Bound by Honor (1993)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Writers (WGA):

Ross Thomas (story)
Jimmy Santiago Baca (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 April 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

An epic story of three brothers. Bound by blood. Divided by fate. Driven by destiny.

Plot:

Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on half-brothers Paco and Cruz...

Plot Keywords:

Artist | Heroin | Cousin | Gang | Half Brother

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Damian Chapa	...	Miklo
Jesse Borrego	...	Cruz
Benjamin Bratt	...	Paco
Enrique Castillo	...	Montana
Victor Rivers	...	Magic Mike
Delroy Lindo	...	Bonafide
Tom Towles	...	Red Ryder
Carlos Carrasco	...	Popeye
Teddy Wilson	...	Wallace
Raymond Cruz	...	Chuey
Valente Rodriguez	...	Frankie
Lanny Flaherty	...	Big Al
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Lightning
Geoffrey Rivas	...	Carlos
Karmin Murcelo	...	Dolores
Jenny Gago	...	Lupe
Noah Verduzco	...	Juanito
Lupe Ontiveros	...	Carmen
Gary Cervantes	...	Smokey
Victor Mohica	...	Mano
Thomas F. Wilson	...	Rollie McCann (as Tom Wilson)
Ray Oriel	...	Spider
Mike Genovese	...	Sgt. Devereaux
Steven Anthony Jones	...	Cyclone
Harold Surratt	...	Pockets (as Harold J. Surratt)
Natalia Nogulich	...	Janis (as Natalija Nogulich)
Ving Rhames	...	Ivan
Danny Trejo	...	Geronimo
Jimmy Santiago Baca	...	Gato
Peter Mark Vasquez	...	Chivo
Judith Verduzco	...	Alicia
Sonia Rodriguez	...	Victoria
Roberto Contreras	...	Cruz's Grandfather
Evelyn Guerrero	...	Luisa
Gary Tacon	...	Clavo
Luis Contreras	...	Realthing
Paulo Tocha	...	Apache
Freddy Negrete	...	Freddy
David Donard	...	Gill
Steve Eastin	...	Hollenbeck Captain
Alina Arenal	...	Perla
Julie Zamarynov	...	Belinda (as Julie Zamaryonov)
Daniel McDonald	...	Gallery Assistant
Gibby Brand	...	Jared Levinson
Elizabeth Austin	...	Lois Levinson
Adan Hernandez	...	Gilbert
Richard E. Butler	...	Frank Velka
Michael Bofshever	...	Salesman
Art Snyder	...	Councilman Snyder
Robert Pescovitz	...	Surgeon
Primitivo Tapia	...	Street Kid
Robert J. Juarez	...	Priest
Eddie Perez	...	Joker
Claudia Gabriella Colin	...	Joker's Girl
David Labiosa	...	Coolaide
Rudy Barrios	...	Tres Puntos Gangmember
Juan Charles	...	Vatos Locos
Charles Guillermo	...	Vatos Locos
Eugene Barrios	...	Vatos Locos
Jimmy Chavez	...	Vatos Locos
Rene Bontana	...	5 Puntos Counterman (as René Bontana)
Dan Vasquez	...	Warden
Michael McFall	...	Transvestite #1
Donald E. Lacy Jr.	...	Transvestite #2
Zandra Hill	...	Black Cook
George Pereira	...	Old Con
Ángel Romero	...	Parole Board Member
Joe Schloss	...	Prison Escort
Chris Chloupek	...	Prison Photographer
Gill Montie	...	AV Inmate
Vanessa Marquez	...	Montana's Daughter
Martin McDermott	...	Delano Guard
Martha Cardenas	...	Landlady
Catherine Price	...	Newscaster
Jerry Perea	...	Tattooed Lipped Partier
Lindsey Ginter	...	Officer Young
Victor Koliacos	...	PCP Kid
Christine Avila	...	Mother of PCP Kid
Robert Padgett	...	Doctor to PCP Kid
Rio Hackford	...	PCP Intern
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roxann Dawson	...	(uncredited)
Richard Masur	...	Prison librarian (uncredited)

Directed by
Taylor Hackford

Writing credits (WGA)
Ross Thomas		(story)
Jimmy Santiago Baca		(screenplay) &
Jeremy Iacone		(screenplay) and
Floyd Mutrux		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jimmy Santiago Baca	....	executive producer
Gina Blumenfeld	....	associate producer
Jerry Gershwin	....	producer
Taylor Hackford	....	producer
Jeremy Iacone	....	executive producer
Stratton Leopold	....	executive producer
Rene Sheridan	....	co-executive producer
Ray K. Morris	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bill Conti

