A Russian officer is sent to the U.S. to try and stop sleeper agents who will mindlessly attack government entities when they hear certain coded words.
Director:
Writers:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Charles Bronson | ... |
Maj. Grigori Borzov
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| Lee Remick | ... |
Barbara
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| Donald Pleasence | ... |
Nicolai Dalchimsky
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| Tyne Daly | ... |
Dorothy Putterman
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| Alan Badel | ... |
Col. Malchenko
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| Patrick Magee | ... |
Gen. Strelsky
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| Sheree North | ... |
Marie Wills
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| Frank Marth | ... |
Harley Sandburg
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| Helen Page Camp | ... |
Emma Stark
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| Roy Jenson | ... |
Doug Stark
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| Jacqueline Scott | ... |
Mrs. Hassler
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Ed Bakey | ... |
Carl Hassler
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| John Mitchum | ... |
Harry Bascom
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Iggie Wolfington | ... |
Father Stuart Diller
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Hank Brandt | ... |
William Enders
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| John Carter | ... |
Stroller
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| Burton Gilliam | ... |
Gas Station Attendant
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| Regis Cordic | ... |
Doctor
(as Regis J. Cordic)
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| Carmen Zapata | ... |
Nurse
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Carl Byrd | ... |
Navy Lieutenant
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| Robert Phillips | ... |
Highway Patrolman #1
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| Kathleen O'Malley | ... |
Mrs. Maloney
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| Åke Lindman | ... |
Lt. Alexandrov
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| Ansa Ikonen | ... |
Dalchimsky's Mother
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| John Hambrick | ... |
TV Newsman
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Henry Alfaro | ... |
TV Reporter Henry Alfaro
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Glenda Wina | ... |
TV Anchor Woman
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| James Nolan | ... |
Appliance Store Clerk
(as Jim Nolan)
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| George Petrie | ... |
Hotel Desk Clerk
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| Jeff David | ... |
Maitre D'
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| Lew Brown | ... |
Petty Officer
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| Peter Weiss | ... |
Radar Operator
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| Cliff Emmich | ... |
Highway Patrolman #2
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Alex Sharp | ... |
Martin Callender
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Margaret Hall Baron | ... |
Airport Clerk
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Sean Moloney | ... |
Hot Rod Kid
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Ville-Veikko Salminen | ... |
Russian Steward
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Teppo Heiskanen | ... |
Hockey Player #1
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Mika Levio | ... |
Hockey Player #2
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Marlene Hazlett | ... |
Tourist Family
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Thomas M. Runyon | ... |
Tourist Family
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Claudia Butler | ... |
Tourist Family
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Philippe Butler | ... |
Tourist Family
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Stephanie Ann Rydall | ... |
Mrs. Wills' Child
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| Derek Rydall | ... |
Mrs. Wills' Child
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Dale Alvarez | ... |
Man on Street (uncredited)
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| Michael Byrne | ... |
Soviet Military Officer (uncredited)
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| M.G. Cross | ... |
Fountain Kid (uncredited)
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Anthony Garibaldi | ... |
Hotel Lobby Guest (uncredited)
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Dennis McMullen | ... |
FBI Agent (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Don Siegel | ||
Written by
| Peter Hyams | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Stirling Silliphant | ... | (screenplay) |
| Walter Wager | ... | (based upon the novel by) |
| Robert Frost | ... | (excerpts from poem) |
Produced by
| James B. Harris | ... | producer |
Music by
| Lalo Schifrin | ||
Cinematography by
| Michael C. Butler | ... | director of photography (as Michael Butler) |
Editing by
| Douglas Stewart | ||
Editorial Department
| Hal G. Davis | ... | assistant film editor |
Casting By
| Pam Polifroni | ||
| Doris Sabbagh | ... | (as Sabba) |
Production Design by
| Ted Haworth | ||
Art Direction by
| William F. O'Brien | ||
Set Decoration by
| Robert R. Benton | ... | (as Robert Benton) |
Costume Design by
| Luster Bayless | ... | (costumes: men) |
| Edna Taylor | ... | (costumes: women) |
Makeup Department
| Del Acevedo | ... | makeup artist |
| Jean Burt Reilly | ... | hair stylist |
| Phil Rhodes | ... | makeup artist (as Philip Rhodes) |
Production Management
| Bernard Hanson | ... | unit production manager |
| Jim Henderling | ... | unit production manager |
| Louis A. Stroller | ... | unit production manager |
| Maurice Vaccarino | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Luigi Alfano | ... | assistant director |
| Alan Brimfeld | ... | second assistant director |
| David Hamburger | ... | assistant director |
| Stephen Lim | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Bill Dietz | ... | property master |
| Kurt V. Hulett | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Michael J. Kohut | ... | sound |
| William L. McCaughey | ... | sound (as William McCaughey) |
| Al Overton | ... | sound (as Alfred J. Overton) |
| John Riordan | ... | sound effects editor (as John P. Riordan) |
| Aaron Rochin | ... | sound |
| Robert Davenport | ... | uncredited |
Special Effects by
