

what Mecca is to the Muslim.

Day after day, the faithful
line up by the thousands

to enter the shrine of
international communism.

Wednesday.

Down to the Moscow metro.

Passengers get a daily preview here

of the lavish splendor promised

for the communist dreamworld of tomorrow.

Thursday.

New buildings everywhere.

Moscow is expanding in all directions.

New apartments to relieve
serious overcrowding,

but many people still live three,

four, five, even more to a room.

The average Russian is more interested

in improving living
conditions than in politics.

Young people who can't marry

until they can find a place to live

help in the construction

in order to be on the waiting list.

Friday.

My brothers and I used
to swim at this beach

on the Moskva River.

The Russian people seem so peace-loving.

It's hard to believe they know

that their government
hopes to impose communism

upon the people of the free world.

Friday, midnight.

Nikolai has sent for me.

Is this to be another test?

- Boris, we have been
watching you very carefully

and I am considering to put you in charge

of several of our new American units.

- Thank you, I appreciate
the trust you have in me,

sir, but honestly I don't know much

about your kind of work.

- You will be given
intensive training in Moscow.

- I'm not even a member
of the Communist Party.

- Under our new policy,

none of our top American agents will be.

- I'll do my best, of course.

- For your sake, it better be very good.

You know we don't deal
lightly with failure

and disloyalty.

- Yes, I know.

Vadja's already told me.

- On the other hand, we always
reward loyalty and success.

Haven't you found that out?

- Yes, you mean my father?

- And your brothers.

We hope to arrange for them to join him.

Of course, it will take a little time,

but we are just trying.

- Thank you.

Saturday.

I must visit Moscow University,

the tallest building in Europe.

I am told to learn more
about what Nikolai calls.

Russia's master plan for world domination.

There are 17,000 students
at Moscow University,

almost all studying the sciences.

They brag that the Soviet Union

now graduates three times
as many qualified doctors,

scientists, and engineers
as the United States.

While work is hard, tuition is free,

and all students receive
a monthly paycheck.

The better the scholar,
the more money he earns.

But when he graduates,

his services belong to the state.

You can almost feel the
emphasis on education.

For example, 10 million
Russians are studying English,

while in the United States

only about 4,000 Americans
are learning Russian.

Vadja says the KGB always takes its pick

of honor students.

According to Vadja,
only a very few Russians

have ever heard about the
KGB's espionage school

just outside Moscow.

- Morning, Madame Pusawa.

- Good morning.
- My friend, Mr. Mitrov.

- How do you do?
- May we have a drink?

- You are always welcome, Colonel Kubelov.

- I wanted my friend to
know about your plan.

This course is based on the theory

that every man has his limit of resistance

to feminine charm.

- And our girls are expert

at catering to the preferences and habits

of the American male.

- Now, where is this place supposed to be?

- Oh, almost anywhere in the states.

Any dive near a military base.

- But it looks so real!

- You haven't seen anything yet.

Come with me.

- Thank you very much.

- How do you do?
- How do you do?

- I would like you to meet Mr. Mitrov.

Professor Vasheen.

- How do you do?
- How do you do?

- These are some of our newest graduates.

They've all been issued American passports

and they will be leaving for
the United States very soon.

- We expect them to feel
completely integrated

in their adopted community.

Perhaps your guest
would like to test them?

- Oh no, no.
- Why don't you?

Well, all right.

What's your name and where were you born?

- Mary Louise Bethany.

I was born in Durham, North Carolina.

- And where does your father work?

- Daddy died when I was seven.

Mother's a librarian at Chapel Hill.

Wonderful.

Where were you born?

- Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

And what makes Milwaukee famous?

- Our baseball team, the Braves.

- Class dismissed.

Thank you very much.

- Pleasure.

They're so natural.

How do you do it?

- Well, it's hard work.

Reading newspapers,
running motion picture film

and phonograph records over and over again

so that every inflection and mannerism

can be studied and analyzed.

We've created five nationalities,

but the American group is our largest.

Do you realize, Boris, in an emergency

every one of these students
could carry in a bomb?

After all, the new
models aren't much larger

than a good size grapefruit,

and they can be detonated
by remote control.

Big as America is, there
aren't enough Geiger counters

in the country to examine
every piece of baggage.

- Well, with all these
perfectly trained youngsters,

what in the world do you
need an old man like me for?

And believe me, I feel very old.

In West Berlin,

the CBI gets word that
the Bensons left Mexico

and have arrived in Germany,

ostensibly trying to reach Moscow.

- I'd like to find out
why there's been no action

on our travel permit to Moscow.

- What is the purpose of your trip?

The real purpose.

- I'm a Communist.

When I can prove that a man in our ranks

has turned traitor, I feel
it my duty to report him.

- Why don't you report him to me?

- This is a vital case.

I have to take it to the Kremlin.

- You came from Mexico.

Why didn't you apply
for your permit there?

