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IMDbPro

The Fourth Protocol

  • 19871987
  • RR
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
10K
YOUR RATING
Pierce Brosnan and Michael Caine in The Fourth Protocol (1987)
John Preston is a British Agent with the task of preventing the Russians detonating a nuclear explosion next to an American base in the UK. The Russians are hoping this will shatter the "special relationship" between the two countries.
Play trailer2:20
1 Video
40 Photos
Thriller
John Preston is a British Agent with the task of preventing the Russians detonating a nuclear explosion next to an American base in the UK. The Russians are hoping this will shatter the "spe... Read allJohn Preston is a British Agent with the task of preventing the Russians detonating a nuclear explosion next to an American base in the UK. The Russians are hoping this will shatter the "special relationship" between the two countries.John Preston is a British Agent with the task of preventing the Russians detonating a nuclear explosion next to an American base in the UK. The Russians are hoping this will shatter the "special relationship" between the two countries.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
10K
YOUR RATING
    • John Mackenzie
    • George Axelrod(screen story)
    • Richard Burridge(additional material)
    • Frederick Forsyth(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Michael Caine
    • Pierce Brosnan
    • Ned Beatty
    • John Mackenzie
    • George Axelrod(screen story)
    • Richard Burridge(additional material)
    • Frederick Forsyth(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Michael Caine
    • Pierce Brosnan
    • Ned Beatty
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 51User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    Watch Trailer

    Photos40

    Pierce Brosnan and Michael Caine in The Fourth Protocol (1987)
    Pierce Brosnan and Michael Caine in The Fourth Protocol (1987)
    Pierce Brosnan and Michael Caine in The Fourth Protocol (1987)
    Pierce Brosnan and Michael Caine in The Fourth Protocol (1987)
    Pierce Brosnan and Michael Caine in The Fourth Protocol (1987)
    Pierce Brosnan and Joanna Cassidy in The Fourth Protocol (1987)
    Michael Caine in The Fourth Protocol (1987)
    Michael Caine in The Fourth Protocol (1987)
    The Fourth Protocol (1987)
    Pierce Brosnan and Betsy Brantley in The Fourth Protocol (1987)
    Michael Caine and Chris Walker in The Fourth Protocol (1987)
    Michael Caine and Matthew Marsh in The Fourth Protocol (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Caine
    Michael Caine
    • John Preston
    Pierce Brosnan
    Pierce Brosnan
    • Valeri Petrofsky…
    Ned Beatty
    Ned Beatty
    • Borisov…
    Joanna Cassidy
    Joanna Cassidy
    • Irina Vassilievna
    Julian Glover
    Julian Glover
    • Brian Harcourt-Smith
    Michael Gough
    Michael Gough
    • Sir Bernard Hemmings
    Ray McAnally
    Ray McAnally
    • General Karpov
    Ian Richardson
    Ian Richardson
    • Sir Nigel Irvine
    Anton Rodgers
    Anton Rodgers
    • George Berenson
    Caroline Blakiston
    Caroline Blakiston
    • Angela Berenson
    Joseph Brady
    Joseph Brady
    • Carmichael
    Betsy Brantley
    Betsy Brantley
    • Eileen McWhirter
    Sean Chapman
    Sean Chapman
    • Captain Lyndhurst
    Matt Frewer
    Matt Frewer
    • Tom McWhirter
    Jerry Harte
    Jerry Harte
    • Professor Krilov
    Michael J. Jackson
    • Major Pavlov
    Matthew Marsh
    Matthew Marsh
    • Barry Banks
    Alan North
    Alan North
    • Govershin
      • John Mackenzie
      • George Axelrod(screen story)
      • Richard Burridge(additional material)
      • Frederick Forsyth(screenplay) (novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Fourth Protocol is a fictional secret protocol of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, containing an agreement between nuclear powers that nuclear weapons will only be delivered to their target by conventional means (dropped from aircraft or on missiles). In the world of this movie, it effectively prevents them being left in luggage lockers or delivered by postal companies or other clandestine means.
    • Goofs
      In the NCO club, a US Air Force Chief Master Sargent is standing behind Ross with his hat on. When indoors and in uniform military members are required to remove their hats (except for armed guards and other special conditions). In most on-base clubs, this breach of protocol would require the offender to buy a round for the house.
    • Quotes

      George Berenson: [George just found out that his South African contact is a Russian spy] Oh my God... what have I done?

      Sir Nigel Irvine: You've betrayed your country. You've passed on untold numbers of military secrets to Moscow, and endangered the lives of British men and women. And I'd say you've weakened NATO. Perhaps irretrievably.

      George Berenson: Oh my God...

      Sir Nigel Irvine: Just you, and your schoolboy politics, and your idiotically conceited faith in your own importance.

      [pause]

      Sir Nigel Irvine: Now some of our more muscular colleagues would like to lock you in a cell and go to work on you with a carving knife and a pair of pliers. The rest would like to feed you to the newspapers and throw whatever's left into prison for 20 years. It's a tricky choice.

      [Smiles ever so slightly, pauses]

      Sir Nigel Irvine: However, this is what you will do. You shall resume your special relationship with Moscow, but this time I will be supplying the papers. Do you understand?

      [George nods]

      Sir Nigel Irvine: And later, when you are finished, we will decide what to do with you.

      George Berenson: [very shakily] I'm very grateful, Nigel.

    • Alternate versions
      The version shown on British Television contains all the violence but is missing one entire scene involving Michael Caine knocking out two racially abusive skinheads on an underground train. The scene was reinstated for the BBC1 showing on 8th February 2006.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Big Easy/The Fourth Protocol/No Way Out/Tampopo (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor, Op. 47
      (uncredited)
      (excerpt from 1st movement: Allegro moderato)
      Composed by Jean Sibelius

    User reviews51

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Aged Well - Like Vintage Port
    I hadn't seen this for ages. Then it was given away free with the Daily Mail.It really has aged well. The plot is still believable. Just substitute Islamic terrorists for Russian ones. Caine was brilliant and doing his 'laser' style acting in all the close ups. Something he doesn't bother with in his many pot boilers. I have to agree with some of the other posters. It really should have been promoted as Harry Palmer's midlife crisis. He would have developed just like this. The hero in the book reads like an ex-Para version of Freddie Forsythe. Caine makes the role his own and adds his own interpretation. Another of my favourites Pierce Brosnan acts his heart out too, as the stone killer Petrofsky. The Ian Richardson and Anton Rogers scene has to be a career best for both of them. Only a side plot but absolutely brilliant.
    helpful•13
    6
    • graestella
    • Sep 27, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 28, 1987 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Lapland, Finland
    • Production companies
      • Fourth Protocol
      • The Rank Organisation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 59 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Stereo

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