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Grammy Award Winner and Oscar Nominee Andy Garcia performed live with his band, The CineSon All Stars in celebration the eve of the release of his film The Lost City today at the Virgin Megastore at Hollywood and Highland next to the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Arriving and appearing as if he just walked off the set of Ocean’s Thirteen, he hugged each of his six band members as if they were family. The room was full of fans eagerly awaiting to hear him play with his band as they pushed their way towards the stage with cell phones and cameras in hand and the flash of bulbs.

Garcia’s band, The CineSon All Stars, accompanied him to celebrate the release of his film The Lost City with co-stars Dustin Hoffman and Bill Murray. Garcia directed, starred and penned the music immersing one in the pulse and unique rhythm of 1950s Havana. The CineSon All Stars band accompanying Garcia consists of a rhythm section including conga drums, percussion, piano, bongo, bass, flute and a singer.

Garcia smiled with a grin of a musician in his own world feeling the music, being one with his music…everyone was happy.

Production:

The Lost City was shot in 35 days in the Dominican Republic, at a cost of US$9.5 million.

Actress Millie Perkins, who plays Andy Garcia's mother in The Lost City, began her film career auspiciously with the lead role in George Stevens's 1959 film version of The Diary of Anne Frank. (Audrey Hepburn had been the initial choice for the role.)

Background:

Andy Garcia's father was a lawyer and avocado farmer. (It's as if he is represented in The Lost City by Tomas Milian's and Richard Bradford's characters.) He fled Cuba with his family after the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, settling in the Miami Beach area.

The Lost City screenplay has some elements in common with G. Cabrera Infante's novel Tres Tristes Tigres / Three Trapped Tigers, published in 1964. Set in 1958, the stylistically challenging novel depicts the lives of several young Havana denizens, with particular emphasis on that city's night life.

Garcia's character, Fico Fellove, was inspired by Tropicana owner Martin Fox, who had to flee Cuba after his casino-nightclub was closed down by the Castro regime. He died of a stroke in the mid-1960s.

The memoirs of Fox's widow, Cuban-born Ofelia Suarez, was published in fall 2005. Co-written with Rosa Lowinger, the book is called Tropicana Nights, The Life and Times of the Legendary Cuban Nightclub. The Fox widow died in Burbank, Calif., in January 2006.

This report from the U.S. Treasury Bureau of Narcotics indicates that the owners of the Tropicana (and those of other Havana nightclubs) may have been involved in more than just gambling and mambo dancing.

Interviews:

"The film is about impossible love. Having to leave the thing you most cherish. The country, the city, the woman. The tragedy of exile. That's true for all exile experiences. It's a universal theme. You have that profound nostalgia for the old country." Andy Garcia, as quoted in Newsday.

In an interview for the Los Angeles Daily News, Andy Garcia claimed that there have been festivals that refused to show The Lost City for political reasons. "And that will continue to happen," Garcia added, "from people who don't want to see the image of Che be tarnished and from people who support the Castro regime."

Screenwriter G. Cabrera Infante

Novelist and film critic Guillermo Cabrera Infante, whose parents were founding members of the Cuban Communist Party (and who were jailed in 1936), initially supported Fidel Castro's revolution and even served as a government cultural representative during Castro's regime.

Cabrera was born in Gibara in 1929, moving with his family to Havana in 1941. He founded the Cuban Cinematheque, presiding it from 1951 to 1956. In 1952, he was temporarily jailed by Fulgencio Batista's regime for publishing a short story containing profanities.

After the revolution, Cabrera's support for Castro dwindled when Lunes, the writer's literary supplement for the magazine Revolución, was shut down in 1961. Four years later, Cabrera went into exile in England. From then on, he became an outspoken critic of Castro's policies.

In 1997, he was awarded the Premio Cervantes, the most important literary prize in the Spanish language.

Cabrera also wrote a handful of screenplays, including Vanishing Point (1971), Wonderland (1973), and the unproduced adaptation of Malcolm Lowry's Under the Volcano. (The screenplay for John Huston's 1984 film version of Lowry's novel was written by Guy Gallo.)

Bill Murray's unnamed writer is apparently a stand-in for Cabrera in The Lost City.