Cinematography by
Gabriel Beristain

Film Editing by
Fredric Steinkamp
Karl F. Steinkamp

Casting by
Sharon Bialy
Richard Pagano

Production Design by
Bruno Rubeo

Art Direction by
Marek Dobrowolski

Set Decoration by
Cecilia Rodarte

Costume Design by
Shay Cunliffe

Makeup Department
Fred C. Blau Jr.	....	head makeup artist (as Fred C. Blau)
Felicity Bowring	....	key makeup artist
Mark Bussan	....	makeup artist
Shirley Dolle	....	key hair stylist: second unit (as Shirley L. Dollé)
Lynn Del Kail	....	head hair stylist
Margaux L. Lancaster	....	makeup artist
Shawn McKay	....	hair stylist
Gill Montie	....	second tattooist
Freddy Negrete	....	tattoo designer
Lesa Nielsen	....	makeup artist
Christina Raye	....	hair stylist
Laurel Van Dyke	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Sharon Mann	....	unit production manager
Karen Penhale	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Xochi Blymyer	....	second second assistant director
Gary Davis	....	second unit director
Ted Diamandopoulas	....	second second assistant director (as Ted P. Diamandopoulos)
Sean H. Ferrer	....	first assistant director
Alex Kramarchuk	....	first assistant director: second unit
Alex Kramarchuk	....	second assistant director
Josh McLaglen	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Gene Bishop	....	lead man
Nobby Clark	....	construction coordinator
Beth Elliott	....	lead scenic artist
Gordon Germaine	....	scenic artist (as Gordon H. Germain)
Barry Hatchett	....	swing gang
Adan Hernandez	....	painter: Cruz' paintings
David Hopkins	....	on-set dresser
James E. Marchwick	....	swing gang
Joel McKee	....	assistant property master
Randy Pepprock	....	stand-by painter
Janice Perlin	....	scenic artist
Raymond Prado	....	illustrator (as Ray Prado)
Stephen Andrew Schwartz	....	property master (as Stephen A. Schwartz)
James R. Shumaker	....	swing gang
Benjamin Suarez	....	assistant property master
Stan Trevaskis	....	scenic artist
Kathleen Walker	....	art department coordinator
Judith Wyle	....	second art director
Ron Churchman	....	property maker (uncredited)

Sound Department
Anna Behlmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mike Boudry	....	adr recordist
Desmond Cannon	....	assistant adr editor
Paul Timothy Carden	....	supervising sound editor
Gail Clark Burch	....	sound editor (as Gale Clark)
L. Davies	....	sound editor
Karen Doulac	....	sound editor (as Karen V. Doulac)
Louis L. Edemann	....	supervising sound editor
David Gertz	....	foley mixer
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley mixer (as Gary Hecker)
Andrea Horta	....	adr editor
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
Pamela G. Kimber	....	assistant sound editor
Donald J. Malouf	....	sound editor
Kenneth C. Mantlo	....	boom operator (as Ken Mantlo)
James Moriana	....	foley artist
Gary Mundheim	....	sound editor (as Gary M. Mundheim)
Bob O'Brien	....	sound editor (as Richard O'Brien)
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rod Rogers	....	assistant adr editor
Corinne Sessarego	....	adr editor
Larry Singer	....	supervising adr editor
Edward Tise	....	sound mixer
Dan Wallin	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Danny Wallin)
Denise Whiting	....	adr editor
Thomas Whiting	....	supervising adr editor
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
Kerry Dean Williams	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Al Di Sarro	....	special effects coordinator: second unit
Larry L. Fuentes	....	special effects coordinator
Steve Purcell	....	special effects foreman (as Steven Purcell)

