The Fourth War (1990)
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75% of critics liked it
(8 reviews) -
28% of users liked it
(107 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… 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
- Directed By
- John Frankenheimer
- Written By
- Kenneth Ross, Stephen Peters
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense
R,
- In Theaters
- Jun 1, 1990 Wide
- Studio
- HBO Video
Critic Reviews
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Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
Scheider is much better then the material.
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Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Underrated war flick with a great lead performance by Roy Scheider.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Roy Scheider
as Col. Jack Knowles
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Jürgen Prochnow
as Col. N.A. Valachev
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Tim Reid
as Lt. Col. Timothy Clark
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Lara Harris
as Elena Novotna
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Harry Dean Stanton
as Gen. Hackworth
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Dale Dye
as Sergeant Major
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Bill MacDonald
as MP Corporal
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Lilo Bahr
as Innkeeper's Wife
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Guy Buller
as Czech Guard
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Igor Burstyn
as Czech Tower Guard
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Ron Campbell
as Young US Soldier
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Kurt Darmohray
as Villager
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Claus Diedrich
as Frontier Police Captain
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John Dodds
as Defector
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Richard Durven
as Young Soldier
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Gregory A. Gale
as Communications Corporal
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Garry Galinsky
as Red Private #1
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Matus Ginzberg
as Puppeteer
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Neil Grahn
as Needle-Nose Soldier
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Harold Hecht Jr.
as Dwayne
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Ernie Jackson
as Knowles' Driver
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Henry Kope
as Mayor
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Yefim Korduner
as Red Army Major #1
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Kyle Maschmeyer
as Villager #1
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Kent McNeill
as US Private
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Boris Novogrudsky
as Aide to Valachev
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David Palffy
as Gawky Soldier
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Alice Pesta
as Hannelore
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Roman Podhora
as Czech Guard #1
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George Scholl
as Innkeeper
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Gordon Signer
as Bavarian Farmer
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Ed Soibelman
as Red Private #2
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Gary Spivak
as Red Army Private
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Joseph Vrba
as Czech Guard
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Brian Warren
as MP & Wide Soldier
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Brent Woolsey
as Red Army Major
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Tom Kelly
as Sports Announcer
