The Kremlin Letter

The Kremlin Letter

Year: 1970

Runtime: 120 mins

Language: English

ThrillerActionHigh speed and special opsExciting spy thrillers with tense intriguePolitical drama patriotism and war

World War III is threatened by a single envelope. After a rogue letter falsely indicating U.S. support for a Russian assault on China arrives in Moscow, a former naval officer assembles a covert team to recover the incriminating document. Their mission unravels when a shrewd politician assaults their hideout, forcing them to confront a deeper political conspiracy.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Kremlin Letter yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – The Kremlin Letter (1970)

Trace every key event in The Kremlin Letter (1970) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Recruitment and formation of the team

In 1969, The Highwayman recruits Charles Rone and four new operatives for a covert operation. The recruits are Janis, 'The Whore'; The Warlock; and B.A., a thief. They form a tight-knit team drawn from a shadowy postwar network to retrieve a dangerous letter.

1969
2

The letter's origin and the high-stakes payoff

The letter promises United States aid to the Soviet Union to destroy Chinese atomic weapons plants. It is solicited by a high-level Soviet official through Dmitri Polyakov, who has sold Soviet secrets to the U.S. In response, U.S. and British authorities plan to buy back the letter, but Polyakov dies under pressure from Soviet counterintelligence led by Colonel Kosnov.

3

Blackmail to secure a Moscow safehouse

To secure a vacant apartment in Moscow, the team blackmails Captain Potkin, the Soviet head of counterintelligence in the U.S. They threaten his family to coerce permission for the use of his Moscow residence. Potkin agrees to cooperate, effectively providing a base for their operation inside the Soviet Union.

Moscow
4

Entrance to the Soviet Union and the Highwayman's sacrifice

The team arrives in the Soviet Union to begin the operation. The Highwayman, terminally ill, sacrifices his life to divert the attention of Soviet counterintelligence away from the rest of the group. His death clears the path for the mission but marks a turning point in the operation.

Soviet Union
5

Janis pursues a Kitai lead via a brothel network

Janis partners with a brothel operator who hints at a Chinese spy known as 'The Kitai' as a potential source for names of officials and others to whom he can sell heroin. Janis plans to keep prostitutes addicted to ensure control and leverage. This pursuit widens the web around the letter and its contacts.

6

Warlock infiltrates an intellectual circle

The Warlock integrates into a community of intellectual homosexuals and begins an affair with a university professor. One of the professor's students reveals Polyakov had a relationship with Vladimir Bresnavitch, tying Polyakov to high-level Soviet connections. The infiltration expands the network surrounding the letter.

Academic circles
7

Bresnavitch vs. Kosnov: the old guard fractures

Years earlier, Bresnavitch sought to oust Kosnov in favor of Robert Sturdevant, a primary operator in The Highwayman's old group. Kosnov betrays Sturdevant to protect his own position, and Sturdevant disappears, presumed dead or driven to suicide. The rivalries set the stage for later betrayals connected to the letter.

Years before Soviet counterintelligence world
8

Paris connections: Bresnavitch, Polyakov and Ward

Bresnavitch used Polyakov to fence stolen artworks in Paris, and Ward travels there to follow leads. The Paris detour draws Ward deeper into the net of double-crosses behind the letter. This detour widens the search beyond the initial operation.

Years earlier Paris
9

USSR raid begins: Potkin informs Bresnavitch

On the day of the operation, Potkin reaches the Soviet Union and informs Bresnavitch about Rone's plan. Janis, B.A., and Ward are apprehended, while Warlock commits suicide rather than be captured. Rone escapes and attempts to arrange a re-purchase of the letter with the Kitai, who responds with hostility.

Soviet Union
10

The Kitai encounter: the letter is in Chinese hands

Rone tries to bargain with the Kitai to repurchase the letter, but the Chinese spy attacks him. Rone deduces that the Kitai and his network hold the letter, not his allies. The confrontation reveals the scale of the Chinese involvement in the operation.

Kitai's location
11

Erika Beck reveals Bresnavitch's machinations

Rone turns to Erika Beck, Kosnov's wife, with whom he has been having an affair. Erika later reports that B.A. has taken poison and is expected to die. Rone realizes Bresnavitch orchestrated the raid without Kosnov's knowledge, signaling Bresnavitch as Polyakov's traitorous Soviet official contact.

Erika Beck's residence
12

Rone presses for Ward's release

Rone threatens to expose Bresnavitch unless Ward is released. Bresnavitch agrees, attempting to preserve his own position in the web of counterintelligence. The confrontation tests loyalties among the surviving operatives.

13

Erika is killed by Ward

Ward proceeds to eliminate Erika Beck by shooting her after Bresnavitch's agreement to release him. The killing removes a potential complicating factor for Ward and deepens the rift between the protagonists.

Somewhere in the operation area
14

Ward cripples Kosnov and the power shift begins

Ward confronts Kosnov and begins listing agents betrayed by Kosnov, then shoots Kosnov in the kneecap. Kosnov's scream signals the collapse of his control and the destabilization of the counterintelligence machinery around the mission.

Kosnov's location
15

Revelations at the edge of departure

While heading for a plane to leave the country, Rone learns that Ward is actually Sturdevant and intends to stay, having struck a deal with Bresnavitch to lead counterintelligence. Ward then reveals that B.A. is alive and hands Rone a note threatening Potkin's family as a coercive bargain: 'Kill Potkin's wife and daughters or I kill the girl.'

On the way to departure

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:40

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of The Kremlin Letter

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Kremlin Letter 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 The Kremlin Letter is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Kremlin Letter Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Kremlin Letter, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Kremlin Letter Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Kremlin Letter

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Kremlin Letter. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Kremlin Letter

More About The Kremlin Letter

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Kremlin Letter: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Kremlin Letter

Similar Movies to The Kremlin Letter

Discover movies like The Kremlin Letter that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.