Patrick Stewart's Final Credit Was a Jerusalem Bank Heist

Patrick Stewart, who died on Thursday, left behind a filmography dominated by Star Trek and X-Men. Yet one of his final credits was a 2013 caper comedy set in Jerusalem. The film, titled Hunting Elephants, was directed by Reshef Levi and served as the opening-night selection for the Jerusalem Film Festival at its release.

The plot centers on a young boy whose father, a bank guard, dies suddenly. The bank refuses to pay out the father's pension due to a technicality. The boy's grandfather, a former bank robber, enlists the help of his old friend and the boy's great-uncle, played by Stewart. Stewart's character travels from England to Israel to help the two men execute a heist to secure the family's money.

Stewart stepped into the role as a last-minute replacement for John Cleese, who became ill before filming began. Stewart had visited Israel as a tourist a year prior to the production. He later described spending four extraordinary days in the country during that initial trip. He stated he was delighted to return not as a visitor, but as part of the film crew.

In a 2013 press conference in Tel Aviv, Stewart noted the linguistic challenge of the role. He said, "This movie is unlike anything else I've ever done, because every other character in the film, but Michael, my character, speaks Hebrew." The script required him to play a lord and failed actor who is broke and has sold his title to pay bills.

The film featured a cast of prominent Israeli actors, including Sasson Gabbai, Moni Moshonov, and Zvika Hadar. A reviewer for the Jerusalem Post praised Stewart's performance at the time, stating he injected the film with life and flamboyance. The review specifically cited a flashback scene where Stewart performs in a Star Wars-themed version of Hamlet. It also highlighted a music-hall performance by Stewart at an assisted-living facility.

Stewart discussed his political views during the promotional events. A lifelong member of the Labor Party, he said solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be his top priority if he were a world leader. He believed the best way to understand the issues was to spend time in the region. He looked forward to having a clearer mind about the matters after filming for a month.

Stewart also shared a piece of advice he received from two Jewish friends during his earlier visit. He recalled them telling him to pay attention if he was outdoors and everybody else was running while he stood still. The film remains a footnote in his career, but it stands as a unique entry in the intersection of British stage acting and Israeli cinema.