“Zoot Suit” is a drama-musical film based on the Broadway play of the same name, telling the story of events surrounding the real-life Sleepy Lagoon Trial of 1942, when a group of Mexican-Americans were charged with murder, resulting in the Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles. Director-screenwriter Luis Valdez, who also wrote the play, created a movie that doesn’t have the best acting or production values, but is entertaining nonetheless.
The star of the show is Edward James Olmos as the narrator, who occasionally breaks the fourth wall. This can be a distracting element of the picture. Co-stars include Daniel Valdez, Rose Portillo, Charles Aidman, Tyne Daly, John Anderson, Mike Gomez, Alma Martinez, Francis X. McCarthy, Kelly Ward, and Robert Beltran as Lowrider. Beltran later gained fame as Commander Chakotay on television’s “Star Trek: Voyager” (1995-2001). This was his first movie appearance.
“Zoot Suit” was a modest success in theatrical release for Center Theater Group, Mark Taper Forum, and Universal Pictures.
Zoot Suit (1981)
cinema
My Review
“Zoot Suit” is a drama-musical film based on the Broadway play of the same name, telling the story of events surrounding the real-life Sleepy Lagoon Trial of 1942, when a group of Mexican-Americans were charged with murder, resulting in the Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles. Director-screenwriter Luis Valdez, who also wrote the play, created a movie that doesn’t have the best acting or production values, but is entertaining nonetheless.
The star of the show is Edward James Olmos as the narrator, who occasionally breaks the fourth wall. This can be a distracting element of the picture. Co-stars include Daniel Valdez, Rose Portillo, Charles Aidman, Tyne Daly, John Anderson, Mike Gomez, Alma Martinez, Francis X. McCarthy, Kelly Ward, and Robert Beltran as Lowrider. Beltran later gained fame as Commander Chakotay on television’s “Star Trek: Voyager” (1995-2001). This was his first movie appearance.
“Zoot Suit” was a modest success in theatrical release for Center Theater Group, Mark Taper Forum, and Universal Pictures.