Desperado (1995)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Robert Rodriguez

Writer (WGA):

Robert Rodriguez (written by)

Release Date:

25 August 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

He came back to settle the score with someone. Anyone. EVERYONE.

Plot:

A gunslinger is embroiled in a war with a local drug runner.

Plot Keywords:

Mariachi | Drugs | Sequel | Hitman | Drug Lord

Awards:

3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 6

6:30 PM

MAX

Cast

Antonio Banderas	...	El Mariachi
Salma Hayek	...	Carolina
Joaquim de Almeida	...	Bucho
Cheech Marin	...	Short Bartender
Steve Buscemi	...	Buscemi
Carlos Gómez	...	Right Hand (as Carlos Gomez)
Quentin Tarantino	...	Pick-up Guy
Tito Larriva	...	Tavo
Angel Aviles	...	Zamira
Danny Trejo	...	Navajas
Abraham Verduzco	...	Niño
Carlos Gallardo	...	Campa
Albert Michel Jr.	...	Quino
David Alvarado	...	Buddy
Angela Lanza	...	Tourist Girl
Mike Moroff	...	Shrug
Robert Arevalo	...	Opponent
Gerardo Moscoso	...	Priest
Peter Marquardt	...	Moco
Consuelo Gómez	...	Domino (as Consuelo Gomez)
Jaime de Hoyos	...	Bigoton (as Jaime De Hoyos)
Cristos	...	Cristos
Richie Gaona	...	Case Opener
Mark Dalton	...	Fighting Barfly
Tommy Nix	...	Fighting Barfly
Patricia Vonne	...	Bar Girl
Elizabeth Rodriguez	...	Mariachi Fan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Reinol Martinez	...	Guy scolding Niño outside Tarasco Bar (uncredited)
Diego Sandoval	...	Empty Gun Man (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Rodriguez

Writing credits (WGA)
Robert Rodriguez		(written by)

Produced by
Elizabeth Avellan	....	co-producer (as Elizabeth Avellán)
Bill Borden	....	producer
Carlos Gallardo	....	co-producer
Robert Rodriguez	....	producer

Original Music by
Los Lobos

Cinematography by
Guillermo Navarro		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert Rodriguez

Production Design by
Cecilia Montiel

Art Direction by
Felipe Fernández del Paso		(as Felipe Fernandez del Paso)

Costume Design by
Graciela Mazón

Makeup Department
Rosie Duprat Fort	....	assistant hair stylist (as Rosa Elisa Duprat R.)
Rosie Duprat Fort	....	assistant makeup artist (as Rosa Elisa Duprat R.)
Ermahn Ospina	....	hair stylist
Ermahn Ospina	....	makeup artist
Douglas J. White	....	special effects makeup & prosthetics (as Douglas White)
Allan A. Apone	....	special makeup designer (uncredited)

Production Management
Tony Mark	....	unit production manager
Luz María Rojas	....	unit production manager (as Luz Maria Rojas Magnon)
Tamara Smith	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Diego Sandoval	....	second assistant director
Joaquin Silva	....	second second assistant director
Sebastián Silva	....	first assistant director (as Sebastian Gaetano Silva)
Antonio Banderas	....	director: bathroom scene (uncredited)
Steve M. Davison	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Mark 'Digger' Green	....	assistant property master (as Mark Green)
Terry Haskell	....	property master
Ricardo M. Kaplan	....	assistant art director
Eduardo Lopez	....	lead dresser
Ernesto López Ríos	....	construction coordinator (as Ernesto Lopez Rios)

Sound Department
Dean Beville	....	supervising sound editor
Matthew C. Beville	....	sound editor (as Matthew Beville)
Edmond J. Coblentz Jr.	....	assistant sound editor
Thomas Raymond Fabbricante	....	assistant sound editor
Judee Flick	....	adr editor
Gary S. Gerlich	....	sound editor (as Gary Gerlich)
Greg Hedgepath	....	sound editor (as Gregory A. Hedgepath)
Pedro Mejía	....	boom operator (as Pedro Mejia)
Sergio Reyes	....	sound re-recording mixer
B. Tennyson Sebastian III	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Tennyson Sebastian III)
Frank Smathers	....	foley editor (as Frank T. Smathers)
Charles Ewing Smith	....	dialogue editor
Mark Ulano	....	production sound mixer
Derek Marcil	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Marvin Walowitz	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
B.J. Shelley	....	special effects assistant (as B. J. Shelley)
Bob Shelley	....	special effects coordinator
Malinda Shelley	....	special effects assistant
Steve Fink	....	prosthetics technician (uncredited)

Stunts
David Alvarado	....	stunts
Julian Bucio	....	stunts (as Julian Bucio Montemayor)
Steve M. Davison	....	stunt coordinator
Richie Gaona	....	stunts
Ramiro González	....	stunts (as Ramiro Gonzalez)
Allan R.J. Joseph	....	stunts (as Allan R. J. Joseph)
Henry Kingi Jr.	....	stunts (as Henry Masao Kingi Jr.)
Javier Lambert	....	stunts (as Javier Lambert Rodriguez)
Troy Robinson	....	stunts
Gilbert Rosales	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
David Berryman	....	second assistant camera
Ricardo Fernández	....	first assistant camera (as Ricardo Oscar Fernandez)
Joaquin Gutierrez	....	second assistant camera
Gerardo Manjarrez	....	first assistant camera (as Gerardo Manjarrez Chavez)
Marco Morales Echeverría	....	second grip (as Marco Morales Echeverria)
Fernando Moreno	....	chief lighting technician
Robert Rodriguez	....	Steadicam operator
Jesús Romero	....	key grip (as Jesus Romero)
Antonio Sánchez Romero	....	best boy electric (as Antonio Sanchez Romero)
Rico Torres	....	still photographer
Juan Martín	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
David Giella	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alana Caudillo	....	wardrobe assistant (as Alana Ackley)
Ireri Mazón Salas	....	wardrobe assistant
Adolfo Ramírez	....	wardrobe supervisor: men (as Adolfo Ramirez)
Carlos Mungia Rodríguez	....	wardrobe supervisor: women (as Carlos Mungia Rodriguez)

