The Mambo Kings

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, its still worth checking out, especially if you like mambo or energetic Latin music in general, not to mention the setting of 50s America.

Assante is convincing, perfo...

Its the early 1950s in Cuba when, after a violent near-death experience, talented musicians Cesar (Armand Assante) and his brother Nestor (Antonio Banderas) decide that they can make more of a go of things, and stay safer, if they move to the New York. There, their lively and vibrant styles of Latin themed music and dance quickly go down a storm. The former falls for the cigarette seller Lanna (Cathy Lake) whilst the latter marries and has a child with Delores (Maruschka Detmers) and things look set fair. Their success hasnt gone unnoticed by local kingpin Perez (an unconvincing choice in Roscoe Lee Browne), either, but neither are keen to become one of his earners, so with work becoming just that little bit harder to find, the siblings and...