El mariachi (1992)

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
Juanita Vargas	...	Female Bodyguard
Yolanda Puga	...	Female Bodyguard
Jaime R. Rodríguez	...	Moco's Men (as Jaime Rodriguez)
Luis Cadena	...	Moco's Men
Afredo Martínez	...	Moco's Men (as Alfredo Martinez)
Gerardo Jáquez	...	Moco's Men (as Gerardo Jaquez)
Mario Mata	...	Moco's Men
Daniel Delgado	...	Moco's Men
Rosendo Ortíz	...	Moco's Men (as Rosendo Ortiz)
César Cadena	...	Moco's Men (as Cesar Cadena)
José Salinas	...	Moco's Men (as Jose Salinas)
Robert Santoyo	...	Moco's Men
Sabas Pérez	...	Moco's Men (as Sabas Perez)
Guadencio Martín	...	Moco's Men (as Guadencio Martin)
Juan García	...	Moco's Men (as Juan Garcia)
Máximo Martín	...	Moco's Men (as Maximo Martin)
DiFonso Quezada	...	Moco's Men
Manuel Vejor	...	Moco's Men
Alfredo Cisneros	...	Keyboardist
Alejandro Peña	...	Piña / Loco
Israel Reyes	...	Taco
Clara Scott	...	Moco's Manicurist
María Castillo	...	Jail Guard (as Maria Castillo)
Samuel Quiroz	...	Jail Guard
Roberto Delgado	...	Jail Guard
Fermín Barrón	...	School Bus Driver (as Fermin Barron)
H.B.	...	Pit Bull
Tito Tortuga	...	La Tortuga

Directed by
Robert Rodriguez

Writing credits
Robert Rodriguez		(written by)

Produced by
Elizabeth Avellan	....	associate producer (as Elizabeth Avellán)
Carmen M. De Gallardo	....	associate producer
Carlos Gallardo	....	producer
Robert Rodriguez	....	producer

Original Music by
Eric Guthrie
Chris Knudson
Álvaro Rodríguez		(as Alvaro Rodriguez)
Cecilio Rodríguez		(as Cecilio Rodriguez)
Mark Trujillo		(as Marc Trujillo)

Cinematography by
Robert Rodriguez

Film Editing by
Robert Rodriguez

Production Management
Carlos Gallardo	....	unit production manager

Art Department
Mario Gonzales	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Robert Rodriguez	....	sound editor
Gregory H. Watkins	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Carlos Gallardo	....	special effects
Robert Rodriguez	....	special effects

Stunts
Mario Hernández	....	stunt supervisor (as Mario Hernandez)
Manuel Salinas	....	stunt supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Carlos Gallardo	....	dolly grip
Roberto Martinez	....	dolly grip
Robert Rodriguez	....	camera operator
Robert Rodriguez	....	still photographer

Editorial Department
Robert Rodriguez	....	additional editor
Daniel Fort	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Robert Rodriguez	....	music editor

Other crew
Maria Gonzales	....	assistant to producers
Lic. Francisco Martínez	....	production attorney (as Lic. Francisco Martinez)
Roberto Martinez	....	production assistant

