Directed by William A. Wellman and released by 20th Century Fox, The Iron Curtain is one of the earliest Hollywood films to tackle Cold War tensions head-on. Based on the true story of Igor Gouzenko, a Soviet cipher clerk who defected in Ottawa, Canada, the film dramatizes his exposure of a Soviet spy ring operating in North America—an act that helped ignite the Cold War.
Plot Summary
Igor Gouzenko (Dana Andrews) is stationed at the Soviet embassy in Ottawa during World War II. As he begins to question the morality of Soviet espionage—especially after the birth of his son and the increasing pressure from Moscow—he decides to defect. With the help of his wife Anna (Gene Tierney), he steals classified documents and attempts to alert Canadian authorities. But the KGB is closing in, and Gouzenko must race against time to protect his family and deliver the truth.
Cast Highlights
- Dana Andrews as Igor Gouzenko
- Gene Tierney as Anna Gouzenko
- June Havoc as Nina Karanova
- Berry Kroeger, Eduard Franz, and Stefan Schnabel in supporting roles
- Narration by Reed Hadley, adding a semi-documentary tone
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The film’s score by Alfred Newman controversially included music by Soviet composers Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Khachaturian, and Dominik Miskovský—without their permission. Under pressure from Stalin’s regime, all four composers signed a protest letter condemning the film, likely as a political survival tactic
- Soviet sympathizers reportedly tried to disrupt location shooting in Ottawa, where Fox captured exteriors during a frigid Canadian winter
- Gouzenko himself met with Dana Andrews during filming, but Gene Tierney declined to attend the meeting
- This was the fourth of five films featuring Andrews and Tierney, including Laura (1944) and Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
Legacy
The Iron Curtain is considered one of the first Cold War films produced in Hollywood, paving the way for later anti-Communist dramas like The Red Menace and I Married a Communist. Its semi-documentary style and real-life inspiration give it a sense of urgency and authenticity, even as it leans into propaganda. For fans of political thrillers and postwar history, it’s a compelling watch.
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