THE MAMBO KINGS

'''The Mambo Kings''' is a 1992 film starring Antonio Banderas and Armand Assante and directed by Arne Glimcher based on the novel by Oscar Hijuelos. The story is set in the early 1950s and follows the journey of two musician brothers, Cesar and Nestor Castillo, who must flee Havana after getting into trouble with the mobster owners of the club where they played. Eventually ending up in New York, they attempt to resume their music career. The film features a scene where the brothers appear in an ''I Love Lucy'' episode, cleverly intercutting footage of Banderas and Assante into an actual ''I Love Lucy'' episode (where Assante and Banderas' characters appear to actually be intereacting in a scene with Lucille Ball). Desi Arnaz is played by his own real-life son, Desi Arnaz, Jr.
'Tagline': ''With a suitcase full of song, Hearts filled with passion, two brothers come to America in search of a dream.''
The film received an Academy Award nomination for its original song "Beautiful Maria of My Soul", which was also nominated for the Golden Globes in the same category and the Grammy Awards's "Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television" category, along with a second song from the soundtrack, "Mambo Caliente".
The film became a musical in 2005, with lyrics by Arne Glimcher and music by Carlos Franzetti. The out-of- town tryout included Christiane Noll, but the musical never arrived on Broadway.

Contents

External links

External links

★

★ NYT review of movie

★ Musical