The Fourth Protocol Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Fourth Protocol Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 12, 2026

John Mackenzie's "The Fourth Protocol" (1987) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with actor Julian Glover; new program with art director Tim Hutchinson; new program with second assistant director John Dodds; archival program with Michael Caine; archival program with Frederick Forsyth; archival documentaries; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

It is as big as a football.

During the Cold War era, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe became one of the deadliest, and those who understood why gave it several nicknames. The city was the Austrian capital, Vienna, and two of its more famous nicknames were Spy Nest and The Grinder.

Spy Nest -- and its variant, Den of Spies -- was the nickname well-informed journalists, analysts, and some politicians preferred to use in public materials, such as printed articles and TV programming. Why Spy Nest? Between the 1960s and 1990s, Vienna became the largest battleground for spies from both sides of the Iron Curtain, who were protected, directly and indirectly, by two types of local government officials. The first did it because they were ideologically aligned with the puppet masters behind the spies. The second did it because they were corrupt.

The Grinder was the nickname that the pros used. While famous, this nickname was rarely mentioned in public materials. Why The Grinder? Because Vienna attracted the most spies and killed most of them, too. Well, sort of. Vienna attracted many spies, and too many of them perished in risky operations that were staged there. However, they were not always killed by their rivals from the other side of the Iron Curtain. Plenty of these spies were eliminated by the very people who sent them to Vienna, completely unaware that they were participating in an even deadlier game than the one they had been trained to survive. These spies were handpicked and prepared to be elite human kamikazes, and in Vienna, they died in impressive numbers. For this reason, the pros gave Vienna the nickname The Grinder.

John Mackenzie’s film The Fourth Protocol does not visit Vienna. However, it depicts exactly the type of complex game spies and their puppet masters played in Vienna, and highlights the exact reasons it lasted as long as it did.

In London, veteran British spy John Preston (Michael Caine) successfully identifies and nabs a high-ranking mole transferring top-secret information to a contact in Johannesburg, South Africa, assuming all of it is being used to damage the KGB’s massive network of informers and spies in Europe. After the mole is presented with evidence that he has been passing information to a communist sympathizer, a different operation is launched, using the same channel and feeding false information to the most powerful man at the KGB. Soon after, the desired ripple effects appear. However, the KGB responds with a bold power play, and Preston is asked to manage a new operation whose goal is to nab a Russian spy (Pierce Brosnan) who has landed in London to detonate a miniature atomic bomb.

The Fourth Protocol works with original material penned by Frederick Forsyth, one of the greatest thriller authors of the last century, whose understanding of the mechanics of the spy game was as impressive as Robert Ludlum’s. Unsurprisingly, The Fourth Protocol is not just a very entertaining film, but a tremendously educational one as well.

It is difficult to comment on key developments without producing big spoilers, so here are two crucial truths about the spy game that The Fourth Protocol correctly spells out. Both are still valid today. The spy game is a high-stakes kabuki theater dominated by egomaniacs, not the greatest patriots, carefully using politics to hide that they are power addicts. Also, the spies who play the spy game on the ground are not the brilliant thinkers and heroes that countless films and novels have promoted. At best, they are sufficiently informed gamblers risking their lives in operations whose true objectives are rarely revealed to them.

Caine and Brosnan are both very good, though the latter’s ideal British accent is a bit hard to accept. The supporting cast includes Ned Beatty, Ray McAnally, Julian Glover, Joanna Cassidy, Michael Gough, and Ian Richardson.

*In 2026, Vienna is once again the spy capital of the world, making headlines as it did during the Cold War. Earlier this month, the Austrian government booted out several Russian diplomats for operating a "satellite spy farm."

The Fourth Protocol Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Fourth Protocol arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

The overall quality of the visuals is very good. In a few areas, usually darker ones, I noticed flatness I would expect to see when small degraining corrections are performed. However, high-frequency information remains very nice throughout the entire film. I suspect that the current master, which is not new, was sourced from an interpositive, and the fluctuations are related to inherited inconsistencies. Elsewhere, delineation, clarity, and depth range from good to very good, and in a few places even borderline excellent. Color reproduction and balance are very good. There is room for small improvements, primarily during outdoor footage, but all primaries and supporting nuances are properly set. Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks very clean as well. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play ir on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Fourth Protocol Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they split the image frame and the black bar below it.

