The Mambo Kings (1992)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Arne Glimcher

Writers (WGA):

Oscar Hijuelos (novel)
Cynthia Cidre (screenplay)

Release Date:

28 February 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

With a suitcase full of song, Hearts filled with passion, two brothers come to America in search of a dream.

Plot:

Musician brothers Cesar and Nestor leave Cuba for America in the 1950s, hoping to hit the top of the Latin music scene...

Plot Keywords:

Musician | Breasts | Passion | Tragic | New York

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 nominations

Cast

Armand Assante	...	Cesar Castillo
Antonio Banderas	...	Nestor Castillo
Cathy Moriarty	...	Lanna Lake
Maruschka Detmers	...	Delores Fuentes
Pablo Calogero	...	Ramon - The Mambo Kings Band
Scott Cohen	...	Bernardito - The Mambo Kings Band
Desi Arnaz Jr.	...	Desi Arnaz Sr.
Mario Grillo	...	Mario - The Mambo Kings Band
Ralph Irizarry	...	Pito - The Mambo Kings Band
Pete Macnamara	...	Johnny Bing - The Mambo Kings Band
James Medina	...	Manny - The Mambo Kings Band (as Jimmy Medina)
Marcos Quintanilla	...	Willie - The Mambo Kings Band
Tito Puente	...	Himself
J.T. Taylor	...	Frankie Suarez - The Mambo Kings Band
William Thomas Jr.	...	Xavier - The Mambo Kings Band

Also Known As:

Mambo kings, Les (France)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Tower Theatre - 802 S. Broadway, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Alcor Films

Trivia:

'Banderas, Antonio' couldn't speak English when this movie was filmed, and thus performed all his lines phonetically. Armand Assante couldn't speak Spanish and thus performed all his lines phonetically.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: It is 1952 and the family is watching an episode of the TV series "Cheyenne" (1955) which did not premiere until 1955.

Quotes:

Anna Maria: He thinks he's the last Coca Cola in the desert.
Lanna Lake: Honey, he is.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in People Like Us: Making 'Philadelphia' (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Beautiful Maria Of My Soul

I was glued to the television

I saw this movie for the first time in 1995 on television and it has been a favorite of mine ever since.

Armand Assante was absolutely awesome! Pure male magnetism just oozed from his pores in this role and I think I became his biggest fan by the time the movie had ended.

Antonio Banderas was handsome as ever and the two of them together was definitely a treat for female viewers.

The the music, the dancing and the charisma of the movie was infectious and fun to be a part of, even if it was only in a visual context.

I must admit, my rating is strictly biased because, to date, I still think Armand Assante is the sexiest man alive and anything that he is in, I make it my business to see, so the 10 was earned entirely on the basis of Armand Assante's presence.