Visual Effects by
Mark Dornfeld	....	optical effects supervisor

Stunts
John Cann	....	stunt double (as John McCann)
Gary Combs	....	stunts
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts (as Gill Combs)
Gary Davis	....	stunt coordinator
Rick Edwards	....	stunts
Tom Elliott	....	stunts
Corey Michael Eubanks	....	stunts (as Corey Eubanks)
Barry Hatchett	....	stunts
Gary Hymes	....	stunts
Mike Justus	....	stunts
Henry Kingi	....	stunts
James E. Marchwick	....	stunts
Michael Papajohn	....	stunts (as Mike Papajohn)
Thomas Rosales Jr.	....	stunts (as Tommy Rosales, Jr.)
Benny Urquidez	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Levon Besnelian	....	dolly grip
Flavio Castillero-Gómez	....	video assist operator
Ted Chu	....	first assistant camera (as T.W. Chu)
Doug Cowden	....	grip
Ken Hauser	....	gaffer: second unit
Kim Heath	....	best boy grip
Paul Iski	....	grip (as Paul S. Iski)
Duane Katz	....	electrician
Michael Kelem	....	aerial camera operator
Ed Maloney	....	electrician (as Eddy Maloney)
Andy Martinez	....	director of photography: second unit
Jeff Mart	....	Steadicam operator
Merrick Morton	....	still photographer
James P. Noble	....	electrician
Richard Osborn Jr.	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Richard Osborn)
Andy 'Eagle' Padilla	....	key grip: second unit
William 'Bear' Paul	....	key grip
William Eddie Paul	....	grip
John 'Steamer' Preston	....	electrician
David Riley	....	first assistant camera
Mark S. Speake	....	best boy electric
Lon Thompson	....	gaffer
H. Mark Vuille	....	gaffer
Kirby Washington	....	camera loader
Mike Benson	....	director of photography: additional unit (uncredited)
Dennis J. Laine	....	first assistant camera: additional unit (uncredited)
Michael Meier	....	electrician (uncredited)
Michael K. O'Melia	....	assistant chief lighting technician (uncredited)
Tom Prophet Jr.	....	dolly grip: additional unit (uncredited)
Harry Rez	....	key grip: additional unit (uncredited)
Randall Robinson	....	camera operator: additional unit (uncredited)
Kurt E. Soderling	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Kurt E. Soderling	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Paul Wilkowsky	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Belinda Gardea	....	casting assistant
Robert J. Teitelbaum	....	extras casting (as Bob Teitelbaum)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Castellano	....	costumer: men
Susie Jones	....	costume supervisor
Susie Money	....	wardrobe supervisor
Mayes C. Rubeo	....	associate costume designer
Taryn Weaver	....	assistant costumer (as Taryn Walsh)
Jason Cairns	....	costume designer: male leads' pants (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Randy Bricker	....	assistant film editor
Donn Cambern	....	additional film editor
Craig Herring	....	assistant film editor
Pembroke J. Herring	....	additional film editor
Debra Kahn	....	assistant film editor
Sheldon Kahn	....	editorial consultant
Bob Kaiser	....	color timer
Daniel R. Padgett	....	assistant film editor
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Robert W. Steinkamp	....	assistant film editor
Timothy Colletti	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Rick Baptist	....	musician: lead trumpet
Dennis Budimir	....	musician: lead guitar
Bill Conti	....	conductor
Lee De Carlo	....	score mixer (as Lee DeCarlo)
Jack Eskew	....	orchestrator
Nathan Kaproff	....	orchestra contractor
Curt Sobel	....	music editor
Daniel J. Johnson	....	co-music editor (uncredited)
Money Mark	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Danny Brooks	....	transportation co-captain (as Dan Brooks)
Wayne Roberts	....	transportation captain
Kenny Searle	....	transportation coordinator: second unit
Eddie Lee Voelker	....	transportation coordinator (as Edward Lee Voelker)
Roger Wooge	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Ben Acosta	....	stand-in
Dexter N. Adriano	....	production assistant
Pamela Alessandrelli	....	assistant production coordinator
Jeffrey Bashir	....	staff coordinator: San Quentin staff (as Sgt. Jeffrey Bashir)
Doug Benson	....	assistant accountant
Julianne Berdrow	....	first assistant accountant
Noel Bermudez	....	production accountant
Byron Blair	....	foreman
Brad Blondheim	....	production assistant
Chris Boehl	....	production assistant
Rene Botana	....	assistant location manager
Brian Calabro	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Billy Cardenas	....	gang coordinator
Luis Chacón	....	production assistant
George Chavez	....	community technical advisor
Christopher Chloupek	....	stand-in
James H. Cooper	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Fran R. Creevey	....	production coordinator
Vernell Crittendon Jr.	....	public information officer: San Quentin staff (as Lt. Vernell Crittendon, Jr.)
Luca Dammicco	....	production assistant
Larry S. Dorsey	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Curran G. Engel	....	set production assistant
Consuela G. Flores Norte	....	consultant: Day of the Dead
Roland Gallardo	....	coordinator: LAPD
Teresa Garber	....	assistant: Stratton Leopold (as Teresa Cintron)
Nivia Gonzalez	....	prison art
Michael A. Henry	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Robert E. Herron	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Craig Hosking	....	pilot
Darryl D. Johnson	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Missy Kelly	....	assistant: Taylor Hackford
Randy Kwan	....	production assistant
Brenda A. Lemelle	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Scott M. Limpus	....	first aid
Valerie Manahan	....	production assistant
Burke Mattsson	....	title designer
Larry McVicker	....	chief deputy warden: San Quentin staff
Rob Meisenholder	....	assistant accountant
Nan Morales	....	assistant production coordinator
Robert E. Morrill	....	technical advisor
Ronald Noblet	....	technical advisor
Wendy Parker	....	craft service
Tracee Pena	....	assistant accountant
Robert Pennington	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Donna A. Perry	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Mark A. Rich	....	prosthetics double
Aida Rubio	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Frederick N. Smith	....	technical advisor
Laura Sode-Matteson	....	location manager
Richard Steinberg	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Robert B. Taylor	....	technical advisor
Judy Torres	....	craft service
Daniel B. Vasquez	....	warden: San Quentin staff
Henry George Vasquez	....	security officer: actors
Abraham J. Vazquez	....	production assistant
Kathryn Weygand	....	script supervisor
Harold W. Willis	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Marvin Wilson	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff (as Marvin R. Wilson)
Thomas Wong	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Chris P. Young	....	correctional officer: San Quentin staff
Teresa Garber	....	assistant to producers (uncredited)
David Israel	....	production executive (uncredited)
Michael Kehoe	....	craft service (uncredited)
Mitchell Nyberg	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Frederic Perrin	....	caterer (uncredited)
Martine White	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Hollywood Pictures
• Touchwood Pacific Partners 1
• Vato De Atole Productions

