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 ...
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Title: Don't Drink the Water (1969)
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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 |
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Plot Summary
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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. Written by <JeanneArmintrout@juno.com>
Plot Keywords:
situation comedy | ugly american | geofiction | political satire | satire |Taglines:
They Think He's a Spy. He Thinks They're Out of Their Vulgarian Minds. See more »Genres:
ComedyCertificate:
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Music by Patrick Williams (as Pat Williams)
Lyrics by Kelly Gordon
Sung by Jake Holmes
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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. See more »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. See more »Quotes
Walter Hollander: I don't eat oysters. You have to eat them alive. I like my food dead. Not sick, not wounded -- dead!See more »
Soundtracks
Don't Drink the WaterMusic by Patrick Williams (as Pat Williams)
Lyrics by Kelly Gordon
Sung by Jake Holmes
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
1970 (Canada) See more »Also Known As:
Come ti dirotto il jet See more »Company Credits
Production Co:
Joseph E. Levine Productions, Embassy Pictures, Jack Rollins & Charles H. Joffe Productions See more »
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IMDbPro »
"Don't Drink the Water" is an unbelievably bad film. It's based on a 1966 Broadway play by Woody Allen. It stars Jackie Gleason, the comic genius behind "The Honeymooners". The director, Howard Morris, has appeared in several Mel Brooks comedies (Life Stinks, High Anxiety, Silent Movie)and has made a mark in animation (characters he has voiced include Gopher from "Pooh", Jughead (Archie)and Beetle Bailey) What went wrong?
I think the problem is that the premise is played out too seriously to work effectively. Allen's original play was tongue-in-cheek, which is why it worked on Broadway and in Allen's 1994 remake. The screenplay by R.S. Allen and Harvey Bullock beats the premise to death and makes too many changes from the original play. Making Gleason's wife an airhead in this version when she was a headstrong woman in the original is just one example of why this doesn't work.
The acting isn't much better. Gleason does the best he can with the material, but he can't save this. Gleason was a comic genius , but also a fine actor as he demonstrated in "The Hustler" and "Soldier in the Rain". His abrasive personality could have worked here, but the lousy script doesn't even give him a chance. Too bad. Estelle Parsons' airhead wife will drive you nuts after 20 minutes. See how soon it'll take for YOU to want to strangle her. That is also a shame because she is also a fine actress, having turned in two exceptional performances in "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Rachel, Rachel" None of the other actors do particularly well either.
Woody Allen hated this film so much that he remade the film in 1994 with himself and Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson) in the leads. They manage to hit all the right notes and the film itself is a comic masterpiece. It's finally on video after a long battle over rights. Do go out and find that version. All the 1969 original is good for is clearing out unwanted guests who overstay their welcome.
1/2* out of 4 stars