KGB: THE SECRET WAR
US, 1986, 90 minutes, Colour.
Sally Kellerman, Michael Ansara, Michael Billington.
Directed by Dwight Little.
KGB: The Secret War was made just prior to Glasnost. It is a last image of the cold war during the early Reagan era.
The film is difficult to follow, complex plotting, espionage and counter-espionage. The film purports to be a true story - with an introduction allegedly from a defecting KGB agent who vouches for the authenticity. There is also information given at the end about confrontation between the American government and the KGB.
Given this background, the film is familiar material, double agents, orders to steal photos from a laboratory, pressure from the American government, pressure from the KGB - with a number of chases. There are shoot-outs as well as a hero and his new wife, a son whom he thought was dead. Familiar ingredients, familiarly done. The cast is largely unknown except for a guest role by Sally Kellerman. Direction is by Dwight Little, director of action films like Stephen Siegel's Marked for Death.
1. Audience response to cold war stories? Espionage? Familiarity with this kind of plot? The early eighties? Authentic? The prelude to Glasnost and the Gorbachev era?
2. American locations, Los Angeles? Stunts and special effects?
3. The prologue, the background of the KGB and its organisation, defectors, double agents? The alleged defector explaining the authenticity of the story?
4. Peter Hubbard, his KGB background, his wife and son and leaving them, seven years in the United States, double agent? His relationship with Adele? His nightmares? His being told to steal the photos? His technique, contact with the Russians, telling them that he hadn't taken the photos? The network, the threats? Nikolai and his confrontation? The parties, the threats, the chases? The contact with American authorities? Deals? Seeing his son after thinking him dead? Talking to Adele and trying to reassure her, helping her to escape, the car chases, the motor bike? The deal with Fran Simpson? The wharf, the confrontation, the choices for his son, his son coming to him? The final information about the new identity?
5. The KGB in America, diplomatic immunity, the chain of spies? Networks being destroyed? Counter-espionage and information? Treachery, killings? Arrests?
6. The Americans, their organisation, surveillance, use of double agents, deals? Fran Simpson and her contacts, tough? Deals?
7. Familiar material from espionage stories? Audiences accepting this as the reality of espionage? Moral values? Conscience for spies? Patriotism? The transition to Glasnost and the change of relationship between the US and the USSR?
