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IMDbPro

The Fourth War

  • 1990
  • R
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
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.

  • Director
    • John Frankenheimer
  • Writers
    • Stephen Peters
    • Kenneth Ross
  • Stars
    • Roy Scheider
    • Jürgen Prochnow
    • Tim Reid
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    1.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Frankenheimer
    • Writers
      • Stephen Peters
      • Kenneth Ross
    • Stars
      • Roy Scheider
      • Jürgen Prochnow
      • Tim Reid
    • 18User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

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

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    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
      No Warsaw Pact country was operating Sikorsky H-34s in the late 80s.
    • 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: 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 reviews18

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Furiously intense.
    A furiously intense story that takes place shortly after the Cold War where an American colonel (Roy Scheider - "Jaws") who has a troubled past, picks a fight with a high-ranking Soviet military officer, (Jurgen Prochnow - "Das Boot") that nearly escelates into a Tarantino-like standoff. Scheider and Prochnow are both good and so is Harry Dean Stanton ("The Straight Story"), who plays Scheider's superior officer and an old war buddy who is concerned about his friend. Director John Frankenheimer ("Ronin") is smart in making the film go smoothly and I got kick out of the scene where Prochnow and two other Russian officers briefly watch an American (college) football game on t.v., question it, and laugh at it.
    helpful•8
    5
    • mhasheider
    • Mar 27, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 23, 1990 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
      • Czech
    • Also known as
      • 4'üncü Savaş
    • 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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