Wolf Schmidt Movies

The Fourth War finds director John Frankenheimer delving into the same Cold-war territory he'd previously cultivated in films like The Manchurian Candidate. Col. Jack Knowles (Roy Scheider), serving at a faraway post on the German-Czech border, carries on a personal war with his Soviet counterpart, Colonel Valachev (Jurgen Prochnow). Both have been hardened by past combat experiences, and both have been embittered by the exigencies of red tape, bureaucracy, and diplomatic deal-making. Their friendly rivalry snowballs (literally so!) into a guerilla-like combat situation, culminating in a one-on-one showdown. It's essentially a shaggy dog story, but a compelling one. Based on a novel by Stephen Peters, The Fourth War was given surprisingly short shrift by Cannon Films' distribution channels. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Two teens just out of high school are the computer experts who run across a Soviet plot to steal the plans of a high-tech helicopter in this routine spy thriller. The Russians monitor the NASA launching pad from an offshore trawler. They recruit one of the local students to infiltrate the computers and monitor the top secret plans. Stock footage of rocket launches and military planes are included in this feature directed by Monte Markham, who also plays Colonel Mark Denton. Mostly the feature shows people at the computer and lacks the excitement of other films of the genre. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

A psychotic photographer is on the hunt for a pure woman. To this end he sets up photo sessions at the homes of ladies he meets through a local sex newspaper, but they invariably disrobe, pose in provocative ways, and attempt to seduce him. Each time his fury is aroused and he strangles them, believing that he's doing a good thing by ridding the world of loose women. He becomes fixated on the owner of a local bookstore, a prim, proper woman who he believes might be the one he's looking for. Little does he know that she's a serial killer as well, stabbing local winos to death in back alleys late at night. Since they share a similar distaste for weakness in the opposite sex, when they finally come together the only possible outcome is violence and death for them both. ~ Fred Beldin, Rovi

Was Jesus Christ the son of God -- or a clever political activist who staged his crucifixion and resurrection to help promote his point of view? The latter possibility is proposed in this bit of historical speculation, based on the best-selling novel by Hugh J. Schonfield. Yeshua (Zalman King), as the Hebrews called him, was a member of the Zealots who sought to end to the rule of the Romans who had taken control of their land. To rally support for their cause, Yeshua proclaims himself the son of God, born of mortal woman, and carefully orchestrates the events that lead to him being sentenced to death; he's also able to add to his martyrdom by falsifying a resurrection two days later. Understandably controversial upon release, The Passover Plot also stars Donald Pleasance, Scott Wilson, and Hugh Griffith; Mary Wills' costume design earned an Academy Award nomination. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Released in Germany as Der Ideale Untermeiter, this film was ostensibly aimed at the kiddie trade. Curiously, the themes explored within its 98 minutes are not altogether suitable for children. The central character is a lonely young boy who befriends a genial robot. In order to separate the two, the boy's parents agree to subject their son to hospital shock treatment! Producer/director/writer Wolf Schmidt also finds time to play a leading role in this curious film. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi