The Fourth War (1990)

75% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
28% of users liked it
(99 ratings)

The Fourth War finds director John Frankenheimer delving into the same Cold-war territory he'd previously cultivated in films like The Manchurian Candidate. Col. Jack Knowles (Roy Scheider), serving at a faraway post on the German-Czech border, carries on a personal war with his Soviet counterpart,… More The Fourth War finds director John Frankenheimer delving into the same Cold-war territory he'd previously cultivated in films like The Manchurian Candidate. Col. Jack Knowles (Roy Scheider), serving at a faraway post on the German-Czech border, carries on a personal war with his Soviet counterpart, Colonel Valachev (Jurgen Prochnow). Both have been hardened by past combat experiences, and both have been embittered by the exigencies of red tape, bureaucracy, and diplomatic deal-making. Their friendly rivalry snowballs (literally so!) into a guerilla-like combat situation, culminating in a one-on-one showdown. It's essentially a shaggy dog story, but a compelling one. Based on a novel by Stephen Peters, The Fourth War was given surprisingly short shrift by Cannon Films' distribution channels. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: John Frankenheimer
Written By: Kenneth Ross, Stephen Peters
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Oct 24, 1990
Studio: HBO Video

Critic Reviews

Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
Scheider is much better then the material.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Underrated war flick with a great lead performance by Roy Scheider.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

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Cast

            Roy Scheider as Col. Jack Knowles

            Jürgen Prochnow as Col. N.A. Valachev

            Tim Reid as Lt. Col. Timothy Clark

            Lara Harris as Elena Novotna

            Harry Dean Stanton as Gen. Hackworth

            Dale Dye as Sergeant Major

            Bill MacDonald as MP Corporal

            Lilo Bahr as Innkeeper's Wife

            Guy Buller as Czech Guard

            Igor Burstyn as Czech Tower Guard

            Ron Campbell as Young US Soldier

            Kurt Darmohray as Villager

            Claus Diedrich as Frontier Police Captain

            John Dodds as Defector

            Richard Durven as Young Soldier

            Gregory A. Gale as Communications Corporal

            Garry Galinsky as Red Private #1

            Matus Ginzberg as Puppeteer

            Neil Grahn as Needle-Nose Soldier

            Harold Hecht Jr. as Dwayne

            Ernie Jackson as Knowles' Driver

            Henry Kope as Mayor

            Yefim Korduner as Red Army Major #1

            Kyle Maschmeyer as Villager #1

            Kent McNeill as US Private

            Boris Novogrudsky as Aide to Valachev

            David Palffy as Gawky Soldier

            Alice Pesta as Hannelore

            Roman Podhora as Czech Guard #1

            George Scholl as Innkeeper

            Gordon Signer as Bavarian Farmer

            Ed Soibelman as Red Private #2

            Gary Spivak as Red Army Private

            Joseph Vrba as Czech Guard

            Brian Warren as MP & Wide Soldier

            Brent Woolsey as Red Army Major

            Tom Kelly as Sports Announcer
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