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Ishtar (1987)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Elaine May (written by)
Release Date:
15 May 1987 (USA)
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Plot:
Two terrible lounge singers get booked to play a gig in a Moroccan hotel but somehow become pawns in an international power play between the CIA...
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| full synopsis
Awards:
1 win
&
2 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
Ishtar Lives! Men Who Stare at Goats
(From Huffington Post. 9 November 2009, 11:29 AM, PST)
Vintage Isabelle
(From FilmExperience. 23 March 2009, 9:38 AM, PDT)
(From Huffington Post. 9 November 2009, 11:29 AM, PST)
Vintage Isabelle
(From FilmExperience. 23 March 2009, 9:38 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Unable to understand vast dislike
more (107 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Warren Beatty | ... | Lyle Rogers | |
| Dustin Hoffman | ... | Chuck Clarke | |
| Isabelle Adjani | ... | Shirra Assel | |
| Charles Grodin | ... | Jim Harrison | |
| Jack Weston | ... | Marty Freed | |
| Tess Harper | ... | Willa | |
| Carol Kane | ... | Carol | |
| Aharon Ipalé | ... | Emir Yousef | |
| Fijad Hageb | ... | Abdul (as Fuad Hageb) | |
| David Margulies | ... | Mr. Clarke | |
| Rose Arrick | ... | Mrs.Clarke | |
| Julie Garfield | ... | Dorothy | |
| Cristine Rose | ... | Siri Darma (as Christine Rose) | |
| Robert V. Girolami | ... | Bartender (as Bob Girolami) | |
| Abe Kroll | ... | Mr. Thomopoulos |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
107 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Writer/director Elaine May worked on the editing for months, and she only turned in a print of the film when the studio threatened legal action.
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Goofs:
Continuity: When Marty Freed is sitting with Chuck and Lyle, after he first hears their act, he puts his hand up to his mouth ("Let me tell you what I told Tony Bennett..."). In the next shot, the hand is on the table.
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Quotes:
Chuck Clarke:
You mean you bought a camel?
Lyle Rogers: No, I didn't really buy it. They SOLD it to me!
Lyle Rogers: Oh no. I think that something went wrong and now I own a blind camel. A blind camel!
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Lyle Rogers: No, I didn't really buy it. They SOLD it to me!
Lyle Rogers: Oh no. I think that something went wrong and now I own a blind camel. A blind camel!
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Naked Movie (2002)
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Soundtrack:
PROTABLE PICNIC
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (107 total)
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I am aware of much of the criticism this movie received. Basically that it was awful and not worth seeing. To all those who have said such words I just have to ask, what movie were you watching? In my opinion Ishtar was a wonderful movie. It's about two grown men, whose only dream is to become great musicians but are so horrible that no one will have them but the tourist industry in Morocco. All the songs that these two, Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman, sing are written by Elaine May and I found them to be simply hysterical. Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman make a great team, with humor vaguely reminiscent of Woody Allen. This is one of the only movies in which you get to see Warren act in such a way. I would defiantly recommend it to anyone despite its poor reviews.