Some of you who are familiar with the Cannon Films adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s “52 Pick-Up,” may be surprised that The Ambassador was also based on the suspenseful nailbiter. Starring Robert Mitchum, Ellen Burstyn and Rock Hudson, and set amidst the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this was the first attempt by Golan-Globus to bring the Leonard novel to the big screen. Headquartered in Jerusalem, American ambassador Robert Mitchum is in secret talks with the PLO to start a dialogue with younger Jews and Muslims. Mitchum’s security chief Hudson has doubts about Mitchum’s efforts, and Defense Minister Donald Pleasence (Halloween series) is violently opposed. Things careen off the rails when Mitchum’s wife (Burstyn) goes missing after a terrorist attack, and Mitchum views a sex film of Burstyn (a tryst with wealthy PLO man, Fabio Testi). Unknown parties instruct Mitchum the film will be released publicly if he does not pay a million dollars. Events escalate into an inevitable bloodbath.
“An engaging, smart, and realistic political thriller” – The Unknown Movies.com
Marc Edward Heuck discusses The Ambassador on the New Beverly blog.
Chris D explores director J. Lee Thompson’s extensive career on the New Beverly blog.
