The Mambo Kings

The Mambo Kings is a 1992 French–American musical drama film based on the 1989 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos. Directed by Arne Glimcher, it stars Armand Assante, Antonio Banderas, Cathy Moriarty and Maruschka Detmers. Set in the early 1950s, the story follows Cesar (Assante) and Nestor Castillo (Banderas), brothers and aspiring musicians who flee from Havana, Cuba to New York City in the hopes of reviving their failed musical careers. The film marks Glimcher's directing debut, and features Banderas in his first English-language role. Glimcher purchased the film rights one year before the novel was published, and hired Cynthia Cidre to write the script. The film was rejected by several studios, and after an unsuccessful pre-production development at Universal Pictures, the project moved to Warner Bros., who co-financed the film with Le Studio Canal+ and Regency Enterprises. Principal photography began in March 1991, and concluded after 50 days. Filming took place in Los Angeles, California on sets recreating 1950s New York. The Mambo Kings received mostly positive reviews from critics who praised Glimcher's direction, the story, music and visuals. It underperformed at the North American box office, grossing only $6.7 million on a $15.5 million budget. For its original song "Beautiful Maria of My Soul", the film received Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations in Best Original Song categories.