Born in East L.A.

Name: Born in East L.A.
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1987-08-21
Duration: 1 h 25 min
Rating: 6
Cast: Cheech Marin, Daniel Stern, Paul Rodriguez

19871987
RR
1h 25min

When an L.A. born American citizen is mistaken for a Mexican illegal alien and deported to Mexico, he has to do everything he can to get across the border.When an L.A. born American citizen is mistaken for a Mexican illegal alien and deported to Mexico, he has to do everything he can to get across the border.When an L.A. born American citizen is mistaken for a Mexican illegal alien and deported to Mexico, he has to do everything he can to get across the border.

6.0/10

5.7K

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

Awards
- 4 wins

Videos2

Rudy is an American of Mexican descent who is caught up in an immigration raid on a factory. Deported to Mexico as an undocumented immigrant, he has no way of proving that he is in fact an American citizen, and is forced to rely on his cunning to sneak his way back home. —Murray Chapman <muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au>

never give up woman wears a short dress payphone pay phone criadilla 34 more

Taglines
- This time Cheech is not just on the wrong side of the law. He's on the wrong side of the line.
Genre
- Comedy
Certificate
- R
Parents guide

Trivia
Contrary to popular belief, the picture of Jesus Christ in Rudy's house is not Tommy Chong. Chong turned down an offer to cameo in the film.

Goofs
Standard procedure for Customs agents at the Border for someone without ID would be ask for Social Security number and Mother's maiden name. However this changed in 2009 when the government started requiring American citizens to have a passport to cross back and forth from Mexico.

Quotes
Rudy: If you want to be cool, first you pull your headband into the cool position. then you just lean back, put this hand in your pocket and then you wave this hand behind you like you just cut one and your trying to shoo away the stinch.

Alternate versions
The television broadcast version adds at least 15 to 20 minutes of footage. In this footage, Rudy does make it across the border only to be captured by kidnappers with his friends. He is held for ransom in the house across the street from his home and is rescued by the border patrol. When he hears that Dolores will have to be sent back across the border, he marries her and makes her a citizen. That's why the priest is behind them in the last shot of the TV versions.

Connections
Featured in Demented Top 20 Video Countdown (1988)

Soundtracks
Born in East L.A.
Words by Cheech Marin
Music by Bruce Springsteen
Published by Bruce Springsteen (ASCAP)
Performed by Cheech & Chong
Cheech & Chong appear courtesy of MCA Records

Top review

A dynamic comedy

I heard about this movie recently, and last night I finally got to see it. I'm glad I did! There were a few laugh-out-loud moments, including scenes with Javier and scenes when Rudy has to deal with the boarder patrol. The romance with the woman from El Salvador was actually tolerable (I generally do not like romance in movies), plus it didn't take up too much of the time. As the movie goes on the audience sees Rudy is a man with a good heart, yet I sensed no sappieness. Another aspect of "Born in East L.A." is that it can make people think about the struggles and poverty that happens just over our boarder; this serious issue is presented in a comedy though, so it's easier to take and people don't have to put their guard up for preachy morals while they're looking for a good laugh. Yes, the movie isn't very deep, but it certainly doesn't have to be. I would recomend "Born in East L.A." to anyone. I definitely have to see it again.

helpful•9