The Mambo Kings (1992)

80% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(5,954 ratings)

New York art dealer Arne Glimcher took his first crack at film directing with this florid, high-energy romance about two brothers who flee Cuba in the early 1950s to make it as musicians in the United States. Cynthia Cidre wrote the literate screenplay adapted from Oscar Hijuelos's Pulitzer… More New York art dealer Arne Glimcher took his first crack at film directing with this florid, high-energy romance about two brothers who flee Cuba in the early 1950s to make it as musicians in the United States. Cynthia Cidre wrote the literate screenplay adapted from Oscar Hijuelos's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love. Cesar (Armand Assante) and Nestor Castillo (Antonio Banderas) are popular musicians on Havana's club circuit, but when they make enemies of the wrong people, they are forced to leave for New York City, the moody Nestor leaving behind his true love. In New York, the brothers work as meat-cutters during the day as Cesar tries to organize a band and make inroads into the lively New York music scene. Soon, as The Mambo Kings, they get club bookings and Cesar falls in love with a sharp-tongued cigarette girl, Lanna Lake (Cathy Moriarty), and Nestor with the beautiful Delores Fuentes (Maruschka Detmers), who wants to be a teacher. Cesar concentrates on singing and managing the band, while Nestor plays the trumpet and writes emotional songs of love. All seems to be going well until Cesar antagonizes the moneymen on the Latin nightclub circuit and they finds themselves playing bar mitzvahs. But after they're discovered by Desi Arnaz (Desi Arnaz Jr.), the group is prominently featured on I Love Lucy. Their popularity soars and they cut a successful album called "Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love." Cesar is glorying in his success, but Nestor is disappointed and longs to return to Cuba. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Arne Glimcher
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Art House & International

In Theaters: Feb 28, 1992 Wide
On DVD: Aug 16, 2005
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
It's as if there were a terrible telephone connection between the film's vivid sound track and its tepid romantic melodrama, to which the music is supposed to give style and substance.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
"The Mambo Kings" is so pumped up with life it threatens to burst. It's beautifully filmed and flashily edited. It pulsates with rhythmic ecstasy. It throbs, it sweats, it pounds, it undulates.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
A corny, eye-filling concoction of sound and strife, it recalls the heyday of a dance craze with the Technicolor splash of a 1950s musical.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
In some ways this story is as old as the movies, but "The Mambo Kings" is so filled with energy, passion and heedless vitality that it seems new, anyway.
, Entertainment Weekly
The Mambo Kings is a tinsel-edged dream of a movie.
Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media
Cuban brothers bring dazzling music to NYC.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
HOT! HOT! HOT!
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Fun, flashy musical with Banderas in early role.
Derek Adams, Time Out
A spirited evocation of the mambo craze which swept post-war America, adapted from Oscar Hijuelos' Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
Though rather flatly shot in general, the musical numbers achieve a certain dynamism...
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
One cannot fault the music or the vitality nor could one ask for better performers...if only the story that goes with it hadn't been so simplistic and sentimental.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Terrific music and a boatload of high energy can't quite compensate for a thin plot and weak characterizations....
Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
Another award worthy performance by Armand Assante that wasn't recognized. And a great song.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Armand Assante gives the most robust and impressive performance of his career as Cesar, a musician whose lust for life affects all those around him.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Leo L

Good movie!

Cast

            Armand Assante as Cesar Castillo

            Antonio Banderas as Nestor Castillo

            Cathy Moriarty as Lanna Lake

            Maruschka Detmers as Delores Fuentes

            Desi Arnaz Jr. as Desi Arnaz Sr.

            Roscoe Lee Browne as Fernando Perez

            Celia Cruz as Evalina Montoya

            Vondie Curtis-Hall as Miguel Montoya

            Talisa Soto as Maria Rivera

            Joe Petruzzi as Carlo Ricci

            Theodora Castellanos as Blanca

            Lázaro Pérez as Pablo

            Jose Alberto as Johnny Casanova

            Karen Assante as Karen

            Anita Banderas as Anita

            Doug Barron as Mike Wells

            Stephanie Blake as Stripper

            June Brown as Portly Woman

            Pablo Calogero as Ramon The Mambo Kings Band

            Helena Carroll as Mrs. Shannon

            Scott Cohen as Bernardito The Mambo Kings Band

            Joe Conzo as Killer

            Jonathan Del Arco as Young Cesar

            Jessica Z. Diamond as Secretary

            Thomas F. Duffy as Mulligan

            Ahn Duong as Ismelda Perez

            Jose Duvall as Nando

            Colleen Fitzpatrick as Redhead on Bus

            Carlos Gomez as Creep

            Cordelia González as Anna Maria

            Frank Grillo as Machito

            Mario Grillo as Mario The Mambo Kings Band

            John Herrera as Luis Fajardo

            Ryan Howell as Kid with Basketball

            Ralph Irizarry as Pito The Mambo Kings Band

            Pete MacNamara as Johnny Bing The Mambo Kings Band

            Diane Manzo as Amanda

            Adrian Martinez as Pablito

            Valerie McIntosh as Tracy Blair

            Dawn McKinster as Poolside Patron

            James Medina as Manny - The Mambo Kings Band

            Salvador Miranda as Young Nestor

            Rene Monteaqudo as Robertico

            Jocelyn O'Brien as Gina

            Jessica Neal Ortiz as Leticia

            Miller P. as Killer's Girlfriend

            Julie Pinson as 2nd Girlfriend

            Marcos Quintanilla as Willie The Mambo Kings Band

            Cynthia Santos as Mario's Girlfriend

            Maiquel Saurez as Cleaning Woman

            Debra Scott as Enchantment

            Susie Stillwell as Club Patron

            J.T. Taylor as Frankie Suarez The Mambo Kings Band

            Ron Thompson as Empire MC

            Yul Vázquez as Flaco The Mambo Kings Band

            Martin Charles Warner as Mac

            Natalie Zimmerman as 3rd Girlfriend

            Tito Puente as Himself

            Billy Hopkins
            
            Suzanne Smith
            
            William Thomas as Xavier
See full cast