The Mambo Kings
1992 · Movie · R · 104 min · ★ 6.4 · 77% critics
In the early 1950s, two Cuban brothers leave home for New York, chasing the American Dream through mambo music. As their lively performances win attention, romance and family pressures grow, and outside forces push them toward difficult choices about success, safety, and staying true to themselves.
Based on The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love
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Details
- Years
- 1992
- Release date
- 1992-02-28
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Critic score
- 77/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.4/10 (137 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a music-driven immigrant story with lots of mambo energy, club life, and romance; Not for you if you dislike melodrama, violence, or constant drinking and smoking, similar to Mo' Better Blues.
Pros: energetic Latin music; strong brother dynamic; nostalgic 1950s setting | Cons: uneven acting; shallow character depth; melodrama and heavy smoking
Themes
- mambo
Cast & crew
Antonio Banderas
as Nestor Castillo
Armand Assante
as Cesar Castillo
Cathy Moriarty
as Lanna Lake
Maruschka Detmers
as Delores Fuentes
- PC
Pablo Calogero
as Ramon - The Mambo Kings Band
Scott Cohen
as Bernardito - The Mambo Kings Band
Desi Arnaz Jr.
as Desi Arnaz Sr.
- MG
Mario Grillo
as Mario - The Mambo Kings Band
- RI
Ralph Irizarry
as Pito - The Mambo Kings Band
Pete Macnamara
as Johnny Bing - The Mambo Kings Band
Directed by Arne Glimcher