Don't Drink the Water (1969)

The Hollander family's European vacation is interrupted when their plane is forced to land in Vulgaria. The Hollanders leave the plane to take pictures which results in accusations of ... See full summary »

Director:

Howard Morris

Writers:

R.S. Allen, Woody Allen (play),

Stars:

Jackie Gleason, Estelle Parsons, Ted Bessell

Cast

Credited cast:
Jackie Gleason	...	Walter Hollander
Estelle Parsons	...	Marion Hollander
Ted Bessell	...	Axel Magee
Joan Delaney	...	Susan Hollander
Michael Constantine	...	Commissar Krojack
Howard St. John	...	Ambassador Magee
Danny Meehan	...	Kilroy
Richard Libertini	...	Father Drobney
Pierre Olaf	...	Chef
Avery Schreiber	...	Sultan
Mark Gordon	...	Mirik
Phil Leeds	...	Sam Blackwell
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marty Martel	...	White Hair Diplomat

Storyline

The Hollander family's European vacation is interrupted when their plane is forced to land in Vulgaria. The Hollanders leave the plane to take pictures which results in accusations of spying. Chased by Vulgarian soldiers, they take refuge in the American Embassy under the protection of the absent ambassador's hapless son.

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Plot Keywords:

diplomat | hijacking | tourist | cold war | communism | 

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Taglines:

They're caught in a security leak!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1970 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Come ti dirotto il jet

Filming Locations:

Old Quarter, Québec City, Québec, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

AVCO Embassy Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Don't Drink the Water" opened at the Morosco Theater on November 17, 1966 and ran for 598 performances. Richard Libertini reprises his role in the movie.

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Goofs

At the party near the end of the movie, Gleason takes a dignitary's wine glass. The next shot shows the dignitary holding the wine glass. Then, Gleason hands the glass back to the dignitary.

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Quotes

Walter Hollander: Too much wax can be dangerous.

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Connections

Remade as Don't Drink the Water (1994)

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Soundtracks

"Don't Drink the Water"
Music by Patrick Williams (as Pat Williams)
Lyrics by Kelly Gordon
Sung by Jake Holmes

User Reviews

No worse than a bad cold

I have to side with those who find this version of Woody Allen's play much inferior to the remake by Allen himself which, ironically, has a greater right to be called the original since it was Allen's attempt to show the story as he envisioned it. I think much of the problem lies in the fact that at the time this version was made Allen wasn't yet a respected director and no one worried much about preserving the "Woody Allen touch" --- except Woody Allen, of course.

Interesting note on the comparison between Jackie Gleason's take on the lead character with Allen's own portrayal years later. If you were to combine the physical bellicosity of Jackie Gleason with the sardonic Jewish humor of Woody Allen you might get someone like the recently deceased Lou Jacobi --- who originated the part on Broadway and who was, in Allen's opinion, largely responsible for the success of the play.

(By the way, I stole the line in my summary from Harpo Marx, who used it to describe the phenomenally successful Broadway production of ABIE'S IRISH ROSE.)