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The Mambo Kings (DVD, 2005)
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C $35.99
Approximately£20.74
+ C $15.60 postage
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This is a great movie about coming to America to find the "streets of gold" and fame. Cesar and Nestor Castillo are the Mambo Kings. They are popular and their fame is growing in Havana. It is the early 1950's and the Mambo is the rage of dance clubs. Havana is experiencing the greatest popularity of all times with tourism, and the music and nightlife is hot! Nestor Castillo (Antonio Banderas) is in love with "His Beautiful Maria", Maria Vargas, who is the object of affection and desire of the mobbed-up Cubano gangster who owns the nightclub where Cesar and Nestor are performing. Maria is told that if she doesn't marry him and tell Nestor to go, that he will be killed. She loves Nestor, but to save his life, she tells him to go; that she no longer loves him. Cesar (Armand Assante) goes to see her, and berates her as a tramp, until she tells him what is happening. In anger, Cesar goes after the club owner, but is beat up and has his throat slashed, and is warned to leave or die. Cesar and Nestor are on a bus to live with relatives in New York City. Cesar is the voice and rhythms of the pair. He is the front man, the brains and ambition of the pair, and Nestor and his horn is the musical genius. New York is the place where anything is possible and the Cubano music scene is explosive. All of the top groups like Tito Puente, and Xavier Cougat come here to play at the Palladium and other clubs. Soon the Mambo Kings will be there on top too. While Cesar and Nestor are busy trying to make their name at night, they work in the slaughter houses in the day. Nestor meets a beautiful young Cuban girl and she gets pregnant and they soon get married. There are doors waiting to open for them and their music, but to walk through those doors means that the bosses will control you. Just like Cuba, you have to play their game or not play at all. Cesar refuses to be owned by anyone. Cesar wants to open a Cubano club where they can play their music. BY chance, one night they meet Desi Arnaz at a club. He likes a ballad that Cesar and Nestor wrote and performed. He and his entourage spend the evening with Cesar and Nestor, and Desi hires them to come to Hollywood and perform their ballad "Beautiful Maria of My Soul", on the "I Love Lucy Show". This is their big break, they're going to Hollywood! Nestor and his wife now have a child. She is a loving wife, but Nestor is distant, still in love with Maria, back in Cuba, and she knows it. Nestor goes behind Cesar's back and makes a deal for them to play in a club controlled by a black Cubano who Cesar knows is mob controlled. When they play, they are a hit, but when Cesar finds out who the head man is, he blows up, and this guy shuts down all opportunities for them. Having just returned from doing "The Lucy Show", now they are back where they started. Cesar bought a new car with some of his Hollywood money, and wants Nestor to come along with him to open a Cuban music club. One night, just before opening, they are out and it is very cold and snowing. Cesar and his girlfriend are in the back seat and Nestor is driving. He loses control, skids and hits a tree. Nestor is killed instantly in the accident. Cesar is crushed, but he takes Nestor's wife's advice and together they open the club. The movie ends there, but I got the impression that Cesar and her eventually got together. This was a very enjoyable movie and the music and rhythm is authentic Salsa. You will like this movie.Read full review
Armand Assante, yes he is the last coca-cola in the desert! And Antonio Banderas ain't a slouch!! Excellent movie, acting is superb and the music muy caliente!!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Engaging story with great music.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I had forgotten the story line so it was good to revisit.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Met Ray Santos the movie musical director & felt I must view his work!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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