Ishtar - The Most Underrated Film of the 80's
Starring Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman, Give Ishtar a Chance
Aug 14, 2009
Columbia Pictures' "Ishtar" is thought by many to be one of the worst films of all time. A Far Side Cartoon by Gary Larsen shows "Hell's Video Store" stocked only with racks and racks of the film, (though Larsen later admitted he had not seen the film when he drew the cartoon). Ask almost anyone you know and chances are, you'll hear a negative remark. Then ask them if they've actually seen it. Chances are, they haven't. On a side note, Gary Larsen later watched and "Ishtar", enjoyed it and issued an apology!
The Scandal
Due to its enormous (for the time) $30 million budget and on location filming (in Morrocco), much controversy was centered around this film, though its budget seems unremarkable now. Additional negative publicity about the film's producers and stars overtook the media, when a new Columbia executive allegedly leaked unflattering anecdotes about the three, with whom he was on bad terms. Prior to its release, "Ishtar" recieved so much flack for these reasons, that many patrons never even saw the film, its gross revenue hitting only $14 million. The film was labeled a "Box-office Flop".
The truth is, "Ishtar" is a very funny, entertaining film.
The Adventure
Warren Beatty ("Dick Tracy") and Dustin Hoffman (Rainman) are Lyle Rogers and Chuck "The Hawk" Clark, struggling songwriters, who meet, quit their jobs and eventually end up in Morrocco, entertaining businessmen in the lounge of the city's only hotel. Their journey as they struggle for fame is frought with adventure- spies, terrorists, secrets and lies, and culminates with Rogers and Clark lost in the desert with a blind camel, being shot at by government helicopters.
Musical Hilarity
The story is entertaining enough, but what makes the film so hilariously unforgettable, are the songs of Rogers and Clark. Hoping to be the next Simon and Garfunkel, the two clueless songsters frequent open mic nights and neglect their wives and girlfriends, spending hours at the keyboard penning hits, such as "Telling The Truth Can Be Dangerous Business" and "Wardrobe of Love". Determined to acheive greatness, the two never stop, spouting new lyrics on airplanes, ledges of high rise apartment buildings and crawling through the desert, near death from thirst and heat.
A Cult Classic, Still Undiscovered
These songs and the hilarious portrayal of the hapless 40-something businessmen should've made "Ishtar" a cult classic. Listed as a runner up for Vincent Canby's "New York Times" best films of 1987 and hailed by the Chicago Reader as "the most underestimated commercial movie of 1987... a very funny work by one of the country's greatest comic talents", Ishtar is still an amazingly funny and clever film - even if not everyone wants to admit it.
Though never released on dvd in the US, it is available in Europe, so this gem can be found on both VHS and DVD online. Join the many fans who love this film for what it is- clever, ridiculous, fun and funny.
"Hello Ishtar,
You're more than a country,
You're a state of mind!
Hello Morrocco,
You're equally pretty,
You're never gonna get left behind!
Hello Romance,
Hello Adventure,
I'm havin the time of my life!
It's the most fun I've had so far.
Here in Morrocco,
I've got the spirit of Ishtar!"
-"The Spirit of Ishtar", Rogers and Clark
(Written by Paul Williams)
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