El mariachi (1992)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Robert Rodriguez

Writer:

Robert Rodriguez (written by)

Release Date:

26 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

With a guitar in his hand and a price on his head, he wasn't looking for trouble...but trouble came looking for him.

Plot:

A traveling mariachi is mistaken for a murderous criminal and must hide from a gang bent on killing him.

Plot Keywords:

Mariachi | Guitar | Guitar Case | Gun | Mexico

Awards:

4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Carlos Gallardo	...	El Mariachi
Consuelo Gómez	...	Domino
Jaime de Hoyos	...	Bigotón (as Jaime De Hoyos)
Peter Marquardt	...	Mauricio
Reinol Martinez	...	Azul
Ramiro Gómez	...	Cantinero (as Ramiro Gomez)
Jesús López	...	Viejo Clerk (as Jesus Lopez)
Luis Baró	...	Domino's Assistant (as Luis Baro)
Oscar Fabila	...	The Boy
Poncho Ramón	...	Azul's Rat (as Poncho Ramon)
Fernando Martínez	...	Azul's Rat (as Fernando Martinez)
Manuel Acosta	...	Bodyguard
Walter Vargas	...	Prisoner
Roberto Martinez	...	Prisoner
Virgen Delgado	...	Female Bodyguard

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence.

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

Mexico | USA

Language:

Spanish

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:18A (British Columbia) (1999) | Brazil:14 | South Korea:18 | Australia:M | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:18 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R (Approval No. 31967)

Filming Locations:

Ciudad Acuña, Coahuíla, Mexico

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

In his book "Rebel Without a Crew", Robert Rodriguez explains that the gangsters' peculiar names are meant as a joke: they are all nicknames the characters had as children but never outgrew. As such they are named La Palma (Spanish for "palm"); Azul ("blue"); Pepino ("cucumber"); Moco ("booger").

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): There are two guitar cases at the bar, Azul's (filled with weapons) and El Mariachi's (with a guitar inside). When he leaves, Azul mistakenly takes El Mariachi's with him and leaves his own at the bar. But it should have been easy to notice the difference in weight between the two cases.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mauricio: Good morning, Azul. Know who this is?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Married with Children: Movie Show (#7.21)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Maldicion

Dynamic debut...

Jaded, perhaps, by years of toiling in the Public Access field (and having sat through scores of first, foundering efforts by scores of foundering aspiring filmmakers), I was taken completely by surprise by the remarkable Robert Rodriguez's first film. As sure and as "polished" as any feature, EL MARIACHI belies its no-budget roots and stands as a testament to determination- and talent. If you're one of those whose attention span precludes sitting down and actually reading Rodriguez's book REBEL WITHOUT A CREW, I recommend obtaining a DVD featuring his "ten-minute film school." And pay very close attention: There'll be a quiz afterward.