Ishtar (with Andrew Jacobson)

Rotten Rewind

In 1999, Time Magazine compiled a list of The 100 Worst Ideas of the 20th Century. "Ishtar" was on the list. So was Michael Cimino's career-derailing, studio-bankrupting "Heaven's Gate." Both films became synonymous with financial disasters. While Cimino continued to work, albeit not on the same scale as his previous features, Elaine May never directed another film again. And while "Ishtar" didn't bankrupt Columbia Pictures, it did result in the studio being sold to Sony after the $50 million dollar "Ishtar" crashed at the box office. The film became a punchline. A cautionary tale. It's commonly referred to as one of the worst films ever made. But is "Ishtar" really that bad? (Spoiler Alert: "Ishtar" is actually good.)

Filmmaker Andrew Jacobson returns to the podcast for a deep-dive on the most notorious bomb of the 20th century. We recount the red flags leading up to the torturous production, leaked stories of on-set turmoil, Warren Beatty's wavering commitment to May's vision, and the short, but brilliant directorial career of one of our finest directors.

You can find Andrew's work on Vimeo.

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