The Mambo Kings (1992)

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:

Casino | Brooding Character | Swimming Pool | Cigarette | True Love

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:

Iceland:L | Singapore:M18 | 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: When the Castillo brothers first approach New York City in the early 1950s, you can see the World Trade Center towers in the skyline. The towers weren't built until the early 1970s.

Quotes:

Cesar Castillo: In the name of the Mambo, the Rumba, and the Cha cha cha.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Beautiful Maria Of My Soul

Mesmerizing!

The first time I saw this movie, I cried. It brought out emotions I did not know I had. The performances were phenomenal. I knew Antonio could sing but Armand Assante was a huge surprise! The late, great Celia Cruz acts as sort of a every woman musically narrating the story. Another musical genius, that has since left this world, is Tito Puente. His performance sets up the audience for the electricity that follows. This movie portrayed every form of love know to humans-between family, man and woman and everyone's love of music. The passions that this movie ignites, well, I haven't felt since. I can't wait till it comes out on DVD because my VHS is a little worn. When they start to count down the greatest movies of all time I hope The Mambo Kings is in the top ten!