The Fourth Protocol (Revisited) | Analyzing Frederick Forsyth's Cold War Classic

[@SnorreSelmer]

Your Cold War videos are just top notch. Many greetings from a fellow veteran from Norway.

[@jospi2]

Thanks for the video Andy. I have a suggestion for a future video, the 1981 Whiskey on the rocks incident, when a Soviet submarine ran aground near a Swedish naval base.

[@AT-ni4sf]

I agree....great suggestion👏👏

[@bridgeburner265]

I'd like to learn more about that incident. All i know of it is from watching wallander series 3 opener starring krister henrikssen. I haven't seen the fourth protocol movie but i have the book and read it twice, along with the negotiator.

[@jackharrison6771]

@@bridgeburner265 DO try to watch or buy the DVD; you won't be disappointed.

[@HappyBear376]

One of my favourite films.

[@AndrewFranklin-w2r]

Your Cold War stuff really is top drawer. Any chance of you maybe doing a couple of episodes on the now-abandoned British bases in Germany and maybe the now-abandoned US air bases in the UK like Upper Heyford and Woodbridge/Bentwaters? Just a suggestion. Thanks very much for the content.

[@GregorCopland-to7rk]

Completely agree with this comment. Britain alone would provide tens of locations that would benefit from your insightful approach.

[@simonh6371]

Only the old NAAFI building and the gym (now Turnverein Herford i.e. the Herford Gym Association) are still standing of my old camp, Maresfield Bks in Herford. The other bks in the town however were from the Kaiser's eraI think and are still standing. For example Wentworth Bks is now a Finance College campus, which is interesting as back in 1991 I did my colloquial German course at the Army Education Centre on that camp which at that time was HQ 1 Armoured Div.

[@eversor431]

Another excellent video. The on-site footage adds color. Adding both versions to my backlog.

[@danielmarshall4587]

Another smashing video. I very much enjoy this film and your video gives great insight many thanks.

[@Underwatergoat1]

Your films are getting better and better Andy

[@holgerandersengrn3457]

You did it again Andy, you took a 45 degree turn, into something completely different and made it super exciting, thanks, I watched the movie on your recommendation, great movie. Now I have to read the book. By the way, I bought a Ford Escort rs turbo, red, in 1987, pierce brosnan drives an XR3i, but they look so similar, finally, I hate traitors. Thanks again and I look forward to your next video, you can do something special.

[@astronomenov99]

Loved this 'deep dive'. Keep doing these videos!

[@jackharrison6771]

Yet another great video;; thanks Andy. This has always been one of my favourite of Forsyth's books. Joint first along with The Devil's Alternative. I hope one day, you will cover it. It would make an excellent companion to the Fourth Protocol. DO keep up your good work. I would recommend the Audible audiobook version.

[@73dmonty]

Thank you. I have long loved the movie (Cold War Kid still fascinated by it all) but I was not aware of Operation Foot until I found your video about it. Naturally the relationship to this movie got my attention and watching this followed right along. I so appreciate your effort and it's so satisfying to know the history behind it.

[@kevinm.9323]

Loving your content brotha!!! Really respect a man's intelligence and balls when he serves first then takes the time to understand and accept why he and everyone else should have served. Love and respect brother.

[@AndyMcloone]

Thanx

[@stevenblack7928]

Very interesting review /analyse of one of my favourite Cold War movies.

[@mojoblues66]

Amazing how much work you've put into this video!

[@AndyMcloone]

Thanks a ton!

[@warlikeplate4407]

That was awesome Andy, really enjoyed it.

[@andrewgardiner4159]

An excellent video! I have the book and have read and re-read it several times and I thoroughly recommend it to everyone, especially those who like me, have lived through the most tense times of the Cold War. I have also seen the film and can say quite clearly, that it is definitely not as good as the book!

[@williamglaser6577]

This Movie has been in my collection for many years, thanks for the great review, will have to watch it again soon.

[@glennmorrissey5309]

I always think your work is superb, Andy. Your videos keep my interested from beginning to end, I like your narration and the way the video flows. Keep up the great work!

[@ianmcalpine2967]

Great video Andy, I love your cold war content, I will be definitely watching the movie and listening to audio book version 👍

[@MrAsimomytis]

this was an amazing blistering hot night in Athens Greece, thank you very much Sir!