Thanks
Jose Aranda	....	special thanks
Alfonso Arau	....	special thanks: Provided the bathtub
Elizabeth Avellan	....	special thanks (as Elizabeth Avellán)
Jorge Cadena	....	special thanks
Humberto Cantu	....	special thanks
Ben Davis	....	special thanks
Carmen M. De Gallardo	....	special thanks (as Carmen M. de Gallardo)
Samuel Flores	....	special thanks
Ernesto Gallegos	....	special thanks
Gudelio Garza	....	special thanks
Jaime Garza	....	special thanks
Ricardo Garza	....	special thanks
George Hively	....	special thanks
Thomas G. Jingles	....	special thanks (as Thomas Jingles)
Jay Kamen	....	special thanks
Keith Kritselis	....	special thanks
Gary Krivacek	....	special thanks
Josue Muñoz Quintero	....	special thanks
Miguel Orihuela	....	special thanks
Rafael Perales	....	special thanks
Lic. Evaristo Perez Arreola	....	special thanks
Enrique Perez	....	special thanks
Hector Monroy Plascencia	....	special thanks
Manuel Portillo	....	special thanks
Jaime Rodriguez	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents) (as Columbia Pictures)
• Los Hooligans Productions (producer) (as Los Hooligans)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1993) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1993) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (1993) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Les Films Number One (1993) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1994) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (Canada) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Starz! Network (1996) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  titles by (as Cinema Research Corporation)
• City of Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico  special thanks to
• Dept. Policia Municipal Acuña Coah.  special thanks to
• Post Logic Studios  digital film mastering
• Sony Pictures Studios  post-production
• Sony Pictures Studios  sound recording
• Technicolor  prints by (as Technicolor®)

Also Known As:

El mariachi (Finland) [fi]
El mariachi (France) [fr]
El mariachi (Spain) [es]
El mariachi (Greece) [el]
El mariachi, suonatore di chitarra (Italy) [it]
Falsk mördare (Sweden) [sv]
Gitarim ve silahim (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
O Mariachi (Brazil) (TV title) [pt]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence.

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

Mexico | USA

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (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:

Fast action shots were filmed from the back of a pick-up truck.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When people get shot, numerous times the weightlifting belt that is used to house the squib is visible underneath the person's shirt.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mad About You: Surprise (#2.8)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Mariachi Solo

Good morning, Azul. Know who this is?

Through the heart of independent cinema comes the bold and expressive first film by Robert Rodriguez. While he would go on later to give us some modern day classics, this is the film that jump-started his career. Set in a gritty town of Mexico, a drifter arrives ready to restart a new life and concentrate on his music. He soon learns that this will be a very difficult dream since the moment he steps foot in town he is mistaken for a murderous criminal named Azul. Azul is after his money that Moco (the head boss) has failed to pay him. Moco tries to have Azul killed, but finds it difficult when he carries with him a guitar case filled with guns. After several gun battles, explosions, and a love story with a woman that gives the guitar player his first real gig, our hero finds his life in the mercy of others. It is at this time our Mariachi is reborn.

Rodriguez gives his best direction to date. Perhaps it was the lack of funds or the intensely gritty scenes, but this film helped me realize why cinema is so amazing. It is the perfect story of the small fish making his big mark on a big pond. Rodriguez takes every resource he can and rebuilds the classic concept of mistaken identity. With the fast-framed photography and interesting choice of camera angles, he takes a straightforward story and builds a legend. I enjoyed watching this film because although it was made for just a simple $7,000, the production doesn't look cheap. I have seen Hollywood blockbusters that have looked like they squandered their money more than Rodriguez did. I was just impressed with the quality of the film and the story that I suddenly felt myself totally immersed into the story.

Oddly, it is the story that never falters throughout this picture. Normally, when you have a lower cost on budget, a segment of a film will suffer. Sometimes it is the character development, other times it is the story. Nothing is forgotten about in this film. There is plenty of violence (for all you action fans out there), some powerful drama (dealing with his dreams), and some comedy that will keep you grinning from ear to ear. By having this strong balance, our hero emerges with the utmost confidence, our villain seems diabolically evil, and therefore leading into moments of sheer joy, constantly wondering what will happen next. I was rooting for everyone in this film because I felt something for each. Only through the careful eye and artistic direction of Rodriguez could such a feat be accomplished.

I have nothing negative to say about this film. From the moment the first turtle walked across the screen until the very end, I enjoyed every aspect of this picture. I suggest this movie to anyone that has ever thought about making a film, but was concerned about budget. I also suggest this film to anyone who loves a good story, amazing action, and characters that literally jump out of the screen like comic book heroes.

Grade: ***** out of *****