Monday, March 10, 2025

Operation Manhunt (1954)

A dramatisation of the life of Soviet defector Igor Gouzenko who was a wanted man by the KGB after he defected to Canada, he also makes a (masked) appearance at the end of the film.

Gouzenko (Harry Townes) is living in hiding in Canada, but the Soviets have their plans ready to find and kill him. Agent Volov (Jacques Aubuchon) is tasked to pose as a wannabe defector in order to befriend Gouzenko so he can be drawn out of kiding...

After a slow start (the semi-documentary style doesn't help) this film develops in a compelling spy drama full of tension. There are also some surprises too especially in the final scenes. It can be a bit wooden at times but the story (with it's real-life basis) is excellent.