THE FOURTH WAR
US, 1990, 91 minutes, Colour.
Roy Scheider, Jurgen Prochnow.
Directed by John Frankenheimer.
The Fourth War is a film by John Frankenheimer. After success in live television, Frankenheimer began directing films in the late 50s and was prominent in the early 60s with such films as The Bird Man of Alcatraz, The Train, and projects as diverse as Seconds and Grand Prix. His career during the 70s and 80s did not quite sustain that early momentum. However, he continued to direct films and in the late 80s made the thriller Dead Bang as well as The Fourth War. The film is a fable about the stupidity of warring attitudes. It is reminiscent of Canadian animator Norm McClaren’s? classic Neighbours (where two men dispute the dividing line in their backyards and continue to provoke each other into a large scale battle).
Roy Scheider and Jurgen Prochnow are persuasive as the veterans of Vietnam and Afghanistan, heroes who succeeded at their own wars, but as they grow older are mavericks, chaffing for war. On the Czech border in November 1988, despite Glasnost, they provoke each other and almost cause another war. There is a quotation given by the Harry Dean Stanton character from Einstein saying that he did not know what weapons would be used during world war 3 but the fourth war would be fought with stones. The film is rather an intellectual exercise, exploring attitudes towards war -and filmed persuasively with Canada standing in for Central Europe.
1. Themes of war, a fable about warring attitudes? The realism and the stylised presentation of the film? Einstein's quotation about the fourth war?
2. Canadian settings standing in for Central Europe? The forests and winter? The international cast?
3. Memories of Vietnam and Afghanistan, the effect on the heroes, the effect on the "loonies" ? The aftermath for ageing heroes, especially in a Glasnost world?
4. The voice over by General Hackworth, his description of the situation, the confrontations? His assessment?
5. Roy Scheider as Jack Knowles: his driving to the camp, his arrival, his comment about the nights visor, wanting a proper salute? His reputation, in Asia, tough? Being shifted around as a maverick? To Stuttgart, to the camp? The incident on the border, the Russian playing with the fugitive, shooting him in cold blood? His anger? Wanting revenge? Hurt pride, especially because of helplessness? His friendship with General Hackworth, memories of Vietnam? The discussions? The report about his aggressive attitudes being shredded? The wedding celebration and the party, Clark wishing him Happy Birthday, his prickliness? His being alone, his decision to go into enemy territory? The phone call from his son and his son failing to be macho and stand up against attack? Going into Czechoslovakia, capturing the guards, making them kneel down, frightening them, the party hats and making them sing happy birthday? The explosion and his escape? His going back and the Russian destroying his jeep? His going to visit Elena in the tavern, the Russian being there, the clash? Helping Elena to see her child? Her betraying him, his hiding in the car? Cat and mouse games? The chase through the snow, the brutality of the fight, into the icy water? Mutual anger? Separated with the guns trained on them, Holding back, throwing away the snowball? The final literal freeze frames? An exploration of the maverick war hero? Explanations about him, peoples’ attitudes towards him, his behaviour, motivation?
6. The parallel with Valachev, the initial shooting of the fugitive? Using his wits against Knowles? Exploding the jeep? His decision in his room, going to the inn, the gun and the holding up of the people, outwitting Knowles, the plot with Elena, the reversal of fortune? The car, the brutality, the chase, the fight?
7.Clark as a second in command, the black officer, Knowles's attitude towards him, his approaches for friendship? His becoming the commander? Taking the troops to the border? The decisions? The sketch of the other officers and the staff?
8. Elena, her liaison with Knowles, with Valachev, summoning Knowles, the story about her child, in the village, going to Valachev's car, worrying about Knowles's knowledge?
9. The presentation of the militia, tanks and guns, troops? weapons? At the ready? The similarities between Czechs and Americans? The final confrontation?
10. The picture of the battle-lines, the possibilities for an international incident?
11. The atmosphere in Nov. 1988, glasnost, military men longing for the old days?
12. General Hackworth and his personality, sharing Jack's outlook, being more sensible?