[@NigelsWargaming]

Really like your Cold War revisited videos. Nice to look back to my time at RAF "Wilders" in the tensions of the 1980s

[@Retirement_Life]

Another fascinating video, Andy. Really enjoyed watching it. 👏👏👏

[@dwbunloaf8245]

This film and your last documentary are truly exceptional. I haven’t watched any others yet as I’ve only just subscribed but I’ll make it my priority to do so. This is the sort of content I really enjoy and these are the best thank you 😊

[@ob1tomi]

Nice recap. Let me re-watch the movie. read the book ages ago.

[@bensmith5413]

Absolute cracking film and book. Definitely in my 20. But I'm a sucker for good espionage films.

[@charleslennon1]

As a teenager in the 1980s, I remember the trailer for this movie, but it was never shown in any of the theaters in my city. I can remember the video game, but it appeared too highbrow for my tastes (no action). I forgot about the movie, but I always remembered the movie's haunting themes, which still 'hit' today. Flash forward about the years, and I'm stationed in Europe. The wall had been gone for about six years, and I was stationed at several US Military bases, most being 'air' bases. Late one evening, the movie played on AFN Europe or Sky. I had nothing better to do, so I watched. At first, it was tough to understand the movie's premise, and Ned Betty's accent (or nonaccent) threw me for a loop. By the second act, I began to understand not only the plot but the motivations of the characters. IT SCARED THE LIVING PISS OUT OF ME!!! I watched the movie less than 100 meters from the airbase's flight line. On top of that, the base was a [secret] diplomatic stop for high-value personnel, namely heads of state, military personnel, and special ops. Back then, this base was not secure, hell a local national (local civilian) could literally walk into the base from the main gate, or jump the surrounding fences. The fence line was not monitored by a camera or guard, had no barbed or razor wire affixed, wasn't electrified, and was lower than 1 meter in some places due to neglect. Thankfully, that began to change in 1998, just before I was stationed elsewhere. But this movie's plot has always affected me. So simple yet so complex.

[@simonh6371]

Re. Preston living in a W. London house, this just goes to show how until the 80s/early 90s it was possible for a normal wage earner to live in a house in London. I noticed this too watching old episodes of the Professionals and Minder.

[@davewilson871]

Recently bought this on blu-ray from Amazon France very good upgrade over the uk dvd apart from the opening titles in French the whole film plays in English with removable subtitles .

[@jonremmers1828]

Dang I remember reading this book some twenty years ago. It was a real pageturner. Guess I have to re-read it now. I loved all of Forsythes books!

[@Brantdrangus8489]

I loved reading Frederick Forsyth's books.

[@waynegoldpig2220]

Need to correct you on something. The meeting between Berenson and Irvine doesn't take place in the Stately home. It takes place in the same London flat that Preston burgled at the start. Note that Irvine nods to his surroundings when he ask Berenson if anything is missing.

[@robinwells8879]

Excellent piece! The film was indeed very good if not as good as the book as is usual. I remember it well as at the time my first wife worked on Lakenheath and I had experienced similar things to the drinking competition and follow up. However, I have to say that locally we were very pleased to have our American neighbours putting their lives on the line for our benefit. Indeed locally we still grieve when they lose personnel. I always thought that the “device” was a little too close for comfort as a dirty bomb even if getting the materials would be a considerable challenge. If it were misogynistic then one has to wonder why Mr Brosnan’s fan base is so much a female affair! There was eye candy for all!👍

[@andreaslermen2008]

Forsyth's books always lives from he description of what the characters do, it's hard to make a movie out of it. I have read the novel, when the (original) cold war was still a thing and I enjoyed it. I think it's hard to understand for people who didn't lived through that time.

[@grimaldispa7139]

It's still one of my favourite films 😅.

[@pascalcoole2725]

Damm you are so good ! Thanks again

[@stephendavies923]

Excellent work Andy. I have always enjoyed the work of FF as well as the work of John Le Carre. Caine does a great job in the film and Brosnan is wonderfully dark. A good film and the goodies win. It even has the SAS, nothing wrong there.

[@gringodoce5788]

I am very grateful for this video as I read the book (as all of Foresyths novels). I watched the movie a couple times. Always being disappointed by Brosnan. And always amazed by Michael Cain.

[@NorwayT]

Excellent! A clear thumbs up on all counts! 👍 I haven't watched the movie, but with a neutron initiator, which I assume was in the package, the amount of fissile material would be even less. A beryllium casing would decrease it even more. You are right. People have an absolute wrong assumption about handling Nuclear Weapons Material. From the picture you showed, my main objection would be that bomb technicians would have used gloves in the assembly.

