Antonio Banderas

Armand Assante

Cathy Moriarty

Maruschka Detmers

Pablo Calogero

Scott Cohen

Desi Arnaz Jr.

Mario Grillo

Ralph Irizarry

Pete Macnamara

James Medina

Marcos Quintanilla

Tito Puente

Valerie McIntosh

Cordelia González

Colleen Fitzpatrick

Jonathan Del Arco

Arne Glimcher

Stuart Wurtzel

Dennis Glas

Teresa M. Austin

Cynthia Cidre

Ann Roth

Valli O'Reilly

Josée Normand

Steve Saklad

Medusah

Patti Safian

Billy Hopkins

Gary Jones

Suzanne Smith Crowley

Bridget Kelly

Arnon Milchan

Michael Ballhaus

Oscar Hijuelos

Kara Lindstrom

Bruce Ericksen

Judith Saunders

Steven Reuther

Claire Simpson

Sam Emerson

David M. Dunlap

Jack B. Bernstein

Kam Cooney

Anna Reinhardt

Robert Kraft

Carlos Franzetti

Charlie McIntyre

Thomas S. Drescher

David Carbonara

Christopher Kennedy

Paul Baxley

Ray Santos

Drama

Music

The Mambo Kings

Warner Bros. Pictures

Regency Enterprises

Alcor Films

Arnon Milchan Productions

Le Studio Canal+

France

United States of America

_**Dynamic Latin dance performers in America in the 50s**_

Two brothers flee Cuba in the early 50s in search of the American Dream playing mambo music. The older sibling, Cesar, is a natural showman and businessman (Armand Assante) whereas the younger brother, Nestor, is a reserved composer (Antonio Banderas). The women in their lives are played by curvy Cathy Moriarty and Maruschka Detmers. 

"The Mambo Kings" (1992) is reminiscent of “The Cotton Club” (1984) mixed with the later “Pollock” (2000) and maybe a little “Dirty Dancing” (1987). While not quite as good as those, it’s still worth checking out, especially if you like mambo or energetic Latin music in general, not to mention the setting of 50’s America. 

Assante is convincing, performing with charisma and gusto, while Banderas is effective as the sensitive and sincere younger sibling, although he’s a far cry from the brooding Brando. This was Banderas’ first English-speaking role; he learned his lines phonetically and worked with a dialect coach throughout pre-production and filming.

Too much of the movie takes place in clubs or apartments with people smoking, drinking and emoting for my tastes. But the story perks up in the third act with a notable sequence featuring Desi Arnaz, Jr. (I don’t want to say more because I don’t want to give anything away). 

The film runs 1 hour, 44 minutes, and was shot in Los Angeles.

GRADE: B-