THE FOURTH PROTOCOL
UK, 1987, 119 minutes, Colour.
Michael Caine, Pierce Brosnan, Julian Glover, Ian Richardson, Ray Mc Anally, Michael Gough, Joanna Cassidy, Ned Beatty, Anton Rodgers, Matt Frewer.
Directed by John Mackenzie.
The Fourth Protocol is an interesting espionage story with echoes of spying between the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom during the Cold War. It is based on a novel by Frederick Forsyth (The Day of the Jackal, The Dogs of War).
Michael Caine is coolly efficient as a spy for the British government, courageous, quick-thinking, a man of action. He is to be matched against Pierce Brosnan’s Valery Petrofsky, seconded by the KGB for a special mission in the UK.
The film presents British authorities, embodied in the head of the Secret Service played by Ian Richardson in his normal sardonic and ironic manner. Julian Glover, on the other hand, is pompous and, as Ian Richardson says of him, is busy at work for his knighthood. Ray McAnally? is a Russian general, Michael Gough has a cameo as the former head of the Secret Service and Joanna Cassidy is a Russian spy. Ned Beatty is somewhat anomalous as a Russian authority.
While some of the action is in Russia, there is not so much action in the film, rather a cat-and-mouse process, the uncovering of the spy in Britain, the South African connection, his naivety in not realising that the South Africans were feeding his information back to the Russians, a set-up by the Russians to eliminate rivals in the Secret Service there.
John Mackenzie directed a number of interesting films in the 1980s including his classic gangster film, The Long Good Friday, and the film version of Graham Greene’s The Honorary Consul with Richard Gere and Michael Caine.
1.The continued popularity of this kind of espionage story? From Britain’s Cold War experience? Leaks to Moscow, moles in the Secret Service? The transition in Soviet government and the KGB during the 1980s? The relevance of the film now – more historical in perspective?
2.The Russian settings, the presentation of the Russian authorities, meetings? The contrast with London, London life, buildings, offices? The countryside, the airport, the homes? The set-up for this kind of espionage story and dramatic climax? Musical score?
3.Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan pitted against each other? Brosnan at this stage of his career, Caine at his? The strong supporting British cast? The Americans?
4.The Russian situation, the Russian general, his seconding Valery Petrofsky, the secret mission, even to the execution of the communicating officer? The rivalry in Russia, Borisov and his friendship with General Karpov, the phone call, Karpov’s visit, their discussions, realisation of what was happening? The background of the plots – and the final revelation that Sir Nigel Irvine was plotting with General Karpov, to arrange things as suited them in the Politburo in Moscow?
5.Petrofsky, ruthless, the killings? His cover, coming to England, arrival, renting the house? The set-up? The bomb, the plan to set it off, the loss of the detonator with the courier in Scotland? The arrival of Irina? Her bringing the material, her coldness, their setting up the bomb, the sexual relationship – and his killing her, leaving her in the bath? His going to the restaurant, getting the parts, being discovered by John Preston, the house surrounded? The vigil, his resting, the time approaching, the move on the house (and the boy looking for his cat)? The confrontation, Preston and the fight with Petrofsky, his death? The irony that this was all a set-up for political reasons?
6.John Preston, seeing him in action? His reporting to Harcourt- Smith, Irvine and the other authorities? His explanations of his New Year’s Eve robbery, the safe, the jewellery, the documents? The revelation that Berenson was a leak? The confrontation with Harcourt- Smith, taunting him that he was only acting deputy? The friendship with Sir Nigel? The confrontation with Berenson, his collapse? The prudence that Preston showed in tracking down Berenson but also finding his South African contacts, the Russian contacts?
7.Berenson, his principles, naïve, pro-Britain, anticommunist, helping South Africa – without realising that they were passing on information to Russia? Sir Nigel using him to plant false information for the Russians?
8.The confrontation between Harcourt- Smith and Preston, Preston being sent to the wharves and ports? Their discovery in Glasgow, the fight, the death of the Russian, finding the detonator? Preston and his making the links, his investigations, being in touch with Sir Nigel? Dismissed by Harcourt- Smith?
9.Harcourt-Smith, his vanity, his being affronted by Preston? The contrast with Sir Nigel, smooth? And yet at the end, Preston’s condemnation of Sir Nigel’s career focus and impersonal treatment of all issues? Sir Nigel and his visit to Sir Bernard, Sir Bernard’s support of Preston?
10.Preston, his team, their skills in working together, the discovery of the house, following leads, literally in the cars, the pile-up on the freeway and his getting through? The restaurant? Surveillance of the house, the vigil, putting two and two together, going into the house, the fight with Petrofsky, his winning?
11.The background of Preston and his son, his discussions with his son – and the finale reunited with him?
12.The background of the Americans at the base, going out with Petrofsky, providing a cover? The neighbours – and Preston telling them that he was a serial killer?
13.How realistic and credible this kind of espionage story? In the light of revelations about Burgess and Mc Lean, Philby and other spies? And the reactions of the Soviet Union?
