Havana (I) (1990)

Cuba, December 1958: The professional gambler Jack visits Havana to organize a big Poker game. On the ship he meets Roberta and falls in love with her. Shortly after they arrive in Cuba, ... See full summary »

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Judith Rascoe (story), Judith Rascoe (screenplay),

Stars:

Robert Redford, Lena Olin, Alan Arkin

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Redford	...	Jack Weil
Lena Olin	...	Bobby Duran
Alan Arkin	...	Joe Volpi
Tomas Milian	...	Menocal
Daniel Davis	...	Marion Chigwell
Tony Plana	...	Julio Ramos
Betsy Brantley	...	Diane
Lise Cutter	...	Patty
Richard Farnsworth	...	Professor
Mark Rydell	...	Meyer Lansky
Vasek Simek	...	Willy
Fred Asparagus	...	Baby Hernandez
Richard Portnow	...	Mike MacClaney
Dion Anderson	...	Roy Forbes
Carmine Caridi	...	Captain Potts

Storyline

Cuba, December 1958: The professional gambler Jack visits Havana to organize a big Poker game. On the ship he meets Roberta and falls in love with her. Shortly after they arrive in Cuba, Roberta and her Cuban husband, the revolutionary Arturo, are arrested and tortured. Arturo is reported "shot while trying to escape," but Jack manages to get Roberta free again. He can't, however, keep her from continuing to support the revolution. Jack has to make a choice between the beautiful woman who keeps putting herself in harms way and the biggest poker game of his life; between the man he could be and the man he is.

---

Plot Keywords:

cuba | revolutionary | love | revolution | ship | 

---

Taglines:

A gambler who trusted no one. A woman who risked everything. And a passion that brought them together in the most dangerous city in the world.

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sensuality and strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

12 December 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Havanna

Filming Locations:

Dominican Republic

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$9,243,140 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mirage, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

144 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sharon Stone was considered for the role of Bobby Duran.

---

Goofs

In the final conversation between Jack Weil and Bobby Duran, Jack refers to the Butterfly Effect as if it was already theorized and calculated. This is supposed to be the following days after the Cuban Revolution blasts, in early 1959. Although the idea of the ripple effect exists since before, the way Jack refers to it should only be possible to know after that, as related to the work of Edward Lorenz. This mathematician and meteorologist wrote a paper for the New York Academy of Sciences in 1963 noting "One meteorologist remarked that if the theory were correct, one flap of a seagull's wings could change the course of weather forever." In later speeches and papers, Lorenz used the more poetic word butterfly.

---

Quotes

Bobby Duran: How many times have you lost everything Jack?

---

Connections

Referenced in The Directors: The Films of Sydney Pollack (2000)

---

Soundtracks

"Rum and Coca Cola"
Written by Morey Amsterdam, Paul Baron & Jeri Sullavan
Performed by The Andrews Sisters (as The Andrew Sisters)
Courtesy of MCA Records

User Reviews

Better than mediocre

Havana is a favorite of mine. Sure it's a slick Hollywood movie but I thought Redford and Olin were marvelous together and fit their roles perfectly. Doesn't it seem natural to find Redford in exotic Havana playing cards on the eve of the revolution? And doesn't Olin's intelligence , charm, and beauty fit her role ? The supporting cast were flawless and the intriguing plot stood on it's own merit. The sentimental ending was superb and the musical score which received an academy award nomination was brilliant. Better than mediocre.