Or when you were in Copenhagen?

- I learned this person
was going to West Berlin.

He'd left for Moscow before I arrived.

- Would that be Boris Mitrov?

- I told you this case must be discussed

only at top level.

- I would like to speak to
Mr. Robert Avery, please.

He's with the Boris Mitrov Company.

- He can't be disturbed at the moment.

They are rehearsing.

- Oh, but it's imperative
that I speak to him.

Please, tell him the name is Helen Benson.

- Helen Benson.
- Yes.

- I'll see.
- Thank you.

Bob, I don't know any
way of getting in touch

with Vadja except through Boris.

- I'm sorry, Boris told me not to give out

his Moscow address, to anyone.

- But this is an emergency.

It's, well, not only that
I want to see Vadja again,

but it's a matter of life and death,

for Boris as well as Vadja.

- Could you be more specific, Helen?

Remember, Boris and I are close friends.

And Boris and Vadja
are very close friends.

That's exactly what my husband

is counting on for his scheme.

When he gets to Moscow,

he plans to destroy Vadja

by denouncing Boris as an American spy.

- I want to send a
telegram to Boris Mitrov,

Hotel National, Moscow.

Imperative you arrive
Berlin earliest tomorrow

for important cinerama conference.

Avery.

- The whole trouble comes
from Benson's jealousy.

His emotional instability
and bourgeoisie prejudice

should eliminate him from
our ranks completely.

- We will eliminate both the Bensons.

- Both?

- She, too, has become expendable.

There are a great many more changes

in our American operations.

Most of our present agents

will either be transferred
or put in cold storage.

- Long time I advised that.

- What good is the
old-time Communist agent?

Modern espionage needs new young people,

experts in every field,

none of them to be known to be on our side

or even suspected.

- Do you have a part for me in
this great new organization?

- Of course, a desk in the Kremlin

in charge of North American affairs.

- That suits me perfectly.

And who is going to run
things in the United States?

- Oh, there are a number of jobs.

They are just considering several new men.

My main concern is to find a real expert

in public relations.

- What about Boris Mitrov?

He would be good.

- Of course you would say that.

You picked him.

- Hasn't he been doing very well so far?

- Maybe.

Are you very sure of Mitrov?

- If you are born a Russian,

you never stop being one.

Besides, we gave him his father.

For that he will be grateful always.

- Too bad we cannot give
him his brothers, too.

- Philadelphia.

Elliott, tall and
thin, gray, electronics.

- Hartford.

Simon, short,
big ears, jet engines.

- Omaha.

- Gladys, blue eyes, blonde,
strategic air command.

- San Francisco.

- Benjamin, bushy eyebrows,
horse-faced, guided missiles.

Oscar, Pittsburgh.

Alvin, Cleveland.

Stanley, Detroit.

Hanson, Brooklyn.

John, Los Alamos.

Francine, Atlanta.

Chester, Miami.

Dora, Buffalo.

- Tired?

- No, just takes concentration.

Like learning the score of a symphony.

- Mr. Mitrov is a quick study.

He remembers names and
descriptions perfectly.

- These agents are our real strengths.

Men and women who live
perfectly normal lives,

nothing suspicious about them,

but all of them ready,

just waiting for the final countdown.

- I had no idea your
planning was so extensive.

- Even more than you know yet.

- I feel like a walking time table.

For instance, first Tuesday afternoon,

5:00 p.m., Red Lion Pub, Beverly Hilton.

First Wednesday at noon,

cocktail lounge, US Grand, San Diego.

Thursday afternoon, writing
room, Pioneer Tucson, and,

so on and so on for a month.

- I am very impressed.

- Thank you.

- Vadja made a good choice.

- I hope so.

- Incidentally, Adrian Benson and his wife

are arriving in Moscow tonight.

- Oh really?

- He made a nuisance of himself in Berlin,

so we thought it was easier
to let him come here.

Well, I don't want to disturb you anymore.

Goodbye.

- Cinerama.

- I will speak to no one
but the director himself.

I have important information to give him.

No, tomorrow will not do.

Yes, I'll hold.

- Adrian, for heaven sake,

don't get started on the
wrong foot with him, too.

Tomorrow's time enough.

Don't push.

- Hello?

Very well, I'll call back.

Fools!

- Well, that's a fine way to
talk about your superiors.

- Can't you postpone this for a few days?

- What excuse could I give?

I came here before my picture was finished

and I've already delayed my return twice.

- Suppose you don't appear?

- The government would become suspicious,

and that could be the end
of my usefulness for you.

- How soon can you be ready?

- Very shortly.

It's only a preliminary meeting.

I would like to take tonight's plane.

- There isn't one.

Do you have your bags packed?

- I don't need any.
- Very good.

You will leave first thing in the morning.

Vadja leaves me
at the new covert airport.

Jets are taking off for
everywhere, except Berlin.

