<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000868512</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HOLLINGER INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HLR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001351574</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Beck Stanley M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>70 BOND STREET, # 500</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TORONTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>M5B 1X3</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ONTARIO, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1774.47</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, Class A</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1774.47</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3525.67</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On June 30, 2006, Hollinger International Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) issued Deferred Stock Units (&quot;DSUs&quot;)
to certain of its directors in accordance with the Company's compensation program for non-employee directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">1-for-1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The DSUs were issued pursuant to the Company's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan and the Company's compensation program
for non-employee directors.  Upon the settlement of the DSUs, the Company shall transfer to the Reporting Person one share of
common stock for each DSU held by the Reporting Person.  Each such DSU granted represents an unfunded, unsecured right to
receive a share of the Company's Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the &quot;Class A Common Stock&quot;), as soon as is
reasonably practicable after the date such non-employee Board member ceases to be a member of the Board (or, if later, on the
date the non-employee director suffers a &quot;separation from service,&quot; as defined in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended).  The non-employee Board member will receive a cash payment for any fractional shares of the Class A
Common Stock when the DSUs are settled.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Not applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stanley M. Beck</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
