Moon Over Parador (1988)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Paul Mazursky

Writers (WGA):

Charles G. Booth (story)
Leon Capetanos (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 September 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Adventure

Tagline:

Welcome to Parador. The Dictator's cold, the First Lady's hot, the people are revolting... and Jack Noah just got the role of his life.

Plot:

Little known actor, Jack Noah, is working on location in the dictatorship of Parador at the time the dictator dies...

Plot Keywords:

Dictator | Actor | Geofiction | Substitution | Impersonation

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes.

Cast

Richard Dreyfuss	...	Jack Noah / President Alphonse Simms
Raul Julia	...	Roberto Strausmann
Sonia Braga	...	Madonna Mendez
Jonathan Winters	...	Ralph
Fernando Rey	...	Alejandro
Michael Greene	...	Clint
Polly Holliday	...	Midge
Milton Gonçalves	...	Carlo
Charo	...	Madame Loop
Marianne Sägebrecht	...	Magda
Reinhard Kolldehoff	...	Gunther
Richard Russell Ramos	...	Dieter Lopez
José Lewgoy	...	Archbishop
Dann Florek	...	Toby
Roger Aaron Brown	...	Desmond

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

During a scene where Jack has to address the crowd as the Paradorian President, he ad-libs his lines and uses the text for the song "The Impossible Dream" from ‘Man of La Mancha’. Only Roberto catches on, a reference to Raul Julia's leading role (Don Quixote) in the Broadway version of ‘Man of La Mancha’.

Quotes:

Roberto Strausmann: Damn communists!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Hercules Against the Moon Men (#5.10)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

Ni Ti Tango, Ni Ti Olvido

One of Richard Dreyfuss's better films.

I thought that Mr. Dreyfuss was perfect for his role as the actor and the dictator. His co-star, Mr. Julia, played his role equally as perfect. It was interesting to see how reluctant Richard Dreyfuss was in replacing the dictator against his will. But he became more confident and comfortable with the role as time passed. Since everything happens for a reason in life, I believe he was forced to replace the dictator because he was meant to stay there for over the year that he did. I'm guessing that he stayed because he was supposed to see how good his life was compared to the poverty he witnessed in Parador. I think he took too many things for granted in life and he needed to get a serious reality check by remaining in that country for as long as he did.

But........... anyways........... this is why I gave this film a 7 out of 10.