MAMBO KINGS
US, 1992, 104 minutes, Colour.
Armand Assante, Antonio Banderas, Cathy Moriarty, Desi Arnaz Jr.
Directed by Arne Glimcher.
Mambo Kings is based on the first part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Mambo Kings play Songs of Love, by Oscar Hijuelos. It was adapted by Cuban writer, Cynthia Cidre. The director is Arne Glimche (gallery director and film producer making his first feature).
The film is an interesting and entertaining tail of two Cuban brothers, very strongly bonded, who leave Cuba and go to America in 1952 with hopes of becoming the Mambo Kings. The film is colourful, often flamboyant portrait of migrants who make good, even to the I Love Lucy show. However, their lives are changed by the loss of home, different cultures and the inability to cope. The performances are excellent. Armand Assante has seldom been better as the exuberant Cesar. Antonio Banderas (Spanish star of many films including those by Pedro Almodovar) is more subtle as the melancholic Nestor. The supporting cast performs well. Desi Arnaz jnr portrays his father. There is a great deal of lively Hispanic mambo music.
1. The adaptation of part of the novel for the screen? The reputation of the novel? The film version, narrower in scope? More straight forward narrative focusing on the brothers?
2. The themes of migration to the US, the strong Hispanic migration of the later part of the 20th century? the 50s, Cuba in pre-Castro days? The American dream, New York and show business and music? The reality and the fantasy?
3. The title, the performances by the brothers and their making music, their estimate of themselves? True, false?
4. The Cuban background, the sequences in Havana and the Cuban countryside, the clubs? The journey from Florida to New York by bus? New York, Manhattan, apartments, clubs? Hollywood and Los Angeles, television studios?
5. The musical score, the songs, the main theme song Maria of my Soul? Its recurring throughout the film?
6. The prologue, Cesar and his flamboyance, attack on Maria, the fight, the slitting of his throat? Maria and her reasoning with him? Taking Nestor away, the motives for going to New York? His bond with Nestor and wanting to protect him? Not telling him the truth about Maria and her marriage and saving his life?
7. The exuberant bus trip, the joy, chatting with the travellers? The sexual advances by Cesar? Nestor and his reflections, composing his music? The arrival in New York,
relatives, the meal, rushing out to play the Mambo music?
8. The introduction to music in New York? The clubs, the patrons? The contrast with the clubs in Cuba? The performers, the bands, the music style? The introduction to the characters, descriptions? Cesar and his wanting to play, moving up, being allowed, making a hit? The sudden assassination and everybody clearing? The police and the
interrogations? His encounter with Lanna, her manner, style? The beginning of the affair?
9. At work, the relations, giving them jobs, the meat works? The fellow workers and their making music? Making a group and performing, auditions?
10. Cesar and Lana, her devotion to him, his comment on her appearance and her own self-estimation? Her understanding him and trying to hold on to him? Cesar and the family, work? The music hopes, going for interviews, Evelina and her son? Success? The auditions and training? Playing in the clubs? The businessman and promoter, his challenge to Cesar, Cesar and his defiant answer? Their being banned? Birthday parties, small celebrations? Being disheartened? Cesar and his enthusiasm, the rest of the group wanting to leave?
11. Nestor and his not wanting to come to New York, quieter, trying to settle in? His dreams and memories of Maria, her coming out of the water, the idealising of the past? The many versions of the song? His composition, playing? His not wanting to antagonise the producer? Going along with Cesar, playing the parties? The chance encounter with Delores? Meeting, talking? Taking her dancing and her attraction to Cesar and vice versa? His being in love with her, the outings in the park? The sexual encounter, her pregnancy? The clash with Cesar and his announcement of the wedding? The marriage, the birth? His loving Delores but still dreaming about Maria, calling her name? His growing melancholy?
12. Desi Arnaz coming to the club, his producer? Meeting with Cesar and Nestor? The celebratory mood? Coming home for the meal, in the neighbourhood, the crowd outside to admire him? The contract, going to Los Angeles? The I Love Lucy show, the comedy of the program, performing their music? The money?
13. Nestor and his neglect of Delores? His bitterness? The sexual encounter in Los Angeles and Cesar reaction? His going secretly to see the producer, building up the possibilities of playing in better places, the performance in the Palladium? His changing? Delores and her hurt, his talking with Lanna, talking with Delores ~ seeing the relationship with his brother, the dependence, his life manipulated by Cesar? The confrontation with Cesar and the truth? Cesar overriding him, their playing? the farewell, the car crash and Nestor's death?
4. Cesar and his vigour, his needing his brother, doing his best for him, dreaming his dreams, forcing him to comply? Success and then his death? Cesar as burnt out, refusing to play, with his nephew?
15. Cesar and the family, the little boy, with Delores? The request to sing Nestor's songs? Delores asking him to sing? The background of their relationship, the sensual dance when they first met, his devotion to her but not intruding in Nestor's marriage? Her devotion to Nestor, the attraction to Cesar? The contrast with Lana and her living with Cesar's fidelity and infidelity?
16. The Cuban background, the settling in New York? The types in New York society, people attending nightclubs (and the exuberance of the music and the conga lines)? The entrepreneur producer and his girlfriend and the cinematic collage of his influence changing the brothers lives?
17. The Hispanic flavour of the film mirroring the changes in American society in the latter part of the 20th century?
