thirdlady

The Fourth Protocol (1987)


this thiller set in russia, america and britain, with a good selection of stars in the casting roles including pierce brosnan and michael caine

A.S.Carroll
"Happiness isn't sold in bottles you have to achieve it in your own lifetime!"

Windthrop

An George Axelrod writing the script !

The film as nearly but not quite a majot hit. The book was blockbuster and seemed chillingly probable at the time but by the time the movie was released changes were afoot in Russia which made the film look a little old-fashioned even then.

Solid film though.

Thats the joke that killed the Music Hall !

christoph404

Frederick Forsythe wanted to make his own film of his book with his chum Michael Caine in the lead role so he approached Caine and suggested they form their own production company so that they could exercise control over the project. I think they did a pretty good job, hiring in director John Mackenzie and writer George Axelrod to contribute to the shooting script. I would say a lot of credit should go to writer Forsythe for coming up with the story from his own novel and for initiating the project but I think he prefered to remain low key, though I think he was on set for most of filming. Brosnan got his part on the back of his association with Mackenzie (The Long Good Friday) though by 87 he was a TV star (Remmington Steele) but still a few years before his highpoint as Bond. I think it is a very well made and enjoyable film and most of all it is very well acted, the late Anton Rogers gives a good performance as a misguided double agent. Its a pity it didn't seem to do so well and disapeared after its intial release, I have a DVD copy that I received free with a Daily newspaper a few years ago!

Steve Crook

A well made, dramatic thriller

Steve

batman

One of the few decent non-Bond UK 'spy' films since the 70s. I really enjoyed it. Caine is in good form, Brosnan is a fine adversary and the story is pretty exciting.

Bats.

thirdlady

it sure is an exciting movie to watch! it's what I would call "Well crafted" and it's a classic movie.

A.S.Carroll
"Happiness isn't sold in bottles you have to achieve it in your own lifetime!"

stevie boy

Great scene when Caine has his tussle with Brosnan, a sas type comes up the stairs and Caine says 'don't shoot'. That was good acting and a good scene. This film has one of my favourites in it,Caroline Blakiston, she was a stunner in the sixties.

Steve Crook

And was the SAS type the same actor who was the SAS sergeant in Who Dares Wins?

Steve

AdrianTurner

I quite like this picture, too. At the first press screening at the Odeon Leicester Square it caused a huge gasp because of the shot the ferry ship, Herald of Free Enterprise (or one just like it) that had just sunk, causing considerable loss of life.

Of course, much of Forsyth's intricate plotting has been jettisoned, and I especially mourned the loss of his huge, hair-raisingly right-wing sub-plot involving the toppling of the British government by a sort of Ken Livingstone figure. All that was far too complicated and a bit obscure for international audiences.

s20076037

Has a great Lalo Schifrin score throughout, that really builds the tension.

stevie boy

I will take a look, Steve

stevie boy

I think it was Ken Livingstone!!

christoph404

Absoluteley, I'd forgotten Lalo Schifrin had scored the movie!...

Windthrop

I was somewhat amused by the fact that Caine's assistants are all tweedy/corduroyed 'nerds' like Barry etc. presumably to make Caine look more dynamic and deadly by comparison. Maybe Caine was feeling a bit insecure by then.

Thats the joke that killed the Music Hall !

Steve Crook

Just watched it again - well, the ending anyway. And no, it wasn't the same actor

Steve