Telefon

Telefon

Year: 1977

Runtime: 102 mins

Language: English

Director: Don Siegel

ThrillerCrimeAction

They’ll do anything to stop Telefon, a plot that could unleash 51 time‑bombs. Mad KGB operative Nicolai Dalchimski steals a notebook of “sleeping” Soviet agents planted in the U.S. during the 1950s, programmed to awaken only when a line from a Robert Frost poem is spoken. Dalchimski flees to America, phones sleepers, sparking sabotage against targets.

Telefon (1977) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Telefon (1977) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the uneasy aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a clandestine program spreads silent threads across the United States. Deep‑cover agents, born of Soviet strategy, have been folded into ordinary lives and rendered amnesic to their true purpose. The only key to awakening them is a whispered line from Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening followed by a name, a phrase that could turn everyday citizens into instruments of sabotage the moment tension erupts again.

Enter Nicolai Dalchimski, a fervent KGB operative whose reckless ambition drives him to steal a notebook that lists every dormant sleeper. With the dossier in hand, he crosses oceans, intent on testing the fragile balance of power by dialing the hidden network of agents. His actions hint at a larger, almost mythic game of chess where a single call could set off a cascade of events far beyond any one man’s control, casting a shadow of suspense over both East and West.

Back in Moscow, Major Grigori Borzov—a stoic officer prized for his photographic memory—receives a delicate assignment: to locate the rogue and secure the remaining copy of the list before the world learns of the program’s existence. Borzov’s quiet competence and disciplined demeanor contrast sharply with Dalchimski’s chaotic zeal, establishing a tense cat‑and‑mouse dynamic that fuels the film’s cold‑war intrigue.

Adding another layer of ambiguity is Barbara, a solitary agent who has spent years embedded in America. Her loyalty is a question whispered among operatives, and her presence creates a delicate emotional undercurrent that blurs the line between duty and desire. Together, these three figures navigate a world where ordinary streets conceal extraordinary dangers, and every phone call could be the quiet spark of a larger conflagration.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 18:03

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Cold War Paranoia Movies like Telefon

Thrillers where individuals are pawns in a high-stakes ideological conflict.If you liked the tense, high-stakes atmosphere of Telefon, this collection features similar movies about espionage, sleeper agents, and psychological manipulation set against the backdrop of the Cold War. Discover other thrilling stories where the line between enemy and ally is blurred.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread often involve a race against time to prevent a catastrophic plan orchestrated by a shadowy government agency or rogue operative. The protagonist typically uncovers a deeply cynical program that uses brainwashing or manipulation, forcing them to confront the moral bankruptcy of the institutions they serve.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared setting of Cold War tension, their focus on themes of mind control and dehumanization, and their consistent atmosphere of high-stakes paranoia. They deliver a specific kind of thriller where the enemy is often an ideology made manifest through unwitting tools.

Pattern-Based Thrillers Similar to Telefon

Suspenseful chases where the hero must crack a code to stop the next attack.Fans of Telefon who enjoyed the suspense of predicting the next attack based on a poetic trigger will find more movies like it here. This list features thrillers and action movies where the hero must solve a pattern or code to stop a sequence of events.

urgentmethodicalsuspensefulcalculatingrace against timepuzzleanxious

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a cat-and-mouse structure where the villain's actions are dictated by a predetermined pattern. The hero's journey is one of deduction, using clues and intellect to stay one step ahead. The pacing is relentless, driven by the ticking clock of the next impending event in the sequence.

Why These Movies?

These films share a unique narrative engine: the core suspense comes from the protagonist trying to understand and outthink a systematic threat. This creates a specific blend of intellectual mystery and high-octane action, appealing to viewers who enjoy puzzles as much as chases.

Unlock the Full Story of Telefon

Don't stop at just watching — explore Telefon in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Telefon is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Telefon Summary

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Telefon Summary

Telefon Timeline

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Telefon Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Telefon

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Telefon

More About Telefon

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