kings kings french american drama film directed adaptation pulitzer prize winning novel kings play songs love film stars brothers aspiring musicians flee cuba america hopes reviving failed musical careers kings marks directing debut features english language role purchased film rights novel hiring write screenplay studios rejected film unsuccessful pre production development universal_studios project moved regency enterprises studio canal agreeing finance film wanted lead roles convince executives cast instead filming kings took place los_angeles sets 1950s new_york film received positive reviews critics box office grossing domestic theatrical release original song beautiful maria soul kings earned nominations groups including academy_awards plot early 1950s cuban brothers musicians flee havana cuba getting violent dispute owners club performed eventually ending new_york_city brothers work jobs attempting revive musical careers nightclub briefly crashes act star new friends connections meeting cigarette girl falls quickly love affair meantime remains oblivious women continually composing ode lost cuban love maria writes version version ballad beautiful maria soul chance day encounters shy young woman wishes pregnant decide married fate night club brothers time job love ballad captures interest customers turns cuban american television star played son pleasant evening home invites struggling sing act episode smash sitcom series love fame ambitious brother desires small club love lacks passion felt beloved maria home meantime true feelings woman like actually perfect eventually reveals maria left cuban exchange contract hit tragic consequences snowy night brothers car road tree seat vehicle barely hurt having driven car killed life shattered honor brother memory opens small club received pays visit asks sing song cast thomas production development art dealer based new_york_city fan music learned writing novel relating subject sent manuscript novel kings play songs love purchased film rights novel published year later hired cuban born screenwriter write script spent year half working screenplay drafts stripped story cover half page book asked modification novel film adaptation said concern cuban culture treated respect music authentic accurate period studios rejected project persuaded chairman universal_studios financially film low budget production begin insisted footage television series love key film following death unable secure rights use footage film universal cancelled production kings project moved met studio president introduced producer agreed financed kings production company french based film studio studio canal film given production budget million casting ideal choices roles prior kings appeared number films broken major star spanish actor moved los_angeles california hoping international debut english speaking role wanted cast actors received critical acclaim performances respectively studio felt appeal wider audience translator told work improving english month performing screen test opposite spanish actor lacking ability speak english learned lines despite excellent screen test thought wrong insisted thought charm perfect role studio eventually gave originally cast new love interest role eventually went actress forced pull given role weeks prior filming cast girlfriend based actress performance chosen portray father scene brothers appear episode love preparing role dyed hair black wore ring pin belonged late father wasn trying look exactly like explained getting essence mannerisms effort create world 1950s hired musicians appear filming design kings filmed los_angeles california create 1950s era new_york_city ballroom long gone new_york_city concert hall recreated serves film describing look film production designer stated lots photographs film period film called footage looked got pictures new_york libraries cuban community enormously supportive film private archives people served costume designer vintage create custom wardrobe love segment film filmed site set living room created film editors footage actual episode featuring ball music soundtrack singing studied master instruments characters use film practiced drums preparing scene character plays musical number worked mimic correct posture finger character trumpet performances actual playing performed music supervisor existing music 1950s recorded originally recorded sound song beautiful maria soul written film composed motion picture soundtrack features number original master recordings recorded tracks music soundtrack released release kings distributed entity originally planned release film december premiered miami film festival february released theatrically february film released vhs laserdisc september dvd august dvd includes version film deleted scene features include scenes audio commentary reception kings received critics film currently holds fresh rating online review aggregator rotten_tomatoes based total reviews film critic rolling_stone wrote film runs pure emotion celebrates mysterious power music feel like dancing bring knees roger_ebert chicago_sun-times wrote film story old movies kings filled energy passion new colleague gave film rating syndicated television program movies washington_post praised film director writing shows taste choice cast crew look kings richer text strengthened nostalgia teenage eager america 1950s entertainment_weekly wrote kings fun practically movie don believe enjoy los_angeles_times praised film visual style innocence pre mtv 50s scene expressed real details honest washington_post wrote mixed review writing film beautifully filmed edited offer new_york_times gave film negative review writing times director doesn know camera scenes dramatic point editing fancy graphics disguise amateur nature enterprise philadelphia criticized film portrayal wrote main problem accents characters supposed cuban exception star sounded los_angeles_times criticized direction writing review comes directing dramatic sequences lacking resources drama come coherent meaningful point voiced support film stating sister loved story told movie said amazing saga people search american dream story story people came country hopes dreams praised film prior theatrical release stating seen movie twice loved second time time couldn watching details guess seen second time think great box office week release kings grossed having released theatres north_america film earned additional second week weeks release kings grossed domestically end theatrical run film grossed million budget nominations song beautiful maria soul received best original song nomination academy awards nominated 50th golden globe awards best original song 35th grammy awards best song written specifically motion picture television category film received second grammy nomination best instrumental composition written motion picture television song composed stage play kings inspired musical stage play produced lyrics music kings premiered golden gate theatre san_francisco california opening stage version featured supporting performers including production cancelled plans open broadway theatre critically panned engagement san_francisco
The Mambo Kings