‘ISHTAR,’ ‘THE GATE’ TOP BOX-OFFICE TAKE

Whoa! It was a neck-and-neck race between the Road to Morocco and the Road to Hell at the box office last weekend.

Columbia Pictures’ long-awaited $40-million-plus “Ishtar,” written and directed by Elaine May, starring Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman as down-on-their-luck singer-songwriters who journey from New York to the Middle East, topped the box office with ticket sales of $4.3 million, opening at 1,139 theaters.

But “The Gate,”--a $4-million horror picture with a cast of unknowns, and a story line about teen-agers who find the gate to hell in their own backyard--came in a close second. Claiming grosses of $4.2 million, also at 1,139 theaters, a spokesman for the New Century Vista Film Co. proclaimed it the 8-month-old company’s first hit.

Though the news about “Ishtar’s” debut receipts came as a disappointment--given the film’s star power--Daily Variety industry analyst Art Murphy cautioned against making assessments so early. “The real test,” he said, “will come this weekend when there will be twice as many moviegoers (as the previous weekend) because of the Memorial Day holiday. That’s when a lot of people who haven’t gone to the movies lately will decide if they’re going to see ‘Ishtar.’ ”

But “Ishtar” will have arresting competition. Opening Wednesday, at more than 2,300 theaters across the country: “Beverly Hills Cop II.” Which means the heat is on.

For the weekend’s complete box-office rundown, see Morning Report, Page 2.