''Don't Drink the Water'' is a 1969 American comedy

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

starring Jackie Gleason and

Estelle Parsons Estelle Margaret Parsons (born November 20, 1927) is an American actress, singer and stage director. After studying law, Parsons became a singer before deciding to pursue a career in acting. She worked for the television program ''Today'' and ...

. It is directed by Howard Morris and based upon a 1966 play '' Don't Drink the Water'' by Woody Allen. The supporting cast includes Ted Bessell and Joan Delaney. In 1994, Allen

remade Bas-Lag is the fictional world in which several of English author China Miéville's novels are set. Bas-Lag is a world where both magic (referred to as "thaumaturgy") and steampunk technology exist, and is home to many intelligent races. It is inf ...

the story as the television film '' Don't Drink the Water'', with himself as Walter Hollander.

Plot

Walter Hollander, a caterer, is on vacation with his wife Marion and daughter Susan. While flying to Athens, their plane is hijacked to Vulgaria, behind the

Iron Curtain The Iron Curtain was the political boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991. The term symbolizes the efforts by the Soviet Union (USSR) to block itself and its s ...

. While waiting for the plane to be cleared to take off again, Marion insists they go outside and take a few pictures. Unfortunately they are in a restricted area so the secret police suspect them of being spies. Inspector Krojak sends a squad of soldiers with machine guns to arrest them, and the Hollanders flee to the car of the American ambassador which is parked nearby. The Hollanders take refuge in the U.S. Embassy nearby. The ambassador is away, leaving only his inept son Axel Magee to grant the Hollanders political asylum. Picketers protest outside the embassy as everyone tries to figure a way out. Walter and Marion even don a sultan's robes and attempt to sneak out with his party, but complicating matters further is that Susan has fallen in love with Axel.

Cast

* Jackie Gleason as Walter Hollander *

as Marion Hollander * Ted Bessell as Axel Magee *Joan Delaney as Susan Hollander * Michael Constantine as Krojack * Howard St. John as Ambassador Magee *Danny Meehan as Kilroy * Richard Libertini as Father Drobney * Avery Schreiber as The Sultan * Mark Gordon as Mirik * Phil Leeds as Sam * Pierre Olaf as Chef

References

External links

* * * 1969 films 1969 comedy films American comedy films Films scored by Patrick Williams American films based on plays Films produced by Charles H. Joffe Films directed by Howard Morris Films set in Europe Embassy Pictures films 1960s English-language films 1960s American films {{1960s-comedy-film-stub