Topaz

Alfred Hitchcock adapted this political thriller from Leon Uris's dense, complex spy novel, loosely based on actual events in the life of French spy Philippe de Vosjoli. The title, TOPAZ, refers not to the stone but to the Topaz Group, a nefarious band of French spies. Traveling through Cuba, Denmark, New York, and Virginia, among other locations, Hitchcock's tale tells of a Soviet scientist's defection that sparks an international furor extending way beyond the act itself. The story begins with American CIA agent Michael Nordstrom (John Forsythe), who is instrumental in uncovering Russian plans to place missiles in Cuba. For confirmation he turns to French agent Andre Devereaux (Frederick Stafford), who travels to Cuba to gather information. In the process, he discovers evidence of a shocking betrayal. The conclusion of the film is one of four endings Hitchcock filmed. This was one of two cold war-themed films directed by Hitchcock at the urging of his studio, the other being TORN CURTAIN.