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 C.I.A., the Emir of Ishtar, and the rebels trying to overthrow his regime.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 1 win & 3 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Warren Beatty | ... |
Lyle Rogers
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| Dustin Hoffman | ... |
Chuck Clarke
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| Isabelle Adjani | ... |
Shirra Assel
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| Charles Grodin | ... |
Jim Harrison
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| Jack Weston | ... |
Marty Freed
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| Tess Harper | ... |
Willa
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| Carol Kane | ... |
Carol
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| Aharon Ipalé | ... |
Emir Yousef
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Fijad Hageb | ... |
Abdul
(as Fuad Hageb)
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| David Margulies | ... |
Mr. Clarke
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Rose Arrick | ... |
Mrs. Clarke
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Julie Garfield | ... |
Dorothy
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| Cristine Rose | ... |
Siri Darma
(as Christine Rose)
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Robert V. Girolami | ... |
Bartender
(as Bob Girolami)
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Abe Kroll | ... |
Mr. Thomopoulos
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Hannah Kroll | ... |
Mrs. Thomopoulos
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| Herb Gardner | ... |
Rabbi Pierce
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Bill Moor | ... |
U.S. Consul
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Edgar Smith | ... |
Prof. Barnes
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J.C. Cutler | ... |
Omar
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Bill Bailey | ... |
Gen. Westlake
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Ian Gray | ... |
Manager Chez Casablanca
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Maati Zaari | ... |
Porter
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Larbi Bouhaddane | ... |
Taxi Driver
(as Bouhaddane Larbi)
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| Fred Melamed | ... |
Caid of Assari
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| Ron Berglas | ... |
CIA Agent
(as Ron Berglass)
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| Neil Zevnik | ... |
CIA Agent
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| Matt Frewer | ... |
CIA Agent
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| Alex Hyde-White | ... |
CIA Agent
(as Alex Hyde White)
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Stefan Gryff | ... |
KGB Agent
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Alexei Jawdokimov | ... |
KGB Agent
(as Alexei Jawdocimov)
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Phillip Schopper | ... |
Waiter
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Aziz Ben Driss | ... |
Waiter Chez Casablanca
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Kamarr | ... |
Maitre D'Chez Casablanca
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Eddy Nedari | ... |
Mohamad. the Camel Seller
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| Nayef Rashed | ... |
Mohamad. the Camel Seller
(as Adam Hussein)
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George Masri | ... |
Mohamad. the Camel Seller
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| Warren Clarke | ... |
English Gunrunner
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| Arthur Brauss | ... |
German Gunrunner
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Sumar Khan | ... |
Ishtari Gunrunner
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Jon Paul Morgan | ... |
Djellabah Seller
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| Nadim Sawalha | ... |
Rug Shop Owner / Camel Seller
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| Haluk Bilginer | ... |
Guerrilla leader
(as Haluk Belginer)
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Mark Ryan | ... |
Screamin' Honkers
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Stuart Abramson | ... |
Screamin' Honkers
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John Freudenheim | ... |
Screamin' Honkers
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Bruce Gordon | ... |
Screamin' Honkers
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Paul Standig | ... |
The Swing
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Joseph Gmerek | ... |
The Swing
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John Trumpbour | ... |
The Swing
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Marie Jean-Charles | ... |
Teacher's Daughters
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Patrice Jean-Charles | ... |
Teacher's Daughters
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Danielle Jean-Charles | ... |
Teacher's Daughters
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Dylan Baker | ... |
Aghast Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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| Ahmed Boulane | ... |
Guerilla (uncredited)
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Thomas Brogan | ... |
C.I.A. agent (uncredited)
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| Jon Hayden | ... |
Bar Patron (uncredited)
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| Tony D. Head | ... |
Street Person (uncredited)
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| Frank Patton III | ... |
