five years after the film was released, producer george stevens, jr. helped organize a showing of this, along with other kramer films, at the moscow film festival, which kramer and co-star sidney poitier attended. stevens writes that the showings of his films, especially "the defiant ones", were a "great success in moscow." he remembers that "filmmakers applauded his films, often chanting "kraaaamer, kraaaaamer, kraaaaamer"," at their conclusion. kramer spoke to the audience after each film, "making a fine impression for his country." stevens credits "the defiant ones" for having the most impact, however: