World War III (TV 1982)

Soviet paratroopers drop into Alaska to sabotage the oil pipeline in retaliation against a United States grain embargo. A skirmish occurs at a pumping station, lightly defended by Col. Jake... See full summary »

Directors:

David Greene, Boris Sagal

Writer:

Robert L. Joseph

Stars:

David Soul, Brian Keith, Cathy Lee Crosby

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Soul	...	Col. Jake Caffey
Brian Keith	...	Secretary General Gorny
Cathy Lee Crosby	...	Maj. Kate Breckenridge
Jeroen Krabbé	...	Col. Alexander Vorashin
Robert Prosky	...	Gen. Aleksey Rudenski
Katherine Helmond	...	Dorothy Longworth
James Hampton	...	Richard Hickman
Rock Hudson	...	President Thomas McKenna
Harry Basch	...	Adm. Vernon Blanchard
Frank Dent	...	Tim Hardy
Rick Fitts	...	Maj. George Devery
John Lehne	...	Brig. Gen. Gard Roberts
Marcus K. Mukai	...	Sgt. Johnny Parson (as Marcus Mukai)
William Traylor	...	Maj. Nicolai Saamaretz
Lee Wallace	...	Dr. Jules Farber

Storyline

Soviet paratroopers drop into Alaska to sabotage the oil pipeline in retaliation against a United States grain embargo. A skirmish occurs at a pumping station, lightly defended by Col. Jake Caffey and a National Guard reckon unit. A stalemate ensues while the possibility of World War III hangs in the balance. The danger escalates as the Russian leaders and the American President play a cat-and-mouse game.

---

Plot Keywords:

national guard | alaska | pipeline | sabotage | embargo | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Thriller

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 January 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kolmas maailmansota

Filming Locations:

Oregon, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

David Greene Productions, Finnegan Associates, National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

200 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Boris Sagal was killed early in the production, in a helicopter accident in Oregon.

---

Quotes

President Thomas McKenna: We are looking at the possibility of a nuclear confrontation.
Col. Jake Caffey: But no one's going win a nuclear confrontation.
President Thomas McKenna: That has nothing to do with getting into one.

User Reviews

cold war thriller

WW III is a film about political brinksmanship in the face of nuclear war and a thriller about battling against overwhelming odds. The film is about a President who relies on a national guard unit low on ammo to battle russians sent into alaska to destroy the alaska pipeline. The russian premier also relies on his men in alaska as political bargaining chips as well. The film goes from political bargaining to gun battles in the arctic snow of alaska. WW 3 also deals with infighting within the soviet union as the two super powers hurtle towards a nuclear exchange. This film marks one of Rock Hudsons better film roles.