| Joe Day | ... | special effects coordinator |
Stunts
| Paul Baxley | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Gino Barragy | ... | key grip |
| Kenny Bell | ... | still photographer |
| Dick Colean | ... | camera operator |
| John Fleckenstein | ... | camera operator |
| Robert L. Guthrie | ... | assistant camera (as Bob Guthrie) |
| Michael A. Jones | ... | gaffer (as Michael Jones) |
| Frank Tureen | ... | assistant camera |
| Doug Byers | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Alan Martin | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
| Gary Stark | ... | electrian (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Jane Robinson | ... | costumes: Ms. Remick |
Location Management
| Marty Eli Schwartz | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Harry V. Lojewski | ... | music supervisor |
| Joe Tuley | ... | music editor |
| Robert Bain | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Ray Brown | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Dennis Budimir | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Larry Bunker | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Richard Hazard | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Willard Jones | ... | music copyist (uncredited) |
| Milton Kestenbaum | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Michael Lang | ... | musician: keyboards (uncredited) |
| Virginia Majewski | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Lincoln Mayorga | ... | musician: keyboards (uncredited) |
| Malcolm McNab | ... | musician: trumpet soloist (uncredited) |
| Richard Nash | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Emil Richards | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Lalo Schifrin | ... | conductor (uncredited) / orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Bud Shank | ... | musician: woodwinds (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Betsy Norton | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Ernest Anderson | ... | unit publicist |
| Åke Lindman | ... | Finnish liaison (as Ake Lindman) |
| Dorothy Ringer | ... | assistant to producer |
| Carol Rydall | ... | associate to Don Siegel |
| Douglas Dean III | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1977) (United States) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1977) (United States) (theatrical) (released thru)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (France) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1978) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1979) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Sociedade Importadora de Filmes (SIF) (1979) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1980) (United States) (tv)
- Audio Visual Enterprises (1984) (Greece) (VHS)
- CEL (1985) (Australia) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1986) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- GoldMax (2007) (Turkey) (tv) (Cable)
- Warner Home Video (2009) (United States) (DVD)
- WME Home Entertainment (2018) (Germany) (DVD)
- Neue Visionen Filmverleih (West Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
- France 2 (FR2) (1993) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- MGM Home Entertainment (West Germany) (VHS)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (United States) (VHS)
- Rete 4 (1986) (Italy) (tv)
- Shout! Factory (2024) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- TF1 (1981) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- Vídeo Arte (Brazil) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (titles and opticals)
- Montana Film Office (special thanks)
- Motion Picture Association (MPA)
- Polifroni/Sabba (casting)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The KGB is looking for one of their people, a man named Dalchimsky because he has stolen something important but, unfortunately, he manages to get through the border. Later in the U.S. some seemingly ordinary people after receiving a phone call go out and destroy key American military installations. Back in the U.S.S.R. General Strelsky and Colonel Malchenko send for Grigori Borzov, a KGB agent who has been to the U.S. on missions before. They inform him that after the U-2 incident in fear of the possibility that a war with the U.S. will occur; they were part of an operation called TELEFON that involved recruiting young agents and then brainwashing them into believing that they are Americans. They would assume the identity of an American who died a long time ago and who would be their age now. They would be situated in a city that is near or where a key U.S. military installation is located. They were also programmed to destroy upon receiving the command phrase. They have been fortunate that they have never had to send them on their missions. But they believe that Dalchimsky stole the book that lists all the TELEFON agents and is now sending them out on their suicide missions. It also seems that the current KGB Chairman is unaware of TELEFON so Strelsky and Malchenko want Borzov to go to America and find Dalchimsky. Borzov, who is endowed with a photographic memory, memorizes the second TELEFON book and goes to America and is aided by Barbara.
Written by |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | They'll do anything to stop Telefon. The operation that can trigger 51 human time bombs. See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $7,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Director Don Siegel asked Charles Bronson to shave his trademark mustache off for this movie. Bronson replied, "No mustache, no Bronson." Siegel said in his book 'A Siegel Film: An Autobiography', "I felt that as much as Bronson wore a heavy mustache in Russia, it would help his disguise if he had no mustache when he arrives in Canada. However he didn't want to shave it off." See more » |
| Goofs | All of the KGB characters shown in uniform at the beginning of the film are "out of uniform." Although Borzov, Bronson's character, and the others are clearly meant to be in the KGB, the uniforms they wear are trimmed in red, the color of the regular Soviet Army, not the KGB. During the era of the film KGB uniforms were trimmed in Royal Blue. Also, the uniforms in the film lack the distinctive "Sword and Shield" patch worn by KGB officers on their jacket and coat sleeves. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in 42nd Street Forever, Volume 3: Exploitation Explosion (2008). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Yellow Rose of Texas See more » |
| Quotes |
Nicolai Dalchimsky:
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep. Remember. Miles to go before I sleep. See more » |