Rescue Cop (uncredited)
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Cliff Taylor | ... |
CIA Agent (uncredited)
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| Michael Vaccaro | ... |
Marty Freed's assistant (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Elaine May | ||
Written by
| Elaine May | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Warren Beatty | ... | producer |
| David Leigh MacLeod | ... | associate producer (as David L. MacLeod) |
| Nigel Wooll | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Dave Grusin | ||
Cinematography by
| Vittorio Storaro | ... | (photography) |
Editing by
| Richard P. Cirincione | ||
| William Reynolds | ||
| Stephen A. Rotter | ||
Editorial Department
| Richard Friedlander | ... | assistant film editor |
| J. Kathleen Gibson | ... | assistant editor |
| Joseph Gutowski | ... | assistant editor |
| William Kruzykowski | ... | assistant film editor (as William Joseph Kruzykowski) |
| William S. Scharf | ... | associate film editor |
| Richard Garibaldi | ... | home video mastering colorist (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Noel Davis | ||
| Jeremy Zimmermann | ||
Production Design by
| Paul Sylbert | ||
Art Direction by
| Peter Childs | ||
Set Decoration by
| Jim Erickson | ||
Costume Design by
| Anthony Powell | ||
Makeup Department
| Zineb Bendoula | ... | hair stylist |
| Alan Boyle | ... | makeup artist |
| Robert Jiras | ... | makeup artist (as Bob Jiras) |
| Barry Richardson | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| Mohamed Abbazi | ... | production manager |
| G. Mac Brown | ... | unit production manager |
| Denise O'Dell | ... | production supervisor |
| Kerry Orent | ... | post-production supervisor |
| Stefan Zürcher | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Lee Cleary | ... | third assistant director |
| Louis D'Esposito | ... | second assistant director (as Louis Desposito) |
| Don French | ... | first assistant director |
| Marcia Gay | ... | second assistant director: Morocco |
| Ahmed Hatimi | ... | assistant director: morocco |
| Danny Irom | ... | trainee assistant director |
| Michael D. Moore | ... | second unit director (as Michael Moore) |
| Ken Rudnick | ... | assistant director: second unit, New York |
| James W. Skotchdopole | ... | second assistant director |
| Stefan Zürcher | ... | first assistant director: second unit |
| Ahmed Boulane | ... | second assistant director: second unit (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Adil Abdelwahab | ... | set dresser |
| Joseph Alfieri | ... | carpenter |
| Bill Coggon | ... | property master |
| Jeanette D'Ambrosio-Sylbert | ... | assistant: Mr. Sylbert |
| Bill Groom | ... | art director: New York |
| Alan Hicks | ... | set decorator: New York |
| Steven J. Jordan | ... | set decorator: New York (as Steve Jordan) |
| Elaine O'Donnell | ... | art department coordinator/shopper |
| Victoria Paul | ... | art director: New York |
| Brian Read | ... | prop buyer |
| Bruno Robotti | ... | charge scenic artist |
| Manny Sanchez | ... | carpenter |
| Phillip Schopper | ... | artistic consultant |
| David Wescott | ... | supervising chargehand: Morocco (as Dave Wescott) |
| Dave Midson | ... | supervising dressing prop (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Don Banks | ... | boom operator: Morocco |
| Louis Bertini | ... | sound editor |
| Anthony J. Ciccolini III | ... | sound editor (as Anthony Ciccolini III) |
| Marko A. Costanzo | ... | foley artist |
| Lee Dichter | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Brad Fuller | ... | adr editor |
| Lois Hoover | ... | apprentice sound editor (as Lois Bellucci) |
| Brian Katkin | ... | apprentice sound editor |
| Neil L. Kaufman | ... | sound editor (as Neil Kaufman) |
| Richard King | ... | assistant sound editor: end credit |
| Michael Kirchberger | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Bruce Kitzmeyer | ... | sound editor |
| Dan Korintus | ... | assistant sound editor |
| George A. Lara | ... | foley mixer |
| Yaffa Lerea | ... | apprentice sound editor |
| Ivan Sharrock | ... | sound mixer |
| Ira Spiegel | ... | sound editor |
| John Strauss | ... | sound coordinator |
| Susan M. Wagner | ... | assistant sound editor (as Susan Wagner) |
Special Effects by
| Terence J. Cox | ... | special effects technician |
| George Gibbs | ... | special effects supervisor |
| Garth Inns | ... | special effects |
| Brian Lince | ... | special effects |
| Tim Willis | ... | special effects |
Visual Effects by
| Peter Anderson | ... | matte plate photography |
| George Muhs | ... | visual effects |
| Mark Sullivan | ... | matte artist |
| Mark Wolf | ... | visual effects |
| Chris F. Woods | ... | title/optical producer: R/Greenberg Assoc. (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Denise Amirante | ... | stunts |
| Peter Bucossi | ... | stunts |
| John Hayden | ... | stunts |
| Victor Magnotta | ... | stunt coordinator |
| George Marshall Ruge | ... | stunts |
| Konrad Sheehan | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Giuseppe Alberti | ... | first assistant camera |
| Peter Anderson | ... | additional photography |
| Paul Beeson | ... | additional photographer |
| Fabio Cafolla | ... | dimmer operator |
| Filippo Cafolla | ... | gaffer |
| Marco Carosi | ... | video operator |
| Adam Dale | ... | assistant camera |
| Keith Hamshere | ... | still photographer |
| Kerry Hayes | ... | still photographer |
| Stefano Marino | ... | electrician |
| Sal Martorano | ... | gaffer: second unit |
| Giuseppe Meloni | ... | gaffer |
| Steve Parker | ... | camera operator: second unit |
| Nicola Pecorini | ... | steadicam operator (as Nicola Percorini) |
