The Shield and the Sword (1968)

Щит и меч

A Soviet agent lives for years inside Nazi Germany under a false name, rising through the German intelligence service.

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Year
1968
Director
Vladimir Basov
Starring
Stanislav Lyubshin, Oleg Yankovsky, Alla Demidova, Vladimir Basov, Georgy Martynyuk
Genre
War, Adventure
Running time
5 h 41 min · 4 parts
Based on
The novel by Vadim Kozhevnikov
Language
Russian, English subtitles
Studio
Mosfilm

About the film

Just before the war, Soviet intelligence officer Alexander Belov is sent to Germany as a returning ethnic German named Johann Weiss. His task is to build a new life, earn trust and work his way into the heart of the German intelligence machine.

Over four episodes Weiss becomes a respected member of the Abwehr and later the SS, finding out about secret operations and saving lives while never able to drop his mask. Every promotion makes him more useful and more exposed.

One of the most popular Soviet spy films ever, The Shield and the Sword also gave the country the song 'What Does the Motherland Begin With?'

Did you know?

  • It was Oleg Yankovsky's first film role.
  • The song 'What Does the Motherland Begin With?' was composed by Veniamin Basner.
  • It was one of the biggest box-office hits of 1968.

If you liked The Shield and the Sword