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

comedy Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

starring

Jackie Gleason Herbert John Gleason (born Herbert Walton Gleason Jr.; February 26, 1916June 24, 1987), known as Jackie Gleason, was an American comedian, actor, writer, and composer also known as "The Great One". He developed a style and characters from growin ...

and Estelle Parsons. It is directed by Howard Morris and based upon a 1966 play '' Don't Drink the Water'' by

Woody Allen Heywood Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American filmmaker, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades. Allen has received many List of awards and nominations received by Woody Allen, accolade ...

. The supporting cast includes Ted Bessell and Joan Delaney. In 1994, Allen remade 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 and physical 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. On the east side of the Iron Curtain were countries connected to the So ...

. 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. Complicating matters further is that Susan has fallen in love with Axel. Marion busies herself by scrupulously cleaning the embassy as if it were her own home. Walter can make long distance phone calls, but they bring only bad news...including that his catering business has become involved in a food poisoning scandal. Axel hopes that an influential Arab Sheik might help out. But when the Sultan shows signs of wanting to add daughter Susan to his harem; Walter explodes and throws the Sultan out. Axel finally gets the idea of throwing a fancy party at the Embassy, and to have the Hollander's leave in disguise among the guests. Father Drobney, an eccentric rabbi also seeking asylum, gets them through border checkpoints thanks to his knowledge of the local language. Daughter Susan has remained behind to marry Axel and remain in the safety of the embassy while Walter, Marion, and Drobney escape Vulgaria in a rickety biplane.

Cast

as Walter Hollander * Estelle Parsons 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 Richard Joseph Libertini (May 21, 1933 – January 7, 2016) was an American stage, film and television actor. He was known for playing character roles and his ability to speak in numerous accents. His films include '' Catch-22'' (1970), '' The ...

as Father Drobney * Avery Schreiber as The Sultan * Mark Gordon as Mirik * Phil Leeds as Sam * Pierre Olaf as Chef * Howard Morris as Biplane Pilot

References

External links

* * * 1969 films 1969 comedy films American comedy films Films scored by Patrick Williams (composer) 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-US-film-stub