Distributors

• Buena Vista International (Sweden) (1993) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1994) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Pictures
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Buena Vista Opticals  titles and opticals
• Buena Vista Sound  adr and foley recorded at
• C.A.S.T. Security  security
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies supplied by
• Cinema Air  aerial photography
• Hill Wynne Troop & Meisinger  legal services
• Katherine Moore & Associates  publicity and marketing consulting
• Lexington Scenery & Props  interior prison sets constructed by
• Los Angeles Casting Express Inc.  extras casting
• Michelson Food Services  catering
• Reel Creations  tattoo process
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  re-recording studio
• Warner Bros. Studio Facilities  score recording studio

Also Known As:

Blood In, Blood Out (Australia)
Blood In, Blood Out... Bound by Honor

Runtime:

180 min | USA:190 min (director's cut) | 330 min (original cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

Arabic | English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

France:-16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Sweden:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Finland:K-15 | Norway:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

The Hispanic prison gang "La Onda," depicted in this film, is a fictional creation of Jimmy Santiago Baca and Taylor Hackford, but the gang is based on the real-life Mexican Mafia prison gang.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In one scene a 1985 Camaro can be seen, but the year is 1981.

Quotes:

Miklo Velka: When you expect nothing and get everything, that's destiny.

Movie Connections:

References "The Twilight Zone" (1959)

Soundtrack:

That Lady

Barrio Epic

Based on the real life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, Bound By Honor covers two decades in the latter half of the 20th century as seen through the eyes of half brothers Benjamin Bratt and Jesse Borrego and their cousin Damian Chapa. Growing up more or less together, all three start out as gang bangers, but each has a different destiny and in many ways one's destiny is caused by the actions of the others.

Borrego gets injured in a gang retaliation and works hard to not become a cripple. He does however become both a painter of note and a drug addict of considerable appetite. A tragedy there sets him and Bratt apart.

Bratt also winds up in a feud with Chapa. When both were young gang bangers and looking to retaliate for Borrego, Bratt and Chapa are arrested. Because this was Bratt's first offense he got a choice of the military or jail time and he chose the Marines. Chapa however was sent to prison, to San Quentin to be precise where he joined the Chicano prison gang La Onda. Pretty soon Chapa is high in the gang councils and deep in the politics of the prison. Bratt in the meantime joins the LAPD and destiny makes these two collide.

Bound By Honor has an epic quality almost a kind of Chicano Gone With The Wind. The mostly Hispanic cast do a great job in depicting life in the Barrio. The film runs just about three hours and it's a tribute to director Taylor Hackford that your interest doesn't flag for a minute.

Hackford also creates many interesting supporting characters two numerous to mention, always the mark of a good film. But your interest is always in the three leads. You get to care about what is to become of them, what destiny has in store.

There are certain similarities between Bound By Honor and the Edward James Olmos film, American Me. Personally I give a slight edge to this one, don't miss it if it is broadcast.