The Ambassador (1984 American film)
| The Ambassador | |
|---|---|
Theatrical poster
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| Directed by | J. Lee Thompson |
| Produced by |
Menahem Golan Yoram Globus |
| Screenplay by | Max Jack Ronald M. Cohen (uncredited) |
| Based on |
52 Pick Up by Elmore Leonard |
| Starring |
Robert Mitchum Ellen Burstyn Rock Hudson Fabio Testi Donald Pleasence |
| Music by |
Alfi Kabiljo Dov Seltzer |
| Cinematography |
Adam Greenberg Avraham Karpick |
| Edited by |
Mark Goldblatt Peter Lee-Thompson |
| Distributed by | Cannon Group |
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Release date
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Running time
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97 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Ambassador is a 1984 American thriller film directed by J. Lee Thompson and stars Robert Mitchum, Ellen Burstyn and Rock Hudson.
The political thriller was based on the 1974 crime novel 52 Pick-Up by Elmore Leonard. This is the first movie adaptation of Leonard's novel; Cannon Films remade it in 1986 under its original title, 52 Pick-Up, this time directed by John Frankenheimer. Leonard's book is about a Detroit businessman named Harry Mitchell being blackmailed by men who kidnap his mistress; there are no ambassadors in it.
This was the last theatrical release starring Rock Hudson before his death in October 1985.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Peter Hacker (Robert Mitchum) and head of security Frank Stevenson (Rock Hudson) are en route to a secret location in the Judean desert to meet with representatives of the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization). It is part of Hacker’s secret plan to have young Jews and Muslims begin a peaceful dialogue. An armed Israeli helicopter locates and disrupts the meeting by firing on it causing several deaths. Hacker and Stevenson survive and are apprehended by Israeli ground soldiers.
Alex Hacker (Ellen Burstyn), the ambassador’s troubled and lonely wife is in Jerusalem where she is secretly meeting her lover. However, she is followed and their tryst is caught on videotape by an unknown entity.
Hacker and Stevenson are taken to the office of Israeli Defense Minister Eretz (Donald Pleasence) who confronts them for not informing him on the meeting and reiterates his opposition to Hacker’s peace efforts. Upon returning to the American embassy Stevenson makes contact to a secret superior where he also voices his concerns and wishes to see an end to Hacker’s assignment as ambassador.
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