El mariachi (1992)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Robert Rodriguez

Writer:

Robert Rodriguez (written by)

Release Date:

26 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

With a guitar in his hand and a price on his head, he wasn't looking for trouble...but trouble came looking for him.

Plot:

A traveling mariachi is mistaken for a murderous criminal and must hide from a gang bent on killing him.

Plot Keywords:

Mariachi | Guitar | Guitar Case | Gun | Mexico

Awards:

4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Carlos Gallardo	...	El Mariachi
Consuelo Gómez	...	Domino
Jaime de Hoyos	...	Bigotón (as Jaime De Hoyos)
Peter Marquardt	...	Mauricio
Reinol Martinez	...	Azul
Ramiro Gómez	...	Cantinero (as Ramiro Gomez)
Jesús López	...	Viejo Clerk (as Jesus Lopez)
Luis Baró	...	Domino's Assistant (as Luis Baro)
Oscar Fabila	...	The Boy
Poncho Ramón	...	Azul's Rat (as Poncho Ramon)
Fernando Martínez	...	Azul's Rat (as Fernando Martinez)
Manuel Acosta	...	Bodyguard
Walter Vargas	...	Prisoner
Roberto Martinez	...	Prisoner
Virgen Delgado	...	Female Bodyguard
Juanita Vargas	...	Female Bodyguard
Yolanda Puga	...	Female Bodyguard
Jaime R. Rodríguez	...	Moco's Men (as Jaime Rodriguez)
Luis Cadena	...	Moco's Men
Afredo Martínez	...	Moco's Men (as Alfredo Martinez)
Gerardo Jáquez	...	Moco's Men (as Gerardo Jaquez)
Mario Mata	...	Moco's Men
Daniel Delgado	...	Moco's Men
Rosendo Ortíz	...	Moco's Men (as Rosendo Ortiz)
César Cadena	...	Moco's Men (as Cesar Cadena)
José Salinas	...	Moco's Men (as Jose Salinas)
Robert Santoyo	...	Moco's Men
Sabas Pérez	...	Moco's Men (as Sabas Perez)
Guadencio Martín	...	Moco's Men (as Guadencio Martin)
Juan García	...	Moco's Men (as Juan Garcia)
Máximo Martín	...	Moco's Men (as Maximo Martin)
DiFonso Quezada	...	Moco's Men
Manuel Vejor	...	Moco's Men
Alfredo Cisneros	...	Keyboardist
Alejandro Peña	...	Piña / Loco
Israel Reyes	...	Taco
Clara Scott	...	Moco's Manicurist
María Castillo	...	Jail Guard (as Maria Castillo)
Samuel Quiroz	...	Jail Guard
Roberto Delgado	...	Jail Guard
Fermín Barrón	...	School Bus Driver (as Fermin Barron)
H.B.	...	Pit Bull
Tito Tortuga	...	La Tortuga

Directed by
Robert Rodriguez

Writing credits
Robert Rodriguez		(written by)

Produced by
Elizabeth Avellan	....	associate producer (as Elizabeth Avellán)
Carmen M. De Gallardo	....	associate producer
Carlos Gallardo	....	producer
Robert Rodriguez	....	producer

Original Music by
Eric Guthrie
Chris Knudson
Álvaro Rodríguez		(as Alvaro Rodriguez)
Cecilio Rodríguez		(as Cecilio Rodriguez)
Mark Trujillo		(as Marc Trujillo)

Cinematography by
Robert Rodriguez

Film Editing by
Robert Rodriguez

Production Management
Carlos Gallardo	....	unit production manager

Art Department
Mario Gonzales	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Robert Rodriguez	....	sound editor
Gregory H. Watkins	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Carlos Gallardo	....	special effects
Robert Rodriguez	....	special effects

Stunts
Mario Hernández	....	stunt supervisor (as Mario Hernandez)
Manuel Salinas	....	stunt supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Carlos Gallardo	....	dolly grip
Roberto Martinez	....	dolly grip
Robert Rodriguez	....	camera operator
Robert Rodriguez	....	still photographer

