More Than Life At Stake (1968)
The legendary Polish spy series that turned Hans Kloss into a Cold War television icon across the Eastern Bloc.
More Than Life At Stake - Series Information
- Original Title: Stawka większa niż życie
- First Air Year: 1968
- Last Air Year: 1969
- Created by: Andrzej Zbych
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Action, Adventure, War, Politics
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (55 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 18
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Polish
- Spoken Languages: Russian, German, Polish
- Networks: TVP1, Central Television USSR
- Alternative Titles: Kapitán Kloss (CZ), Kockázat (HU), Stawka Większa niż Życie (PL), Kapten Kloss (SE), More Than Life at Stake (US)
- Production Companies: Zespół Filmowy "Syrena"
- Production Countries: Poland
More Than Life At Stake - Plot
A series about the adventures of a Polish secret agent, Hans Kloss, who acts as a double agent in the Abwehr during Second World War in occupied Poland.
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More Than Life At Stake - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Andrzej Zbych
Main Cast
- Stanisław Mikulski
- Leon Niemczyk
- Emil Karewicz
- Bronisław Pawlik
- Krzysztof Chamiec
- Seweryn Butrym
- Mieczysław Stoor
- Ignacy Machowski
- Tadeusz Schmidt
- Gustaw Lutkiewicz
Writers
- Zbigniew Safjan
- Andrzej Szypulski
More Than Life At Stake - FAQs
Who plays Hans Kloss in More Than Life At Stake?
Stanisław Mikulski plays Hans Kloss, the suave Polish double agent embedded within the Nazi Abwehr. His performance became so iconic in Poland that Mikulski remains synonymous with the role decades after the series first aired in 1968.
Is More Than Life At Stake based on a true story?
The series is a fictional creation by writer Andrzej Zbych, though it draws heavily on the real atmosphere of wartime espionage in Nazi-occupied Poland. Hans Kloss himself is not based on a single historical figure but reflects the broader tradition of Polish resistance and intelligence work during WWII.
What is More Than Life At Stake about?
The series follows Hans Kloss, a Polish secret agent operating undercover within the German Abwehr during the Second World War. Each episode places him in a new dangerous mission across occupied Poland, where he must outwit Nazi officers while secretly aiding the Polish resistance.
How many episodes does More Than Life At Stake have?
The series consists of 18 episodes, all contained within a single season. Each episode runs approximately 55 minutes, giving the show a cinematic quality that helped it stand out from other television productions of the late 1960s.
Why did More Than Life At Stake become so popular?
The show captured the imagination of audiences across the Eastern Bloc by blending Cold War spy thriller conventions with a distinctly Polish wartime narrative. Stanisław Mikulski's charismatic portrayal of Kloss, combined with tense plotting and strong production values, made it a cultural phenomenon that endures to this day.
What similar shows would fans of this series enjoy?
Fans of More Than Life At Stake would likely enjoy The Ipcress File, Das Boot, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. for their blend of espionage tension and period atmosphere. More contemporary picks include The Day of the Jackal and Masters of the Air for those drawn to wartime action and intelligence drama.
Who created and wrote More Than Life At Stake?
The series was created by Andrzej Zbych, a pen name used jointly by writers Zbigniew Safjan and Andrzej Szypulski. The two collaborated on both the original novels and the television scripts, crafting the adventures of Hans Kloss across the entire 18-episode run.
Where can I find More Than Life At Stake online?
Streaming availability for More Than Life At Stake varies by region. Your best starting point is JustWatch, which aggregates current viewing options across all major platforms and lets you filter by your country to find where the series is currently available to watch or purchase.
More About More Than Life At Stake
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