Lalo Schifrin's dynamic score does a lot to give the film a proper period atmosphere, and the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track handles it and everything else incredibly well. I did not notice any age-related anomalies either. For these reasons, I do not think that there is any room for meaningful improvements. All exchanges were very clear, stable, and easy to follow.

The Fourth Protocol Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - in this archival audio commentary, Frederick Forsyth discusses the crucial protocols -- and comments on Iran and North Korea's behavior toward the use of nuclear weapons in th epresent -- the production of The Fourth Protocol, the relevance of its drama and the type of people that are involved in it, some of the differences between the novel and the film, etc. It is a great, enormously entertaining and informative commentary, so if you enjoy The Fourth Protocol, be sure to spend time with it.

• On Location - in this archival program, critic Robert Powell visits some of the locations seen in The Fourth Protocol. Also included are clips from an interview with assistant location manager Gilly Case. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• The Forsyth Protocol: The Career of Frederick Forsyth - this archival program takes a closer look at the life and legacy of Frederick Forsyth. In the program, Forsyth also discusses the conception of The Fourth Protocol. In English, not subtitled. (23 min).

• The Fourth Protocol: Filming the Novel - this archival program examines the production history of The Fourth Protocol. Included in it are clips from interviews with director John Mackenzie, Frederick Forsyth, Michael Caine, and Pierce Brosnan, amongst others. Also included is raw footage from the shooting process. In English, not subtitled. (30 min).

• Believe You Are Right - in this exclusive new program, actor Julian Glover recalls how he was cast to play his character in The Fourth Protocol, and comments on his interactions with John Mackenzie and cast members, as well as the quality of the original material that inspired the film. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• East and West - in this exclusive new program, art director Tim Hutchinson recalls how he was offered the opportunity to work with John Mackenzie and what it was like to shoot in Finland, as well as set up Pierce Brosnan's apartment near the American base. Hutchinson also comments on the final version of The Fourth Protocol. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• The Protocol Second - in this exclusive new program, second assistant director John Dodds explains how earlier work he had done with Michael Caine made it possible for him to team up with John Mackenzie on The Fourth Protocol. Dodds also reveals that The Fourth Protocol was a complex project that required a lot of very particular teamwork. In English, not subtitled. (24 min).

• Micahel Caine - in this archival program, Michael Caine discusses the character he plays in The Fourth Protocol, why he was not right for Pierce Brosnan's part, and why Brosnan was especially good despite taking a big risk playing the ruthless Russian spy. Caine also states that he has never turned down a role and regrets his decision. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• John Mackenzie - in this archival program, John Mackenzie confirms that Pierce Brosnan's work in The Long Good Friday was the reason he wanted to him to play the ruthless Russian spy in The Fourth Protocol, and comments on Michael Caine's character and the quality of his performance. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Frederick Forsyth - in this archival program, Frederick Forsyth comments on his relationship with John Mackenzie during the pre-production and production of The Fourth Protocol, the casting of Pierce Brosnan (and the strength of his image from Remington Steele in America), and the replica of the atomic bomb seen in the film. In English, not subtitled. (8 min).

• Stills Gallery - a collection of archival stills, presented with music. (4 min).

The Fourth Protocol Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Replace the Russian spy with an Iranian, Chinese, or North Korean spy, and all of the drama in The Fourth Protocol instantly becomes entirely believable. In a few of the archival programs, the Iranians and the North Koreans are even mentioned by the people who made The Fourth Protocol. Also, Frederick Forsyth's dissection of the spy game and the people who dominate it remains one hundred percent accurate. Needless to say, The Fourth Protocol is a terrific film to revisit or rediscover now. Imprint Films' Blu-ray also presents it with an outstanding selection of exclusive new and archival bonus features. It is included in Directed by John Mackenzie, a four-disc box set. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.