‘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.