Director: Robert Rodriguez
Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Carlos Gallardo, Consuelo Gomez, Peter Marquardt, Reinol Martinez
Running Time: 82 minutes
Genre: Action
This 1992 movie is the debut film from writer/director Robert Rodriguez. An unnamed musician (Gallardo) travels from town to town with his guitar to pursue his dream of becoming a mariachi like his father and grandfather. Arriving in a small town, the Mariachi is mistaken for a criminal, Azul (Martinez), who has broken out of jail and is being hunted by the local crime boss, Moco (Marquardt). Like the Mariachi, Azul dresses in black and carries a guitar case, only Azul's is full of guns.
Reputedly produced for a budget of only $7000, which Rodriguez raised mainly by taking part in medical tests, this is funnier and more exciting than many bigger and more expensive action films. Carlos Gallardo is winning as the Mariachi, and Consuelo Gomez is affecting as the bar owner who he falls in love with. Some of the acting can be politely described as overly enthusiastic, the low budget is obvious in many scenes, and also there are several scenes that seem to be there just to pad out the run time, but by and large this is a fun, stylish movie, with well choreographed action. It was followed by two sequels: Desperado (1995) and Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003).
By the way, Robert Rodriguez's book on the making of the film, Rebel Without a Crew (1995), is worth tracking down for anyone interested in low-budget film-making.
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