The Ambassador

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.

An always interesting, if audacious and harsh low-key political thriller from Cannon and headed by ace director J. Lee Thompson. Maybe his best work in the 80s. The aged stars are quite a delight and the true staying power with Robert Mitchum (who's playing it easy), Rock Hudson, Ellen Burstyn, Fabio Testi and Donald Pleasance working very well off each other. Indeed a top-notch ensemble cast confidently directed by Thompson.

The knotty context of the film (the on going conflict in the Middle East) is a complicated web (with touch of blackmail and martial problems thrown in for good measure), but smartly engineered if a little too pushy at times. Still it's effective, stirring and informative in detailing its intentions. When it came to the jarring action, it was to the point and within chaotic bursts. I didn't find it thrilling in those passages, but you're kept glued as you want to see what becomes of the suspense beating situations. Dov Seltzer's humidly sultry music arrangement is on the ball and suitably placed. It truly gives it a grander edge and the location choices authentically sprawl off the screen. Thompson keeps it moving and times everything to perfection.

A reasonably solid offering by all involved.

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 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.

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.