Ishtar (1987) – Nostalgia Central

Lyle Rogers (Warren Beatty) and Chuck Clarke (Dustin Hoffman) are good-natured but hopelessly talentless New York songwriters and lounge singers. When the women in their lives – Carol (Carol Kane) and Willa (Tess Harper) – walk out on them, the pair take an overseas job at the Chez Casablanca in Morocco.

On the way, they pass through the (fictitious) North African emirate of Ishtar, where they unwittingly become embroiled in an international power play between the CIA, the Emir of Ishtar, the rebels trying to overthrow his regime, the KGB, and international gunrunners.

Charles Grodin shines as a super-courteous and utterly heartless CIA agent. Isabelle Adjani – largely unknown in America but a star in France – is largely wasted as an idealistic young revolutionary.

Much was made of the film’s $40 million budget (it sure doesn’t look like a $40 million film) and its long shooting schedule. Critics panned it, but although the pacing is slow and the plot is overly complicated, the movie – written and directed by Elaine May – recalls the old Bob Hope/Bing Crosby “Road” movies, especially Road to Morocco.

Lyle Rogers
Warren Beatty
Chuck Clarke
Dustin Hoffman
Shirra Assel
Isabelle Adjani
Jim Harrison
Charles Grodin
Marty Freed
Jack Weston
Willa
Tess Harper
Carol
Carol Kane
Emir Yousef
Aharon Ipalé
Abdul
Fijad Hageb
Mr Clarke
David Margulies
Mrs Clarke
Rose Arrick
Dorothy
Julie Garfield
Siri Darma
Cristine Rose
Bartender
Bob Girolami
Mr Thomopoulos
Abe Kroll
Mrs Thomopoulos
Hannah Kroll
Rabbi Pierce
Herb Gardner
US Consul
Bill Moor
Prof. Barnes
Edgar Smith
Omar
J.C. Cutler
General Westlake
Bill Bailey
Manager Chez Casablanca
Ian Gray
Caid of Assari
Fred Melamed
CIA Agents
Ron Berglas
Neil Zevnik
Matt Frewer
Alex Hyde-White
KGB Agents
Stefan Gryff
Alexei Jawdokimov
Mohamad the Camel Seller
Eddy Nedari
Nayef Rashed
George Masri
English Gunrunner
Warren Clarke
German gunrunner
Arthur Brauss
Ishtari Gunrunner
Sumar Khan
Guerrilla leader
Haluk Belginer
Screamin’ Honkers
Mark Ryan
Stuart Abramson
John Freudenheim
Bruce Gordon
The Swing
Paul Standig
Joseph Gmerek
John Trumpbour
Teacher’s Daughters
Marie Jean-Charles
Patrice Jean-Charles
Danielle Jean-Charles

Director
Elaine May