Today’s quick review: Man on a String. Boris Mitrov (Ernest Borgnine), a Russian-born Hollywood producer, gets caught between a rock and a hard place when the Central Bureau of Intelligence learns that he has been working for KGB spymaster Vadja Kubelov (Alexander Scourby). To atone for his betrayal, Mitrov cooperates with the CBI, traveling to Berlin as part of a dangerous plan to infiltrate the highest levels of Soviet intelligence.
Man on a String is a classic spy thriller that’s loosely based on a true story. Ernest Borgnine stars as Boris Mitrov, a successful Russian immigrant who becomes a double agent working for the United States. Man on a String breaks down the chain of events leading to Mitrov’s recruitment by the CBI, as well as his undercover mission to Berlin. The film’s factual presentation style holds a certain appeal, but it robs the film of its emotional impact.
Man on a String presents its material through a very specific lens. It is as much an educational film as a thriller, using Mitrov as a case study to show how the United States and Soviet intelligence apparatuses work. The film’s running narration (Clete Roberts) and Mitrov’s reflections on his reasons for working for the KGB help to drive home the points the film wants to get across. The result is a clear snapshot of Cold War counterintelligence.
Unfortuantely, Man on a String’s informational qualities come at the expense of its story. The movie plays with its cards on the table, eliminating the kinds of guessing games that make other spy thrillers so effective. The character motivations are also carefully circumscribed: realistic, but a little too tidy. And while the movie manages to squeeze some tension out of Mitrov’s trip to Berlin, it comes too late in the story to have much impact.
Man on a String fills a peculiar niche. How much you get out of it will depend heavily on how interested you are in Cold War spycraft for its own sake. Those interested in a realistic, if somewhat tame, look at the motivations of a double agent should give it a try. Those hoping for a taut thriller with plenty of action will want to steer clear.
For a sharper Cold War thriller, try Funeral in Berlin. For a less grounded one involving a double agent, try The Jigsaw Man. For a modern action movie about a Russian agent, check out Salt.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for solid craftsmanship and niche appeal.