Editorial Department
Robert Rodriguez	....	additional editor
Daniel Fort	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Robert Rodriguez	....	music editor

Other crew
Maria Gonzales	....	assistant to producers
Lic. Francisco Martínez	....	production attorney (as Lic. Francisco Martinez)
Roberto Martinez	....	production assistant

Thanks
Jose Aranda	....	special thanks
Alfonso Arau	....	special thanks: Provided the bathtub
Elizabeth Avellan	....	special thanks (as Elizabeth Avellán)
Jorge Cadena	....	special thanks
Humberto Cantu	....	special thanks
Ben Davis	....	special thanks
Carmen M. De Gallardo	....	special thanks (as Carmen M. de Gallardo)
Samuel Flores	....	special thanks
Ernesto Gallegos	....	special thanks
Gudelio Garza	....	special thanks
Jaime Garza	....	special thanks
Ricardo Garza	....	special thanks
George Hively	....	special thanks
Thomas G. Jingles	....	special thanks (as Thomas Jingles)
Jay Kamen	....	special thanks
Keith Kritselis	....	special thanks
Gary Krivacek	....	special thanks
Josue Muñoz Quintero	....	special thanks
Miguel Orihuela	....	special thanks
Rafael Perales	....	special thanks
Lic. Evaristo Perez Arreola	....	special thanks
Enrique Perez	....	special thanks
Hector Monroy Plascencia	....	special thanks
Manuel Portillo	....	special thanks
Jaime Rodriguez	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents) (as Columbia Pictures)
• Los Hooligans Productions (producer) (as Los Hooligans)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1993) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1993) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (1993) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Les Films Number One (1993) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1994) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (Canada) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Starz! Network (1996) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  titles by (as Cinema Research Corporation)
• City of Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico  special thanks to
• Dept. Policia Municipal Acuña Coah.  special thanks to
• Post Logic Studios  digital film mastering
• Sony Pictures Studios  post-production
• Sony Pictures Studios  sound recording
• Technicolor  prints by (as Technicolor®)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence.

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

Mexico | USA

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:18A (British Columbia) (1999) | Brazil:14 | Australia:M | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:18 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R (Approval No. 31967)

Filming Locations:

Ciudad Acuña, Coahuíla, Mexico

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

For much of the outdoor filming Robert Rodriguez was down the street from the Mariachi. People walking by did not see him, just the man walking down the street with a machine gun.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When the piano player finishes his song, he slides his hand from the viewer's left to the viewer's right, which would in actuality produce a glissando that descends in pitch, rather than the ascending one that appears on the soundtrack (it would be from the high end of the keyboard to the low end).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mauricio: Good morning, Azul. Know who this is?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in My Big Fat Independent Movie (2005)

Soundtrack:

Mariachi Love Theme

One of the greatest low budget movies of the last twenty years, and still an inspiration to wanna be movie makers around the world.

'El Mariachi' should still be regarded as an inspiration to wanna be movie makers around the world. For around US$7,000 Robert Rodriguez created one of the most enjoyable action movies to hit Hollywood since Peckinpah's 'The Getaway'. Once again Rodriguez proves the point that creativity and imagination beat million dollar budgets every time. An obvious concept to most people one would think, but going by the overblown CGI infested crapola at a theatre near you something that mainstream Hollywood STILL doesn't get! Carlos Gallardo played El Mariachi and co-produced with Rodriguez who did just about everything else - writer, director, cinematographer, editor, special effects,etc.etc. I first saw this movie not long after it hit video and I enjoyed it a lot. I recently watched it on DVD for the first time, ten years after I first saw it, and to me it really stands up. (Rodriguez' commentary is also highly recommended to any aspiring director) Personally my favourite Rodriguez movie is 'From Dusk Til Dawn', but 'El Mariachi' comes a close second. It's sequel cum remake 'Desperado' is a better known to most people but despite a budget 1000 times bigger(!) and some "name" actors involved I don't think it has half the energy and fun of the original, one of the greatest low budget movies of the last twenty years.