[@markbunn4376]

A good video, it is a book that I read as a teenager, (I even had a an audio book version on tape). Although I need to point out a few factual mistakes in the video. In the book Petrofsky does not have his forward operating base by the base. He has a house based on a real housing estate just south of Ipswich Town centre. He has a house on " Number 12 Cherryhayes Close" which is fictional but all the other Hayes mentioned in the book are real (You can go on Google Street view and look them up). The same goes for the Greek's radio transmitter which in the book is in Chesterfield (not Maldon), the locations are real, again they are on Google street view (although the numbering of the houses on Compton Street in Chesterfield is changed). In the film as shown in the trailer a soviet courier is knocked down and killed by a truck, but in the book there is a long sequence where he is walking to meet Petrofsky in Galsgow, when he is attacked by a gang of punks. (Again you can easily follow the locations from the book on Google Street view). The McWhirter's are not present in the book at all. The plan is for Petrofsky to hide the bomb close by the fence of the Bentwaters base. Also the major difference between the book and film version of Petrofsky is that in the book he is less a murderer, although he does kill Vassiliev, he doesn't kill the gay man in the airport hotel car park. Also the cover name is changed from the book to the film in the book the cover name is James Duncan Ross but they change the middle name to Edward for some reason. The film does remove three major subplots (as mentioned) in the book, these are the hunt for the leaker (Jim Rawlings is a thief who breaks into steal the diamonds but by accident finds the leaked NATO papers), and the first part of the book is John Preston trying to find the leak its either Berenson or Sir George Peters who turns out to be trans gender, and meeting up with men for sex. Preston then spends the best part of the middle of the book in South Africa digging into the background of Jan Maris. The other major change is the complete removal of the political plot of the book to turn the UK to Communist State lead by a hard left Labour Government (Neil Kinnock would be toppled after a general election).

[@aerotube7291]

I got this as a present in the late 80s. Great book

[@AT-ni4sf]

Thx again for a great informative video. I also loved the action sequence with choppers flying under the bridge (!)...not really tactical relevant, but it looked great and maybe the instructor was inspired by the movie Blue Thunder from 1983. There are some really cool bad ass helicopter scenes where they fly very low under bridges downtown LA. Stuntpilots former Huey vietnam vets. You can find it on YT.

[@theLeftHandedDog]

I think this is a great film - I've been hoping to see it again - keep checking for it. I was really surprised, reading Caine's autobiography - he didn't even mention it, if I remember right.

[@torquersmalls2680]

You've exceeded yourself and the regulation 30" pace again Mac. BOLO. We can't wait to see what you do with Colonel Jack Ripper and Dr.Strangelove. You're right about the Regiment's approach though. The busker 🧘🎸🚇was more likely relieved of his 'eyes on the guy' who stuck some gum under a bench in Golden Square duty, and given something exotic to replace the Fender for his March And Shoot across bridge to check point the Charlie🧐

[@jasonmaccoul]

Thanks Andy! One of my favourite films and I agree with your dive into the film for its anti-US and Tory Party subplots. The Orwell Bridge scene never made much sense to me either. Enjoy your channel immensely and thanks for the locations of the film.

[@ned900]

Good content, very interesting.

[@trekaddict]

God I love this movie. I wasn't born until the Cold War was in it's last legs, but it is an incredibly interesting period of history, and this movie is an expression of why I believe that.

[@neilmckay8649]

My definition of 'movie' is 'made in Hollywood', all other film studios make films. I remember Fredrick Forsyth's game of Who Wants to be a Millionaire - such great knowledge.

[@mikemines2931]

''Unwelcome in the UK'', I can remember a saying at the time that the UK was like a rag doll fought over by two terriers.

[@AndyMcloone]

I think that is Frederick Forsyth’s political message from the movie.

[@baconpizza1239]

​​@@AndyMcloone It wasn't just the movie, my father told me when he was changing boats in the UK before getting shipped to the front lines in December 1944: the British didn't care for the Yanks then either. He told me they didn't like the Yankees for 3 reasons: "they were over sexed, over paid, and over here (UK)"!

[@AH-sr5px]

chilling but excellent movie not to be missed

[@Bod8998]

Great great great film love it even the first new style transit van

[@alanfaulkner6329]

Brilliant as always. As an aside. I want to know the story of the 53 in the window 😊.

[@Dunkcanio]

Enjoyed that, thanks. Always liked the film, and did see this as an extension of the Harry Palmer storyline - and much better than the 90s Palmer films to boot.

[@matthewrowe9903]

I do love this film like the Bedford incident and By Dawns early light its honest about its story it isn't stupid or over blown just good writing and acting

[@musicmanfelipe]

Speaking of Bentwaters, are you going to touch upon the alleged UFO sighting in 1980?

