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
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