Editorial Department
Erik C. Andersen	....	non-linear associate editor
Daniel Fort	....	assistant film editor (as Daniel A. Fort)
Gloria Kaiser	....	color timer
Ethan Maniquis	....	assistant film editor
David Orr	....	color timer
Darren Block	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Michael Connell	....	music editor
Tito Larriva	....	composer: additional music
Karyn Rachtman	....	music supervisor
Steven Hufsteter	....	musician: guitars (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Kenny Mason	....	transportation coordinator
Mark Gantt	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Robin Anderson	....	script supervisor
Joaquin Gonzalo Avellán	....	assistant location manager
Mariano Carranco	....	location manager
Anelis Patiño Coronas	....	production secretary
Deborah Dalton	....	assistant: Mr. Banderas
Fernanda Echeverria	....	production coordinator (as Fernanda Echeverria B.)
Miguel Gurza	....	animal wrangler
Cheri Hall	....	production accountant
Elsa Hermoso	....	production accountant
Pamela Jaeckle	....	production coordinator
Don Levy	....	unit publicist
Jenny Manriquez	....	assistant: Mr. Borden
Juan Luis Obregón	....	production assistant
Leticia Avalos Ramos	....	production assistant
Carlos Renero	....	animal wrangler
Barry Rosenbush	....	production assistant
Daniel J. Shaw	....	production assistant
Josephine Batorski	....	studio teacher (uncredited)
Kelly Frazier	....	assistant production coordinator (uncredited)

Thanks
Carmen M. De Gallardo	....	special thanks (as Mrs. Carmen Monsivais de Gallardo)
Ramiro Guzmán	....	special thanks (as Mr. & Mrs. Ramiro Guzman)

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1995) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1995) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1995) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (special edition)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (Canada) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Encore Entertainment (1996) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Falcon (1995) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Makeup Effects Laboratories

Other Companies

• Alimentacion Filmica Especializada  catering (as Alimentación Filmica Especializada)
• Alimentacion Filmica Especializada  craft service (as Alimentación Filmica Especializada)
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting
• Del Rio Bar, Ciudad Acuña  special thanks
• Epic Soundtrax  soundtrack on
• Fire Department of Ciudad Acuña  special thanks
• Hunters Lodge Bar  special thanks
• Mayor and the People of Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico  special thanks to
• Otto Nemenz International  cameras by (as Otto Nemenz)
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Police Department of Ciudad Acuña  special thanks
• Post Logic Studios  digital film mastering
• Reuben Cannon & Associates  casting
• Technicolor  prints by (as Technicolor®)
• The Chamber of Commerce of Ciudad Acuña  special thanks
• The Office of the Governor of Coahuila, Mexico  special thanks
• The Parish of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Ciudad Acuña  special thanks
• Transit Department of Ciudad Acuña  special thanks
• Wardlaw Frazier Casting  extras casting

Also Known As:

El Mariachi 2 (USA) (working title)
Pistolero (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong bloody violence, a strong sex sequence and language.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

USA:R (No. 33717) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) (Canadian Home Video rating) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:14 | Italy:VM14 | Australia:R | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (cut) | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Japan:PG-12 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Ciudad Acuña, Coahuíla, Mexico

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Due to the film's relatively low budget, the same two stunt men were used throughout the movie.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): At the end of the opening credits song, the Mariachi raises his left hand to shield his eyes from the lights as he tries to see who's clapping, but the light is clearly coming from his right so his raised hand would not shield his eyes at all.

Quotes:

El Mariachi: I have to go to church.
Carolina: What for?
El Mariachi: Confess my sins. I'm a sinner.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)

Soundtrack:

Canción Del Mariachi (Morena De Mi Corazón)

Robert Rodriguez's sequel-cum-remake of El Mariachi.

Desperado (1995) was a fun and big budgeted version of Desperado. Robert Rodriguez has fun with the film and the characters from El MARIACHI. Antonio Banderas stars as the mythical El Mariachi whilst Salma Hayyek co-stars as his love interest. Cheech Marin, Danny Trejo, Steve Buscemi and Quentin Tarantino are among the other stars who make guest star appearances.

El Mariachi is hiding out in another small desert town. He's become a legendary vigilante who's still seeking out justice for his dead girlfriend. He has a companion (Steve Buscemi) who helps him out find those who were connected to the boss from the first film. During one of his hits, a hired gun from another crime family comes into town (Danny Trejo). He also fits the description of El Mariachi (somewhat). A local book dealer (Salma Hayek) crosses paths with the legendary crime fighter. Who is the man behind all of El Mariachi's sorrow? Why is he so desperate to single handedly trying to crush the crime in the area? How does he do it by himself? Is he that good? To find out the answers for all of these questions you'll just have to watch DESPERADO.

A fun second parter to EL MARIACHI. Unlike most sequels, you don't need to watch the first film to enjoy this one. It's just another entertaining film that'll burn some time. Enjoy!

Highly recommended.