

The Fourth War
“Two proud heroes with no one left to fight... But each other.”
Synopsis
Cold War adversaries Col. Jack Knowles and his Russian counterpart, Col. Valachev, are stationed on opposite sides of the German-Czech border. Both men are responsible for a group of troops in their remote settings, and both have been shaped by their combat experiences and a shared aversion to their superiors' ways of doing things. After a defector is killed, things escalate into a full-fledged battle with serious geopolitical ramifications.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Fourth War (1990) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]
Type: Trailer • Published 2020-05-19
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Roy Scheider
Col. Jack Knowles
Jürgen Prochnow
Col. Valachev
Tim Reid
Lt. Col. Clark
Lara Harris
Elena
Harry Dean Stanton
Gen. Hackworth
Dale Dye
Sergeant Major
William MacDonald
MP Corporal
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
Czech Guard
Release History & Theatrical Window
March 23, 1990
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
Undisclosed
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.3M
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Frankenheimer
- Screenplay & Story
- Stephen Peters, Kenneth Ross
- Original Score
- Bill Conti
- Original Title
- The Fourth War
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, Canada
- Spoken Languages
- Russian, German, Czech, English
- Runtime
- 1h 31m
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.3M
- Production Studios
- Aurora Production, Kodiak Films, The Cannon Group
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Frankenheimer
Stephen Peters, Kenneth Ross
Bill Conti
J. Barry Herron, Gerry Fisher
Robert F. Shugrue
Wolf Schmidt, William Stuart, Sam Perlmutter
Department Leadership Roster
John Frankenheimer
Director
Wolf Schmidt
Producer
Allan Graf
Stunt Coordinator
Brent Woolsey
Stunt Coordinator
Stephen Peters
Screenplay
Kenneth Ross
Screenplay
Bill Conti
Original Music Composer
Gerry Fisher
Director of Photography
Robert F. Shugrue
Editor
Alan Manzer
Production Design
Ray Summers
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Fourth War.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Fourth War.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Fourth War
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Fourth War about?
Cold War adversaries Col. Jack Knowles and his Russian counterpart, Col. Valachev, are stationed on opposite sides of the German-Czech border. Both men are responsible for a group of troops in their remote settings, and both have been shaped by their combat experiences and a shared aversion to their superiors' ways of doing things. After a defector is killed, things escalate into a full-fledged battle with serious geopolitical ramifications.
Who directed The Fourth War?
The Fourth War was directed by John Frankenheimer.
Who stars in The Fourth War?
The principal cast of The Fourth War includes Roy Scheider, Jürgen Prochnow, Tim Reid, Lara Harris, Harry Dean Stanton.
When was The Fourth War released and how long is it?
The Fourth War was released in 1990 with a total runtime of 1h 31m.
How much did The Fourth War make at the box office?
The Fourth War grossed $1.3M in worldwide ticket sales.
Who composed the musical score for The Fourth War?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Fourth War was composed by Bill Conti.
Is The Fourth War based on a book or true story?
The Fourth War is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Stephen Peters".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Fourth War?
The Fourth War holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).



