[@nicc5122]

You should have a spolier disclaimer! Fantastic review. I'd like to see more of these on other cold war themed movies. There is a South African documovie waiting to be made, that of the assassination of Chris Hani of the South African Communist Party by a Polish immigrant Janus Walus (ask if you want more details). Despite being post Glasnost (just) things hadn't really warmed up much.

[@brianperry]

l bought the unabridged audio book of the novel, plus have watched the film. The film is entertaining however as is often the case the book is better. As you commented the background of the South African connection is in far more detail, as is the tracking of the Soviet technician. As for the Bomb, it’s interesting as it’s a very small version of the gun system used on LittleBoy to cause a nuclear detonation….

[@Teesbrough]

Fascinating video as yours always are. I’ve neither read the book nor seen the film. However, your clip of the train illustrates an all too typical movie railway fiction. The train seen leaving St Pancras is an outer-suburban Class 310 unit, specially hired. In practice, these trains ran out of Euston, never St Pancras. The platform shown is now in the Eurostar platform area.

[@EdgyNumber1]

Nice! My uncle was an extra in that movie.

[@mikemines2931]

Thanks for the reminder, I will pay a visit to the emporium to see if I can get a copy, blu ray if I'm lucky.

[@montevallomustang]

Is that an hk53 in the background? You dont see those very often

[@ceedub04]

Actor Matt Frewer is Canadian, by the way. Born in Washington DC to a Canadian Naval Officer and raised in Peterborough, Ontario.

[@milesnixon9554]

"Nigel, how nice" a great line. "Nigel, oh now I'm in deep shit" expressed very politely.

[@waltersteenvoorden252]

HK53, cold war legend in the background

[@judithlungen6958]

Great film the Brits are the best at these films

[@davidlally592]

Mmm I was in St Pancras when the scene was filmed (where he runs for the train)...

[@UhlanBC]

Great video! A slight correction however. Matt Frewer is a Canadian actor.

[@AndyMcloone]

My bad 🫣

[@notreallydavid]

South Africa House isn't and wasn',t a consulate. I lived in London 1987-1989. For some reason I didn't take note of whether the brass plaque by the entrance to SA House said 'South African Embassy' or 'Embassy of the Republic of South Africa.' The use of 'atomic' rather than 'nuclear' in the script was already a bit dusty by 1987.

[@rickyred001]

I went to see this at the cinema when it came out, i was about 18 or 19, i thought it was great, still do...

[@cannondale514]

I read the Fourth Protocol extensively and can remember when Petrovsky gets shot and struggles to make his way toward the radio. Overall it was a good video, especially when Jan Marais gets unmasked and the full truth of what he has done comes to light. But fortunately, this is all part of the past and it should remain that way.

[@OceanST955]

Great film. But why at the beginning we're the vicious guard dogs at the Russian dachau labradoodles?

[@bullettube9863]

I read the book before seeing the movie so I filled in the blanks mentally and enjoyed watching it. I think that the 4th protocol is actually a non-written agreement that prohibited CIA and KGB agents from killing each other in their respective countries. This may be a myth, but so far as I know all KGB agents caught in America were sent back to Russia and I've never heard that a CIA agent was killed in Russia. The KGB however killed numerous Eastern Europeans working for the CIA, who were betrayed by Russian agents in the CIA and Mi6. The cruel nature of Pierce Brosnan's character was typical of KGB agents and is just as true today as it was during the Cold War.

[@colintraveller]

Seen the film countless times , British Classic imo . As is Caine's other Later spy classic that had Nigel Hargreaves as his Son

[@discopot]

I enjoyed the fourth protocol film, part of it was filmed in Dover Kent

[@Jhonjhonray]

Makes you wonder if something like this is going on right now

[@michaeledwards427]

Great video. I've watched this film many times (having recorded it from TV onto VHS, in the mid 90's, that's aged me!!!) before I read the book in the early 2000's, must read it again as Frederick Forsyth (as well as Craig Thomas) are my favourite fiction authors. I fully agree with the book being superior to the film, which isn't totally the films fault. If the film stayed true to the book the film would be twice as long. Exactly the same for Stephen King's "Christine". The film Christine, apart from the right actors for the characters the film just doesn't compare.

[@TimChuma]

Is a box set available with this movie, the Icpress File, the Honourary Consul, Hurry Soundown and Jack the Ripper. I would just get Jack the Ripper separately. Michael Caine thought the movie had too much expoisition

[@graemecatty9921]

The book was superb, the movie adequate imho. I agree with you that the sub-plot involving Jan Marais was largely eliminated from the movie. A shame because it was a story in itself. Squeezing it into a movie too difficult I guess.

