231. Elaine in May - Ishtar (1987 with Elizabeth Alsop)

Our tribute to beleaguered director Elaine May closes with a look at the movie that ruined her career, 1987's Ishtar. Is it the worst film ever made?

May biographer Elizabeth Alsop joins Kristen to break down the infamous flop and what went wrong. The pair discuss Warren Beatty as the Patient Zero for everything, debunking established stories, and if telling the truth really is a dangerous business.

Works Cited:

The Road to Ishtar by David Blum

Editor William Reynolds (American CinemaEditor Magazine)

Elaine May in Conversation With Mike Nichols

Madness in Morocco: The Road to Ishtar by Peter Biskind

Buy Elizabeth's book Elaine May (Contemporary Directors) at this link.

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