Daniel Valdez, Edward James Olmos, Charles Aidman

Part fact and part fiction, Zoot Suit is the film version of Luis Valdez's critically acclaimed play, based on the actual Sleepy Lagoon murder case and the zoot suit riots of 1940s Los Angeles. Henry ...( read more  read more... )Reyna (Daniel Valdez) is the leader of a group of Mexican-Americans being sent to San Quentin without substantial evidence for the death of a man at Sleepy Lagoon. As part of the defense committee, Alice Bloomfield (Tyne Daly) and George Shearer (Charles Aidman) fight the blatant miscarriage of justice for the freedom of Henry and his friends. Edward James Olmos stars as the mythical "El Pachuco" in a blend of action, music, and excitement.

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78% liked it

987 ratings

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Luis Valdez

Release Date: October 2, 1981

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DVD Release Date: May 27, 2003

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Stats: 62 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (62)


  • April 9, 2009
    An interesting movie.
  • August 4, 2009
    a play of the history of the zoot suitor based on a true story is one classic anyone who is interested in chicano history this is a must see
  • March 25, 2009
    Brilliant; just complex and Edward James Olmos is great!
  • January 15, 2009
    nominated for best picture at the golden globes
  • May 15, 2008
    This is certainly an interesting movie. Get ready for a weird trip.
    The story deals with a lot of racial issues (Mexican) of the 1940's... social, legal, cultural, etc. I liked the Zoot Suit guy, as he always kinda represented this "badass" Mexican inside the main character. -...( read more)and Zoot Suits are really crazy looking.
  • August 18, 2007
    "It's just a play...."
  • June 20, 2007
    Greatest PACHUCO movie
  • June 5, 2007
    En parte basada en hechos fascinantemente reales y en parte chispeante ficción, "Zoot Suit" es la devastadora película adaptada de la obra de teatro de Luis Valdez más famosa y aclamada por la crítica, basada a su vez en los ?disturbios de Zoo Suit?, que tambalearon los cimientos...( read more) de Los Ángeles en los años 40. Cuando el líder del barrio Henry Reyna y un grupo de amigos son injustamente arrestados con pruebas circunstanciales y enviados a San Quintín, los abogados Alice Bloomfield y George Shearer lucharán contra el descarado error judicial por motivos raciales, para devolver la libertad a sus amigos. Con Edward James Olmos (como el mítico Pachuco) en el papel que sin duda le catapultó a la fama, esta película es una abrasadora quemadura y un trabajo seductoramente provocativo que mezcla hábilmente acción, drama, romance y música.
  • March 21, 2007
    Edward Jamer Olmos--WOW.

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Zoot Suit Trivia


  • What actor had a role in ZOOT SUIT, AMERICAN ME and STAND AND DELIVER?  Answer »
  • Tony Plana, who plays Ugly Betty's father, also appeared in.....  Answer »

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