The East Berlin airport is
too small for a big jet,

so I must wait for a prop driven ship.

I'm thankful to get a seat on anything.

- What do you have to support your charges

against Mr. Mitrov?

- I discovered microphones
in Mitrov's studio,

in his office and mine.

The whole place was wired.

American intelligence must know

of his activities for
the Russian government.

Still, he was sent to
Berlin and put in charge

of making films for
the United States, why?

- I knew nothing of this.

- Neither do I, nor do
I believe a word of it.

- Ask my wife.

- Permit?

- Everything good?
- Yes, seems all right.

- Passport please.
- Thanks very much.

You have papers too?

- Your name is Mitrov?

- Boris Mitrov, yes.

- Thank you.

- We are all aware that
this is a personal attack.

By accusing Boris Mitrov,
he hopes to compromise me.

- General Chapayev, what made me run away

from the United States

and leave my home and fortune behind?

- Adrian Benson wasn't even suspected.

- I wasn't suspected, was I?

Here's a letter from my
lawyer in Los Angeles.

Read it.

We both have been secretly indicted

by a federal grand jury for treason.

He's responsible for this.

He forced me into a
partnership with Boris Mitrov.

Ask Mitrov to come here.

If he'll answer my questions,

you'll be convinced he's
an American counterspy.

- You two will wait outside, please.

Get me through to Rosnova
in East Berlin at once.

- Where are you going?

- To catch a taxi.

I have no baggage, nothing to declare.

- Why do you have no baggage?

- Because I'm going back to
Moscow on tomorrow's plane

if I can ever get outta this airport.

- May I see your passport, please?

- May I go now?

- Yes.
- Thank you.

- This General Chapayev speaking.

Boris Mitrov left on the
morning plane for East Berlin.

I must get him.

- Take me to West Berlin.

Can you take me to West Berlin?

- Sure.
- Hotel Amzoo?

- Amzoo, okay.
- Good.

- Hello?

Boris Mitrov?

Wait, I'll see.

He has just left.

- Attention.

Attention all police units.

You will arrest on sight Boris Mitrov,

an American citizen.

Here is his description.

Attention all police units.

Close every checkpoint to West Berlin.

- Turn around.

Turn around.

Stop here.

- Attention all police units.

Man answering to the
description of Boris Mitrov

reported drop by taxi cab in Bernsteinsee,

between.

Car 59, investigate.

- Car 59 reporting.

Arrived at scene.

Will investigate.

Hold it!

Who are you?

- Look, I'm an American.

I wandered into East Berlin by mistake.

- Move over there.

- Look, I've got a passport.

I'd be glad to pay you

if you'd drive me into West Berlin.

- Put your hands out.

Turn around now.

All right, move.

What are you doing?

- I just wanna light my cigarette.

- Come on, get to the car.

Move!

This is Car 59, I have Boris Mitrov alive.

Your instructions, please.

- Car 59, take no chances
with your prisoner.

Give me your location.

We will send you assistance.

Calling Car 59.

Car 59, what is your location?

Car 59, come in.

Car 59, come in.

- Mr. Avery in?

- No, sir.

- I'm sorry, he isn't in.

Do you me to give him a message?

- Something's come up at the studio.

I have to see him.

I'll wait for him in the bar.

- Are you hurt badly?

- No.
- Good, then start talking.

Report everything you saw and heard.

- What?
- Just talk.

Everything we're saying is being recorded

so tell that story.

- Oh, and I memorized all the names

and faces of many agents now located

in strategic centers
throughout the United States.

They are Oscar, Pittsburgh.

Alvin, Cleveland.

Stanley, Detroit.

Elliott, tall, thin, gray, electronics.

Simon, short, big ears, jet engines.

Gladys, blue eyes, blonde,
strategic air command.

Benjamin, bushy eyebrows,
horse-faced, guided missiles.

Hanson, Brooklyn.

John, Los Alamos.

Francine, Atlanta.

Chester, Miami.

Dora, Buf...

Bob, look out!

Even before
Boris Mitrov's return

to the United States,

the significant information
he obtained in Moscow

has been evaluated by bureau experts.

Some of it has arrived none too soon.

- Uncle Jack?

Uncle Jack?

Oh, Uncle Jack, I'd
like you to meet Anita.

- Oh.
- And this is Raymond.

- How do you do?
- And George.

- How do you do, George?

- Oh, Uncle Jack!

- What is your name, please?

- My name is Mary Louise Bethany.

- Where were you born?

- Durham, North Carolina.

- We're special agents of the CBI.

You're all under arrest.

Pick up your bags, let's go out this way.

Daddy, Daddy!

In real life,

the man upon whose experiences this story

was largely based now
lives quietly in New York.

For his services as a double agent

and his penetration of the Kremlin,

he has received special commendation

in the Congress of the United States.

- My son!

- It's all right, Papa, I'm fine.

- You look fine.

- I'm home.