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The Fourth War

  • 19901990
  • SS
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
13,807
1,092
The Fourth War (1990)
Cold War drama about two gung-ho border commanders (Roy Scheider, Jurgen Prochnow) who carry out their own private war against each other on the German - Czechoslovakia border.
Play trailer2:09
2 Videos
33 Photos
DramaThriller

Cold War drama about two gung-ho border commanders (Roy Scheider, Jurgen Prochnow) who carry out their own private war against each other on the German - Czechoslovakia border.Cold War drama about two gung-ho border commanders (Roy Scheider, Jurgen Prochnow) who carry out their own private war against each other on the German - Czechoslovakia border.Cold War drama about two gung-ho border commanders (Roy Scheider, Jurgen Prochnow) who carry out their own private war against each other on the German - Czechoslovakia border.

IMDb RATING
5.6/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
13,807
1,092
  • Director
    • John Frankenheimer
  • Writers
    • Stephen Peters(novel)
    • Kenneth Ross(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Roy Scheider
    • Jürgen Prochnow
    • Tim Reid
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Frankenheimer
  • Writers
    • Stephen Peters(novel)
    • Kenneth Ross(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Roy Scheider
    • Jürgen Prochnow
    • Tim Reid
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 16User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:09
    Trailer
    The Fourth War
    Clip 1:44
    The Fourth War

    Photos33

    Bad-guy Jürgen Prochnow with Kyle Maschmeyer on the "The Fourth War" set.
    The Fourth War (1990)
    The Fourth War (1990)
    The Fourth War (1990)
    The Fourth War (1990)
    Roy Scheider in The Fourth War (1990)
    The Fourth War (1990)
    Roy Scheider and Tim Reid in The Fourth War (1990)
    Tim Reid in The Fourth War (1990)
    Jürgen Prochnow in The Fourth War (1990)
    Roy Scheider in The Fourth War (1990)
    The Fourth War (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Roy Scheider
    Roy Scheider
    • Col. Jack Knowles
    Jürgen Prochnow
    Jürgen Prochnow
    • Col. Valachev
    Tim Reid
    Tim Reid
    • Lt. Col. Clark
    Lara Harris
    Lara Harris
    • Elena
    Harry Dean Stanton
    Harry Dean Stanton
    • Gen. Hackworth
    Dale Dye
    Dale Dye
    • Sergeant Major
    William MacDonald
    William MacDonald
    • MP Corporal
    David Palffy
    David Palffy
    • Gawky Soldier
    Neil Grahn
    • Needle-Nose Soldier
    Ernie Jackson
    • Knowles Driver
    Ron Campbell
    • Young US Soldier
    John Dodds
    • Defector
    Richard Durven
    • Young Soldier
    Harold Hecht Jr.
    • Dwayne
    Alice Pesta
    • Hannelore
    Gregory A. Gale
    • Communications Corporal
    Henry Kope
    • Mayor
    Guy Buller
    Guy Buller
    • Czech Guard
    • Director
      • John Frankenheimer
    • Writers
      • Stephen Peters(novel) (screenplay)
      • Kenneth Ross(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The title "The Fourth War" is derived from a famous quote from Albert Einstein which states: "I cannot predict how the Third World War shall be fought, or with what; I can, however, predict that the Fourth World War shall be waged with sticks and stones". Similarly, the film's closing epilogue states: "I cannot predict what breed of weapons will be employed in the waging of the Third World War; what I can predict is that the Fourth World War shall be fought with sticks and stones".
    • Goofs
      At one point the colonel starts a fire using gasoline. When he throws the match you can see the sparks from the ignitor used by the pyrotechnicians.
    • Quotes

      Gen. Hackworth: When someone asked Albert Einstein what weapons would be used in World War III, he replied "I don't know. But," he said, "the fourth war will be fought with stones."

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Pretty Woman/Blind Fury/A Shock to the System/The Fourth War/Lambada (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Happy Birthday To You
      Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill

    User reviews16

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    Laughable but one of the best movies ever
    The plot is absurd, the logic is absent and the running back and forth across the east-west border is laughable.

    BUT - it's one of the greatest movies ever made anyway. Why? Because it got a view through correctly adjusted binoculars right! As 1 circle. NOT 2 touching circles.

    Million dollar movies, close to billion dollar movies from Hollywood, can't even get this simple fact right and it annoys me immensely. The annoying thing is that directors can get access to so much money and are not intelligent enough to get it right. If they spend a hundred dollars more they could buy a consultant to tell them things like that! But the directors are too dumb! Amazing.

    So a big HOORAY for The Fourth War!! The ONLY other film I remember that avoids this Hollywood dumb cliché is The Bridge On The River Kwai.

    And that's not all folks. The Fourth War lets the Russians speak Russian. I'm close to tears with enthusiasm! In the Hollywood world where Germans, Russians, Chinese and every alien from outer space speaks American this is groundbreaking. I know that most Americans are too dumb to read subtitles (or rather Hollywood think they are) but it renders authenticity in wast amounts to a movie.

    The ridiculous script is totally forgiven on these two grounds!!
    helpful•28
    12
    • lbk
    • Aug 1, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 23, 1990 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
      • Czech
    • Also known as
      • Ammatti: Sotilas
    • Filming locations
      • Bragg Creek, Alberta, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Kodiak Films
      • Aurora Productions LLC
      • Cannon Pictures Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • CA$22,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,305,887
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $776,449
      • Mar 25, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,305,887
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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