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    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1980s
    Movies - 1980s Movies - Z 2 Mins Read

    Zoot Suit (1981)

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    Luis Valdez directed this film adaptation of his hit stage musical, which is loosely based on the 1942 Sleepy Lagoon murder trial that unfairly convicted several Mexican-American zoot suit gang members in Los Angeles.

    Except for the spirited musical numbers and an arresting performance by Edward James Olmos as El Pachuco, the cynical conscience of gang member Henry Reyna (Daniel Valdez), the movie largely fails to bring the impact it had on stage.

    zootsuit4

    It’s a stylised, jazzy, often fictional account of four Chicano youths who are accused of murder, spend time in San Quentin and are released on appeal 18 months later.

    In reality, there were 22 Chicanos on trial, but Valdez created composites of the 22 in the form of four main characters.

    With a scant $2.5 million budget, Valdez shot Zoot Suit in the Aquarius Theatre in Hollywood in a mere 14 days.

    Being shot in a theatre – with a visible audience watching – creates a barrier that makes it hard for the viewer to feel the anguish the characters go through. The exaggerated, theatrical acting style also doesn’t help.

    Henry Reyna
    Daniel Valdez
    El Pachuco
    Edward James Olmos
    George Shearer
    Charles Aidman
    Alice Bloomfield
    Tyne Daly
    Judge FW Charles
    John Anderson
    Enrique
    Abel Franco
    Joey/Jose Torres
    Mike Gomez
    Lupe 
    Alma Martinez
    Dolores
    Lupe Ontiveros
    Lieutenant Edwards
    Ed Peck
    District Attorney
    Robert Phalen
    Rudy
    Tony Plana
    Della
    Rose Portillo
    Smiley/Ismael Torres
    Marco Rodríguez

    Director
    Luis Valdez

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