Der Ambassador

During the 1980s, Cannon Films made a lot of films...sometimes with big-name actors in them. But they all had one thing in common...they weren't exactly subtle! So, if you want explosions, a little sex and violence, they were the go-to studio of the era. As a result, when I saw that they made "The Ambassador" I wasn't thrilled with the prospect of watching the movie. I only watched it because Robert Mitchum and Rock Hudson (in his final theatrical release) somehow were convinced to star in the film.

The story begins with a meeting between the Ambassor (Mitchum) and a group of Palestinians in the desert. He wants to talk peace...but before the meeting gets going, a helicopter attacks...killing everyone but the Ambassador and his bodyguard (Hudson). Who was behind the attack isn't clear.

Soon, the Ambassador receives a phone call. Some unknown person indicates they have film footage of the Ambassador's wife (Ellen Burstyn) having very intimate relations with another man...a Palestinian with connections to the PLO. And, unless they are paid a million dollars, they say they'll publish the film. The Ambassador tells them to go ahead and publish it...he won't pay. But his bodyguard wants to investigate it himself. What follows is an attempt on the Ambassador's life and a lot of other things...such as a massacre and lots of violence.

On the plus side, the film was actually made in Israel...which isn't totally surprising considering the producers (Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus) were Israelis. Also, for a woman in her 50s, Ms. Burstyn has an amazing figure and her nude scenes must have pleased her! Additionally, Rock Hudson's character was pretty cool...sort of like the Terminator! On the negative side, the film's solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts and the students' reactions do seem rather simplistic. Also, while the story has some interesting story elements, like a Golan-Globus product, there also are huge bloodbaths which come off as gratuitous and gory. On balance, the bad slightly outweighs the good and the film, which had some nifty ideas, gets the full Cannon Films treatment.

The Ambassador (1984)

** (out of 4)

Well-meaning but incredibly over-active thriller has Robert Mitchum playing the American ambassador to Israel who is trying to bring peace in the Middle East. While him and his security advisor (Rock Hudson) are getting shot at, his wife (Ellen Burstyn) is banging a man (Fabio Testi) but neither one realizes that some terrorists are video taping their love sessions to blackmail the ambassador. Pretty soon it is revealed that the wife's lover might have terrorist ties himself.

Cannon was known for releasing countless action pictures that were usually rather mindless and just exploited the various subjects that they were covering. Film like DEATH WISH II, MISSING IN ACTION and AMERICAN NINJA were among the studios most popular pictures but THE AMBASSADOR is something completely different. It's clear that Cannon wanted to send a message to the Middle East that peace was possible but unfortuantly for them the movie just went off the rails so to speak. This picture simply tried to do way too much and in the end it's pretty much a complete mess.

The film is really all over the place in regards to what it's trying to do and it almost seems as if no one could agree on what to do with the picture. It starts off with some incredibly wild and over-the-top action scenes and so far so good. Then you've got a rather sleazy sex scene between Burstyn and Testi, which includes the actress doing some nudity. Again, so far it's fun. You then get into an incredibly long political drama about the whole peace idea and then there's some shocking and incredibly bloody violence that pops up at the end. All the while Mitchum and Hudson are trying to uncover this terrorist plot and get the sex tape back before it reaches the media.

I'm going to guess Cannon really wanted a serious drama but there wasn't a way to make money on that alone so additional bits of action were thrown in. Thompson, who was working in mainly "B" pictures at this time, manages to build up some nice action but the drama of the story is downright weak and the "message" of the movie is a bit silly to say the least. The film just never really packs a punch or builds up any sort of tension so the non-stop political talk eventually gets boring and when Mitchum's character isn't worried about the sex tape then why should the viewer be?

The film benefits from its terrific cast and that alone makes it worth sitting through. I think had Mitchum and Hudson switched roles the film might have been better but it was still fun seeing them together. Burstyn in good in her role of the wife and Testi is always dependable. You've also got Donald Pleasence so that's another plus. The film's violent climax features some gory shots that I'm sure shocked most people at the time of the film's release unless they were fans of slashers and were already used to it.

In the end, THE AMBASSADOR has its heart in the right place but it just never fully comes together.

Imdb has this as released 1984, while free tubi has this as 1985. Stars rock hudson and robert mitchum, as stevenson and hacker, trying to keep peace in israel and the territories. Hacker is the ambassador to israel. Stevenson is his security. Co-stars donald pleasence as the israeli minister of defense. Ellen burstyn is the ambassador's wife, alex, and her naughty, night-time activities are make her husband's job much harder, when she is filmed. It's okay. Pretty low budget. Produced by golan globus, who have a record of making films on the cheap. Some dropped threads of storyline. Or maybe that was just poor editing. Topless women. And hudson's final film. We spend so much time on trying to get the film back, when hacker has already told everyone he doesn't care if it's shown on national television. Big, grand finale. Very symbolic of the actual situation. Directed by lee thompson.

Robert Mitchum stars as the U.S. ambassador to Israel who is trying to broker a peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Hardliners on both sides don't want that to happen, so there are assassination attempts, blackmail threats, car chases and terrorists bombings. All that, and I still found time to yawn.

Co-starring Rock Hudson (in his final film), Ellen Burstyn (who, at 52, has several nude scenes), Donald Pleasence, Italian star Fabio Testi and lots of local Israeli acting talent. Mitchum looks more bored than usual, and he reportedly spent half of the film sloshed. He and Hudson didn't get along, and Hudson was already starting to suffer the failing health that would end his life less than a year later. Some of the action has spark, but most is perfunctory, and there's not much depth to the geopolitical musings. For completists only.

Go watch the documentary on Cannon Films. It is probably as good as or better than anything they ever produced, and it is a hoot.

Robert Mitchum plays the title role of The Ambassador and in this case he's the American Ambassador to Israel. He's got the notion in his head that if he can get the Arab and Israeli students dialoging, it might lead the way to eventual peace. Of course there are malevolent forces on all sides that don't want to see that happen.

But that's not Mitchum's only problem. His wife Ellen Burstyn has embarked on a torrid love affair with an Arab, played by Fabio Testi, who turns out to be a big honcho in the Palentine Liberation Organization. And somebody's been taking some nasty home movies of them doing the horizontal mambo. Setting up Mitchum for blackmail and embarrassment whichever comes first.

Playing the supporting role of Mitchum's Embassy security chief is Rock Hudson and this was to be his last feature film. As the film progresses the strain on Hudson's health is becoming apparent.

It was not a happy shoot and the results show it. Mitchum and Hudson did not get along particularly. According to Lee Server's biography, Mitchum spent most of the time getting plastered more than normal. Ellen Burstyn supposedly took a sample of what he was drinking and was shocked to find it real booze. But Mitchum was legendary for holding his liquor.

I can see why Mitchum wasn't particularly happy with the film. His role is essentially that of a well meaning fathead who thinks he has all the answers to the Middle-east. Hudson took his role strictly for the cash, because he was having increased medical expenses from what would kill him a year later.

Being it's a Golan-Globus film the usual quota of violence is present. When you do a film about the Middle-east, that's almost a requirement for a picture. Still the location cinematography in Israel certainly helps.

Too bad that Mitchum and Hudson could not find a nice western to do as a joint project.