The Defector

Watching these German-made 1966 Cold War film starring the doomed Montgomery Clift brought tears to my eyes. Being a Monty fan I just had to see this film & did in 1966. I was nothing more then a pre-teen, but it was clear to me that Monty had fallen on hard times. Little did I know that the Defector would be his final screen performance.

The story is typical of the 1960s Cold War spy films. Monty gave his usual outstanding performance, regardless of the lousy screenplay and shoestring budget. He was supported in fine style by German actor Hardy Krueger. Above average movie which most likely would be more interesting to view today in light of the historical value of the film being the last for Monty.

A sad ending for an outstanding actor.

I really enjoyed this gem. I gave it a go despite the mixed reviews, in part because I was interested in Clift's performance. I'm glad I did. I've reached a certain point in life: I cannot finish watching movies I feel are mediocre, and even those movies I decide to watch often put me to sleep. This movie is well beyond mediocre, and I was wide awake for all of it.

The Defector has the feel of other cold-war spy flicks of the era: dry, dark, and pessimistic (words that also describe Clift's performance). It's filmed in color but feels as though it should have been b/w: gray is better suited to these movies. Of course, there are touches of warmth and beauty, including a love affair and the self-sacrifice of good people to a higher cause. I thought the ending interesting: I won't give it away but keep an eye out for what I believe to be a telling glance between Roddy McDowell and another man. I almost missed it....

"The Defector," from 1966, is of interest because it was the last film of one of Hollywood's finest actors, and one of its most tragic, Montgomery Clift. He died not long after filming was completed, at the age of 45.

Here Clift plays James Bower, a physicist from the U.S. currently visiting West Germany. He's recruited, or should we say threatened with no more grants for his work, to help the CIA in the defection of a Russian scientist. The scientist will only talk to Bower. In truth, both sides want stolen microfilm, and Bower has an agent on his tail who knows he will receive the microfilm.

This film sort of goes nowhere; there were lots of cold war and spy films during the '60s, some serious, some spoofs, and many are better than this. There's a laziness about it rather than a tension. Clift does a very good job. He's super-thin, and if you have followed him in films, it's easy to see that he is not a well man and that his career is in tatters. He remains handsome, though as he did in so many post-accident films, he slurs his words. He gives a relaxed performance; but the fact is that he was probably out of it.

This film didn't need relaxation, it needed an urgency, and it doesn't have it. Nevertheless, filmed on location, the atmosphere is right, and there is a pervasive darkness.

There are many people who become addicted to painkillers after sustaining horrible injuries. Montgomery Clift was one of them, and the situation was exacerbated by drinking and health problems. He remains an important actor in Hollywood history, a man with a brilliant career that petered out way too soon. The Defector isn't really representative of what he could do, but I'd rather have it than nothing at all.

While making "The Defector", the director obviously went out of his way to produce a decent contemporary spy movie, containing an intricate plot, suspenseful action, beautiful scenery (lots of nice German locations – both city and countryside – and characteristic locals), tin loads of extras and an unexpected ending. Up to a point, he succeeded in his mission. The movie is certainly enjoyable enough to watch. Unfortunately there are also some drawbacks causing it not to exceed the level of decent mediocrity. I suppose the problem is in the direction, for the leading actors are top-quality performers and the plot and scene setting are lifelike enough. In my experience, the dialogues are very clear – so clear, in fact, that they tend to lose the sort of grim realism and shadiness that might have added to the overall mood expected from this movie genre. The scenes are framed in such a way the viewer is in no doubt what is going on, but is not sucked in at the same time. From what we see, we understand it's all very serious business, but it just doesn't feel that way. The mental torture session in the specially prepared hotel room is gruesome, but it does not send shivers up our spines. The same thing goes for some other scenes in which Bower (Clift) is grilled by the Stasi. The slight caricature qualities of some of the additional characters (uniformed guards, labourers, Frieda Hoffman's (Macha Méril) flat mates) plus the occasionally corny traditional music are not helpful in this respect (the alienating sci-fi music in the torture scene is different – I suppose this was composed by Serge Gainsbourg – the rest seems miles away from his style). I do appreciate the ending of "The Defector", which leaves room for speculation (= did this happen by accident or on purpose?), but again, I was not as much in awe as I felt I should have been. In short, "The Defector" meets the mark, but could have done without a certain degree of directional awkwardness.

The Defector is the final screen appearance of the great Montgomery Clift. It is a decent enough performance, but barely matches the high standards of his earlier performances.

The film itself is typical '60s Cold War stuff, with a complex plot and lots of cloak and dagger treachery. Clift plays a scientist who is blackmailed into working as a spy behind the Iron Curtain. His cover is dangerously thin from the beginning, but by the end it has been blown wide open and he has to flee for his life. Indeed, the film only really comes to life during that final half hour or so. The build up is mildly intriguing, but not sufficiently so to make this a great film. The location photography helps to give the film a sense of authenticity, if nothing else.

I wouldn't recommend The Defector to anyone other than spy afficianados or fans of Montgomery Clift.