Moon Over Parador (1988)

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: [to Jack] When I get back, I expect to see my president.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Lilli Marleen

A Gem

This movie contains one of Richard Dreyfuss's greatest performances, as an actor who plays a dictator and does it so convincingly that his own mother does not detect the impostor. Also, this movie is funny, yet has a serious side as well. What is especially intriguing about this movie is the character Madonna, who is the dictator's mistress, but eventually becomes the leader of the country. Madonna's evolution from mistress to political leader added greatly to the quality of the story and to the movie's entertainment value. And the main character, who at the start of the movie is a struggling actor and somewhat of a buffoon, evolves too and by the end of the movie commands respect. I liked this movie.