Even with the issues with the film's editing, the production values hold up well.
Another example is the sequences involving the McWhirter couple (played by Matt Frewer and Betsy Brantley) with Petrofsky which, while a fault of the script admittedly, should have been cut from the film as they serve no purpose and slow down the film's pace. Unfortunately there's moments where the editing is rather hap-hazard with scenes of Petrofsky on his motorcycle, then packing his car, then on his motorcycle again.
For the most part the editing of Graham Walker helps as well, especially in the sequence where the bomb is assembled by the Brosnan and Cassidy characters. The direction of John Mackenzie, coupled with the cinematography of Phil Meheux, the production design of Allan Cameron and the costumes of Tiny Nicholls mean the the film has a very realistic feel to it. For the most part the film has good production values. Sadly the actors playing Russian characters struggle with their accents at times but for the most part the performances work and help the film rather then hinder it. The supporting cast is like a whose who of fine character actors including Joanna Cassidy, Ned Beatty, Julian Glover, Michael Gough, Ray McAnally and Ian Richardson. Brosnan is KGB agent Valeri Petrofsky who, masquerading as James Ross, is the man with the atomic bomb. Caine is British agent John Preston, a bit of a loose cannon himself, who stumbles upon the plot and has to face his superiors skepticism before he can stop the plot. The cast is led by Micahel Caine and Pierce Brosnan. The films has good performances throughout. With good performances and a fine script that make up for some of the films shortcomings, The Fourth Protocol is a good example of the Cold War spy thriller. Set amongst the issues of 1980's Cold War tensions, the film is the story of a KGB plot to detonate an atomic bomb in the UK near a US Air Force base, causing the deterioration of NATO as a result if UK security services don't stop it first. Title explanation Reviewed by ib011f9545i Vote: 8/10īased on the bestselling novel by thriller writer Fredrick Forsyth, The Fourth Protocol stands out as one of the last of the breed of Cold War spy thrillers. For all its perfection, there can be all but a top mark. It's apparently not of much consequence in Forsyth's world, in which he differs tremendously from Graham Greene, and not even the cat incident in the end is of any consequence. But you miss some humanity and the human factor - only agent Preston's family life provides a bit of that. On the whole, it's a top thriller from the heyday of the Cold War final struggle, and there is nothing wrong with it. There are a few ladies in it also, but as usual in Forsvth's works, they don't get much of a say, not even the Russian spy from Finland. The direction is also flawless, as the story and script couldn't be better, the director just has to follow suit. The usual Forsryth standard - supreme suspense all the way, with excellent performances by Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan,especially by the latter, as a very hard-boiled Russian agent with no scruples at all to kill anybody, very much like the jackal type. Preston now suspects that someone is bringing in parts for an atomic bomb, his superior doesn't want to let Preston be proven right so he doesn't authorize. Preston is informed by the pathologist that the man is not a seaman so Preston goes through his things and finds that he was carrying something which he is told is an atomic bomb component. One day one the couriers Petrofsky was expecting comes off a freighter has an accident which leaves him dead. After he conducts an operation without his superior's permission caused his superior some embarrassment, he is reassigned to the menial task of overseeing airports and ports. John Preston is the top British spy catcher, currently at odds with his superior because he doesn't lick his boots.
KGB agent Major Valeri Petrofsky has been reassigned at the request of the KGB Chairman for a secret mission wherein he is sent to England to establish a residence near an American military base and receive various items from couriers from the USSR.
The Synopsis for The Fourth Protocol (1987) 720p