| Mauro Pezzotti | ... | grip |
| Tom Prate | ... | key grip: New York (as Thomas Prate Jr) |
| Lance Shepherd | ... | electrician |
| Enrico Umetelli | ... | camera operator |
| Riccardo Umetelli | ... | assistant camera |
| Fabio Zamarion | ... | second assistant camera |
| Andrew D. Schwartz | ... | still photographer: re-shoots (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Howard Feuer | ... | casting: New York |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Abdelkrim Akallach | ... | crowd wardrobe supervisor |
| Rosemary Burrows | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Hassan Taghriti | ... | wardrobe assistant |
Location Management
| Mohamed Benhmamane | ... | location manager |
| Rick Dallago | ... | first location manager |
| Jeff Stolow | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Bahjawa | ... | original Moroccan music |
| Michael Berenbaum | ... | assistant music editor |
| Michael James Jackson | ... | music consultant & music producer |
| Michael A. Levine | ... | Synthesizer Programmer: Violin (as Michael Levine) |
| Elaine May | ... | original songs |
| Stuart Stanley | ... | assistant music editor |
| Alex Steyermark | ... | assistant music editor |
| John Strauss | ... | music coordinator |
| Paul Williams | ... | original songs |
| Gary Anderson | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Karen Hale Wookey | ... | script supervisor (as Karen Wookey) |
Additional Crew
| Khadija Alami | ... | production assistant |
| Zakaria Alaoui | ... | production liaison morocco |
| George Bamber | ... | production assistant |
| Chris Brancato | ... | assistant to Mr. Beatty (as Christopher Jay Brancato) |
| David Forbes | ... | marketing consultant |
| Bill Gage | ... | animal trainer: camels |
| Beverly Irby | ... | administrative assistant: Ms. May |
| Jak King | ... | production accountant |
| Maggie Kusik | ... | assistant: Mr. McLeod |
| Sue Leibman | ... | assistant to Mr. Beatty |
| John Thomas Lenox | ... | production representative: Columbia Pictures |
| David J. McMillan | ... | animal trainer: camels |
| Carrie Park | ... | animal trainer: camels |
| David Perez | ... | helicopter pilot |
| Corky Randall | ... | camel trainer: Morocco (as Buford Randall) |
| Fess 'Reg' Reynolds | ... | animal trainer: camels |
| Paul 'Sled' Reynolds | ... | camel trainer: Morocco (as Paul Reynolds) |
| Bill Rivers | ... | animal trainer: camels |
| Tim Rivers | ... | animal trainer: camels |
| Ken Ryan | ... | accountant: Columbia |
| Lucille Masone Smith | ... | production auditor (as Lucille Smith) |
| Marge Sperling | ... | assistant production office coordinator |
| Caroline Stevens | ... | assistant: Mr. Beatty |
| Betty Vargo | ... | animal trainer: camels |
| Andrew Von Preussen | ... | helicopter pilot |
| Marc Wolff | ... | helicopter pilot (as Marc Wolfe) |
| DeAnne Zarkowski | ... | animal trainer: camels |
Thanks
| King Hassan II | ... | grateful acknowledgment (as His Majesty Hassan II King of Morocco) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1987) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia-Cannon-Warner (1987) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1987) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Columbia (1987) (France) (theatrical) (as Les Films Columbia)
- Warner Bros. (1987) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Columbia Film (1987) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Sony Pictures International (1987) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1988) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Columbia Films (1988) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Videosonic (1989) (Greece) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1980) (Australia) (video)
- Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Columbia-Warner Filmes de Portugal (1987) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- The Criterion Channel (2024) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Flying Pictures (aerial filming services provided by)
- Kaufman Astoria Studios (sound stage and production facilities)
- Pacific Studios II (chromatrans background)
- Reeltime Creative (trailer music)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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, the Emir of Ishtar, and the rebels trying to overthrow his regime. Written by Stern |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $55,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $4,331,817, 17 May 1987 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | In one of Gary Larson's "The Far Side" comic strips, captioned "Hell's Video Store", the entire store is stocked with nothing but copies of this film. Larson later apologized, saying "When I drew the above cartoon, I had not actually seen 'Ishtar'. Years later, I saw it on an airplane, and was stunned at what was happening to me: I was actually being entertained. Sure, maybe it's not the greatest film ever made, but my cartoon was way off the mark. There are so many cartoons for which I should probably write an apology, but this is the only one which compels me to do so." See more » |
| Goofs | AS the helicopter lowers to give the CIA agent a level shot at the duo, his wood stock, single shot, bolt action rifle turns into a black automatic weapon with a banana clip. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Guilty Pleasures - 1987 (1987). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Dangerous Business See more » |
| Quotes |
Chuck Clarke:
Stupid-ass camel! He'd rather sit there and die! Lyle Rogers: You know, I kind of admire that. Chuck Clarke: Me too. See more » |