Zoot Suit

Director: Luis Valdez Luis Valdez

Overview

"Luis Valdez's powerful stage drama about the ""Zoot Suit Riots"" of the 1940s, which first galvanized the Hispanic community in Los Angeles, is brought to the screen in this film, which gets a straightforward DVD release. Zoot Suit has been given a letterboxed transfer to disc in the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1, which has also been enhanced for anamorphic playback on 16 x 9 monitors. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Stereo; the dialogue is in English, with optional subtitles in English, Spanish, and French. No bonus materials have been included for this edition."

Product Details

Release Date:	05/27/2003
UPC:	0025192261725
Original Release:	1981
Rating:	R
Source:	Universal Studios
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:44:00
Sales rank:	44,338

Special Features

Closed Caption; [None specified]

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Daniel Valdez	Henry Reyna,His Girl Friend,Composer
Edward James Olmos	El Pachuco
Charles Aidman	George Shearer
Tyne Daly	Alice Bloomfield
John Anderson	Judge F.W. Charles
Abel Franco	Enrique
Mike Gomez	Joey
Alma Martinez	Lupe
Frank McCarthy	Press
Lupe Ontiveros	Dolores
Ed Peck	Lt. Edwards
Robert Phalen	DA
Tony Plana	Rudy
Rose Portillo	Della
Marco Rodriguez	Smiley,Stenographer
Kelly Ward	Tommy
Helena Andreyko	Blondie
Bob Basso	Baliff
Darlene Bryan	Little Blue
Bernadette Colognne	Legs
Miguel Delagado	Rafas
Roberta Delgado	Tillie
Anacani Echeverria	Pachuca Vocalist
Bertha E. Oropeza	Pachuca Vocalist
Candice L. Silva	Pachuca Vocalist,Galindo
Carlos Garcia	Budda,Chola
James Hogan	Shore Patrol
Laura Leyva	Elena
Sal Lopez	Hobo
Luis Manuel	Cholo
Kim Miyori	Manchuka
Angela Moya	Bertha
Jeff Reynolds	P-Coat
Juan Rios	Crow
Greg Rosatti	Leatherneck
Nancy Salis	Bonita
Kurtwood Smith	Sgt. Smith
Dennis Stewart	Swabbie
Duke Stroud	Guard
Judy Susman	Sugarfoot
Jon Thomas	Ragman
Lewis Whitlock	Zooter
Antonette Yuskis	Guera
Robert Beltran	Lowrider,His Mother
Julio Medina	His Father
Shorty Rogers	Composer

Technical Credits

Luis Valdez

Kenneth Brecher	Producer
Peter Burrell	Producer
Gordon Davidson	Executive Producer,Producer
Luis Valdez	Director,Screenwriter
William P. Wingate	Producer
Moctesuma Esparza	Producer
Robert Katz	Producer
John K. Kean	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

This musical examination of the L.A. "zoot suit riots" of 1943 created a sensation when it became the first musical by a Mexican-American to hit Broadway. The author directed a celebrated film version in 1981, which is still circulating on video. The author also directed this audio version, taped before a studio audience and beautifully produced by Raymond Guama. Briskly paced, it is full of Latin fire and lively Big Band and Chicano melodies. But the acting is uneven and--lacking dazzling dances, costumes, and the color of a full production--the action is difficult to follow. Further, the script betrays its cardboard characters and clunky handling of exposition. What can you do with a play about zoot suit culture without zoot suits? The music, under Daniel Valdez's spirited baton, is superb. Y.R. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

OCT/NOV 02 - AudioFile