While it was obviously made with a low budget and has pretty much been completely forgotten, First Strike is actually a pretty good movie. Released in 1984, this Cold War thriller features an insidious Soviet plot to bring about a nuclear confrontation between the United States and an Arab nation. If successful, the American people and the world will believe that the U.S. launched the first strike, and the Soviets will essentially win the war without even having to fight -- and control the Mediterranean and the Middle East in the process.

The complex Soviet plot involves espionage, double agents, treason, nuclear subs, naval fleets, nuclear gamesmanship -- all the things a good Cold War movie needs.

After a close call on a spy mission inside Soviet waters, the nuclear sub USS Cobra is selected to oversee a very important spy swap with the Soviets off the coast of Syria. What the U.S. government doesn't know is that the American spy they want back so badly, played by Persis Khambatta, has been willingly converted to a double agent for the KGB and has been handpicked by the Soviet chairman to initiate a top secret plan that aims to destroy America's credibility and an entire fleet of her ships.

If successful, the Soviets will have manufactured an open door to the oil fields of the Middle East. Only the crew of the USS Cobra, led by Capt. Steven Welch (Stuart Whitman) can prevent the plan from ultimately succeeding, but it soon finds itself in deep trouble at the bottom of the sea, its crew fighting a surprise armed attack from within even as it is bombarded from enemy ships above.

It is a little difficult to believe that the Cobra is the top nuclear sub in the American fleet, especially since the captain spends so much time trying to figure out what to do with a "Gilligan" in his officer crew. The film's special effects are no great shake, either. One Soviet destroyer seemingly consists of only a captain, a first mate, and a telephone. It's also rather remarkable to learn that one aging officer in a flimsy protective suit can fix an imminent nuclear core meltdown (caused by a significant explosion in that area of the ship) entirely on his own with just a few simple tools. You gotta love it, as they say.

Best of all, you have the Soviet chairman played by Leon Askin, better known as General Burkhalter from Hogan's Heroes. It's sort of ironic to see him in this role, given all of his threats to send Colonel Klink to the Russian front. Despite -- or maybe because -- of all this, First Strike still delivers a decent story full of action and good, old-fashioned intrigue. The Soviet plan may be farfetched, but it is delightfully devious and a lot of fun to watch as it plays itself out. I'm really glad I stumbled upon this obscure little Cold War film.