Defector, The

American scientist James Bower (Montgomery Clift) is approached by CIA agent Adam (Roddy McDowall) who wants him to perform an official mission while visiting East Germany. A Russian scientist who has defected to Germany has brought with him a cache of top-secret material on microfilm, and Adam wants James to retrieve it from one Dr. Saltzer (Hannes Messemer). However, James's secret plan is discovered by Peter Heinzman (Hardy Kruger), a Russian intelligence agent determined to keep the microfilm out of American hands and turn James against his American comrades. James wants no part of Heinzman and is determined to complete his assignment, with the help of Saltzer's nurse, Frieda (Macha Meril). (official distributor synopsis)