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:

Cuba | Musician | 1950s | Songwriter | Latin

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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:

Les mambo kings (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:

Because of his commitment to The Mambo Kings (1992), Antonio Banderas had to pass on working with his mentor Pedro Almodóvar for the sixth time on Tacones lejanos (1991). The pair have not worked together since.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The "I Love Lucy" show was filmed in Hollywood several weeks in advance of the air date and never broadcast live as portrayed in the movie.

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:

Ponce

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.