Online Encyclopedia
Desperado (film)
Desperado is a film made in 1995 directed by Robert Rodriguez. The film stars Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek. It is the sequel to El Mariachi.
Banderas plays El Mariachi, a former guitarist who seeks revenge on the man who killed the woman he loved. His quest leads him to battle with a drug lord. He also falls in love with Carolina (played by Hayek), a woman who works for the drug lord.
Desperado helped enhance the fame of Antonio Banderas and introduced Salma Hayek to the American audiences. In 2003, a sequel of Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, was released.
Salma Hayek's role in the film is the first starring role for a Mexican actress in a Hollywood film since Dolores del Rio in the 1940s. The studio initially wanted a blonde to play the role; after a screen test Hayek was the clear choice for the character.
Technical data
- working titles: El Mariachi 2, Pistolero
- writing credits: Robert Rodriguez
- music: Tito Larriva , Los Lobos
- runtime: 106 minutes
- sound: Dolby SR / SDDS
- aspect ratio: 1.85 : 1
- release dates: May 1995 (Cannes Film Festival, France, premiere), August 25, 1995 (USA)
- budget: $7,000,000
- total gross (USA): $25,625,110
- distibutor: Columbia Pictures
- MPAA rating: R