"Man On a String" is another of those cold war spy stories that were popular at the time. It's the story of Russian immigrant Boris Mitrov (Ernest Borgnine) who is now a successful American citizen working in the movie industry.
Mitrov has many contacts both within the Russian and American communities. Russian KGB Colonel Vladmir Kubelov (Alexander Scourby) sees that Mitrov could be useful to the USSR. Using the immigration of his father (Vladmir Sokoloff) as bait, he gets Mitrov to perform certain services for the Russians. Papa arrives in the USA and MItrov is pleased and pleads with Kubelov to bring his brothers over too. Kubelov stalls knowing that the brothers are dead but continues to use them as bait for Mitrov to ensure his services. The Russians install Adrian Benson (Ed Prentiss) as the head of Mitrov's studio as a ploy to force Mitrov into providing additional "services". His wife Helen (Coleen Dewhurst) is also a senior agent.
The Americans take notice and begin to watch Mitrov. They bring him in and grim faced agent Frank Sanford (Glenn Corbett) grills him and gets him to admit reluctantly working for the Russians. They convince Mitrov that it would be in his best interests to become a double agent and assign agent Bob Avery (Kerwin Mathews) to assist him.
Mitrov is sent to Berlin on the pretense that he is making a American sponsored documentary. He is soon sent to Moscow where he meets General Chapayev (Friedrich Joloff) a senior KGB officer. He is at first pleased with Mitrov's information but becomes suspicious when hidden surveillance equipment is discovered in Mitrov's American home. Mitrov is warned through a secret message that he is in danger. Together with Avery, Mitrov flees with Ruissian agents in pursuit and...................................................................
Ernest Borgnine is excellent as the double agent divided between two countries. Colleen Dewhurst in her second film stands out as the sinister Helen Benson. Scourby is good as the snake in the grass KGB Colonel and Corbett as the emotionless no nonsense agent is also good. Kerwin Mathews has little to do as Mitrov's allly.
The first three quarters of the film are slow moving but the finale is worth waiting for.
Mitrov has many contacts both within the Russian and American communities. Russian KGB Colonel Vladmir Kubelov (Alexander Scourby) sees that Mitrov could be useful to the USSR. Using the immigration of his father (Vladmir Sokoloff) as bait, he gets Mitrov to perform certain services for the Russians. Papa arrives in the USA and MItrov is pleased and pleads with Kubelov to bring his brothers over too. Kubelov stalls knowing that the brothers are dead but continues to use them as bait for Mitrov to ensure his services. The Russians install Adrian Benson (Ed Prentiss) as the head of Mitrov's studio as a ploy to force Mitrov into providing additional "services". His wife Helen (Coleen Dewhurst) is also a senior agent.
The Americans take notice and begin to watch Mitrov. They bring him in and grim faced agent Frank Sanford (Glenn Corbett) grills him and gets him to admit reluctantly working for the Russians. They convince Mitrov that it would be in his best interests to become a double agent and assign agent Bob Avery (Kerwin Mathews) to assist him.
Mitrov is sent to Berlin on the pretense that he is making a American sponsored documentary. He is soon sent to Moscow where he meets General Chapayev (Friedrich Joloff) a senior KGB officer. He is at first pleased with Mitrov's information but becomes suspicious when hidden surveillance equipment is discovered in Mitrov's American home. Mitrov is warned through a secret message that he is in danger. Together with Avery, Mitrov flees with Ruissian agents in pursuit and...................................................................
Ernest Borgnine is excellent as the double agent divided between two countries. Colleen Dewhurst in her second film stands out as the sinister Helen Benson. Scourby is good as the snake in the grass KGB Colonel and Corbett as the emotionless no nonsense agent is also good. Kerwin Mathews has little to do as Mitrov's allly.
The first three quarters of the film are slow moving but the finale is worth waiting for.