10 Movie Actors Who Refused To Talk To Directors On Set

8. Warren Beatty - Ishtar

World War Z
Columbia Pictures

By all accounts 1987's adventure-comedy dud Ishtar was an absolutely nightmarish shoot, defined by production overruns which almost doubled its budget to a massive $51 million, and squabbling between star Warren Beatty, director Elaine May, and cinematographer Vittorio Storaro.

The Morocco shoot was a disaster - director May was deeply uncomfortable throughout the harsh desert shoot, and suffered from a toothache which she refused to have treated locally.

This surely only exacerbated her disagreements with producer-star Beatty, who she felt sided with DP Storaro during most of the on-set disputes.

Furthermore, May came to blows with female lead Isabelle Adjani, who not-so-coincidentally happened to be Beatty's partner at the time.

According to co-star Dustin Hoffman, for much of the shoot Beatty and May weren't on speaking terms, but settled on an agreement to shoot each disputed scene twice - once his way, once hers.

Ultimately having so much footage to choose from - reportedly 108 hours of dailies - did little to help the end product, which was a critical and commercial failure, in addition to winning May a Worst Director Razzie.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.