[@markbooth1117]

I enjoyed the film. Around the time, I was part of the RAF detachment at Greenham Common at the time, so was face to face with the protesters when doing security wire patrols. and patrols on the exterior of the GAMA site, where the launch vehicles were housed, etc. We were literally in the front line of the Cold War, being a massive Soviet target even though I was still in the UK.

[@pin0teres]

10:45 A part of the reason nobody could pronounce their names could be because 4 out of 5 is spelled incorrectly (even if ignoring missing diacritics).

[@lionzion86]

The scene where Caine gets a bollocking is inside King's College

[@user-kc3kc9bu9i]

Is the Fourth Protocol the same as Nato's Article Five?

[@Bob-dh7bv]

Another great one Andy this is better than the movie all the best😃 Tracking tracking tracking IMPACT 🚀

[@AndyMcloone]

🤫

[@Ganiscol]

36:59 - Thats Plutonium, not Uranium, though. The only Uranium 235 device used in the Manhattan Project was the Hiroshima bomb. All the others had Plutonium cores. Which is, from a radiation point of view, safer to handle than Uranium 235. Unless you ingest or inhale Pu particles, then you're screwed. 😅

[@schr75]

In the book and the film, they use a gun assembly Uranium device, which is what he´s referring to. The reference to the Demon core is just her piss poor criticality safety precautions during assembly, approaching the level of the "Tickling the dragon" experiments that killed Slotin🙂

[@AndyMcloone]

Glad someone got the Louis Slotin reference …. ☠️

[@dodweld]

Brilliant -Thanks Andy for the critique. Please could you do similar to the 1991 BBC “Sleepers” with Nigel Havers and Warren Clarke. Although a lighthearted four part look at KGB infiltration of the UK in the 60’s

[@McRocket]

I really enjoy this film. Only the ending was weak for me. And a bit lame. I like the novel's ending much more. ✌️

[@CameronM47]

12:08 So that's where Shia LaBeouf got that from.

[@notreallydavid]

Thicko here. Why does Ross kill the guy he picks-up-but-not-really? If he needs a car to use and then ditch, why not just rent obe under a differnt alias? And why would he need to kill him purely to shut him up? The guy has no reason to suppose Ross is up to anything.

[@robdow6348]

So my take is Frederick the director, hates the conservative politicians, as much or more than the Soviets. 🤣 Leftists and communists are kindred hearts. Excellent commentary and breakdown of the movie and book. How many movies are better than the book?

[@waynegoldpig2220]

Frederick Forsyth is a staunch Thatcherite conservative. The novel is very much against the Labour party and it's communist faction.

[@arndmarx480]

The novel was very exciting. I read it during the 80's in one day. But I was disappointed about the film version. It was in the opposite to the novel very boring.

[@Crabby303]

It's "Oirish", I can say that coz I'm Irish, innit. An ting.

[@Fat_Cat_747]

Its unbeleievable what KZbin deletes as comments. You make the effort to type out comment or questions and they're gone, for goodness knows what reason. I was asking questions about the nuclear material as portrayed in the film and a technical question about it in general. But of course KZbin know best. I'm so sick of the interference and goodness knows what they inferred from my comment.

[@tango6nf477]

But was it fiction or was there some truth behind it?

[@darrenharrison3591]

I read the novel back in the 1980s, and even then found it too political.

[@MrTakeshiss]

Nooo Russian subs 😢😢😢(((

[@frankfahrenheit9537]

Actually Michael Caine was 10 years too old for this movie.

[@notreallydavid]

Film is on YT as I write. Just watched - nothing great. Made more action-y than the book, to no great effect, and the human interactions and characterisations are cruder. Nice 'Russia' photography, and good music from the great and notably industrious Lalo Schifrin. A flat, Le Carre-ish adaptation might have served the book better, I think. But I'm often wrong, about all kinds of things, though. All best to all.

[@mikeromadin8744]

The novel is stunning, unfortunately movie is an absolute crap.

[@flimsedom]

🫡

[@rob5944]

I liked the film Day Of The Jackal but didn't realise Forsyth was a communist sympathiser though.

[@waynegoldpig2220]

You couldn't be more wrong.

[@notreallydavid]

Only if he got up early and worked very hard, w.

[@bimbo-yw6ny]

i really love this movie, great dialogues, unfortunately nowadays they just make movies only with action, they don't build the story anymore