L'Ambassadeur

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.

No wonder US foreign policy is always such a mess. It's probably because there is a genuine belief that stuff like this might actually be possible. Their ambassador to Israel arrives determined to sort of decades of political unease with the Palestinians just because, well he's Robert Mitchum! Assisted by his security chief "Stevenson" (Rock Hudson) he finds that his wife (Ellen Burstyn) is soon a pawn in a game he must play - at some risk - if he is to improve anything for anyone. Donald Pleasance shows up now and again as Israeli government man "Eretz" but for the most part this is one of those films where the whole is nowhere near the potential sum of it's parts. Indeed, as we progress it comes across as an over-written, politically simplistic and rather woeful opportunity for some stars nearing the end of their careers to have a nice holiday on the Mediterranean. Conspiring journalists, mass slaughters, helicopter chases - and a bit of illicit sex all creep in, but they can't really enliven this disappointing thriller that's really rather devoid of thrills. Rock Hudson's last full role - and not one I expect he'd be so very proud of.

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.

By 1984 Director J. Lee Thompson's Filmography Would Never Include such Great Films Like "Guns of Navarone" (1961), "Cape Fear" (1962). Or the Odd Western and Little Known Hidden-Gem, "White Buffalo" (1977).

He was Retained by the "Canon" Film Company and Pumped-Out Lesser Mid-Budgeted and Unremarkable Fodder.

Here He Teams Up with Robert Mitchum and Rock Hudson in a Disappointing Try at a Very Touchy Plot...Israel and the PLO.

It's Not a Bad Set Set-Up, Shot On-Location with the Story About "The Ambassador" (Mitchum) and His Efforts in Forging Peace-Talks Focusing on College Students of Both Sides.

The Story is Propelled Using the Back-Drop of Mitchum's Wife, Ellen Burstyn, and Her Affair with a Wealthy Arab Businessman. It's Caught on Film and Blackmail Begins.

Also, Caught on Film, is the Dirty-Deed in All its Pornographic Details.

The Movie's Climax is Overdone and Very Bloody and it Distracts from the Seriousness of the Situation with a Long Graphic-Violence Exploitation that Should be in Another Film.

Overall, it's Not Bad, just Nothing Above a Sophomoric Approach to a Very Complex, On-Going World Situation.

Worth a Watch with Low-Expectations.

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.