An homage to G. Cabrera Infante

Review Snippets:

"On and off drawing boards for nearly two decades, this longtime dream project for Garcia and late novelist-critic Guillermo Cabrera Infante (who died in February) emerges as a handsomely produced, deeply passionate, but seriously flawed historical epic whose reach far exceeds its grasp." Scott Foundas, Variety

"Garcia paints Cuba with hoary clichés, starting the film with the image of some trumpeter blowing his Afro-Cuban song under some ungodly atmospheric building. Certain Cuban signifiers are casually pinpointed—cups of espresso, a roasted pig, a box of cigars, and a plateful of tostones—but never really worked into the fiber of the film in a particularly elegant or meaningful fashion (see Bitter Sugar for that)." Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine

Official Site

MPAA: Rated R for violence.
Runtime: 143 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Color
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Certification: Brazil:14 / USA:R 

1. Ocean's Thirteen (2007) (filming) .... Terry Benedict
2. Smokin' Aces (2007) (post-production) .... Stanley Locke
3. The Air I Breathe (2006) (post-production) .... Fingers
   
   
4. "George Lopez"
       - George Doesn't Trustee Angie's Brother (2006) TV Episode .... Ray
5. The Lost City (2005) .... Fico Fellove
6. "Kurtlar vadisi"
   ... aka Valley of Wolves (literal English title)
       - Episode #4.96 (2005) TV Episode .... Amon
       - Episode #4.97 (2005) TV Episode .... Amon
7. Ocean's Twelve (2004) .... Terry Benedict
8. Modigliani (2004) .... Amedeo Modigliani
9. The Lazarus Child (2004) .... Jack Heywood
10. Twisted (2004/I) .... Mike Delmarco
11. Clefs de bagnole, Les (2003) (uncredited) .... Un comédien qui refuse de tourner avec Laurent (DVD bonus material)
    ... aka The Car Keys (International: English title)
12. Confidence (2003) .... Gunther Butan
    ... aka Confidence: After Dark (UK)
    ... aka En toute confiance (Canada: French title)
13. "Will & Grace"
        - Field of Queens (2003) TV Episode .... Milo
14. Just Like Mona (2003)
15. "Frasier"
        - Bully for Martin (2001) TV Episode (voice) .... Terrance
16. Ocean's Eleven (2001) .... Terry Benedict
    ... aka 11 (USA: promotional abbreviation)
    ... aka O11 (USA: informal short title)
17. The Man from Elysian Fields (2001) .... Byron
18. The Unsaid (2001) .... Michael Hunter
    ... aka The Ties That Bind (USA)
19. For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (2000) (TV) .... Arturo Sandoval
    ... aka The Arturo Sandoval Story (USA)
20. Lakeboat (2000) .... Guigliani
    
    
21. Swing Vote (1999) (TV) .... Joseph Michael Kirkland
    ... aka The Ninth Justice (Australia: video title)
22. Just the Ticket (1999/I) .... Gary Starke
    ... aka Gary & Linda (France)
23. Desperate Measures (1998) .... Frank Conner
24. Hoodlum (1997) .... Lucky Luciano
25. The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca (1997) .... Federico García Lorca
    ... aka Death in Granada (USA)
    ... aka Desaparición de García Lorca, La (USA: Spanish title)
    ... aka Lorca
    ... aka Muerte en Granada (Spain)
26. Night Falls on Manhattan (1997) .... Sean Casey
27. Steal Big Steal Little (1995) .... Ruben Partida Martinez/Robert Martin/Narrator
28. Dangerous Minds (1995) (scenes deleted)
29. Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995) .... Jimmy 'The Saint' Tosnia
30. When a Man Loves a Woman (1994) .... Michael Green
    ... aka To Have and to Hold
31. Jennifer Eight (1992) .... Sgt. John Berlin
    ... aka Jennifer 8 (USA: video box title)
32. Hero (1992/I) .... John Bubber
    ... aka Accidental Hero
33. The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 (1992) (V) .... Vincent Mancini
    ... aka The Godfather Saga (USA)
    ... aka The Godfather Trilogy
34. Dead Again (1991) .... Gray Baker
35. The Godfather: Part III (1990) .... Don Vincent 'Vinnie' Mancini-Corleone
    ... aka Mario Puzo's The Godfather: Part III (USA: complete title)
36. A Show of Force (1990) .... Luis Angel Mora
37. Internal Affairs (1990) .... Raymond Avilla
    
    
38. Black Rain (1989/I) .... Det. Charlie Vincent
39. Clinton and Nadine (1988) (TV) .... Clinton Dillard
    ... aka Blood Money: The Story of Clinton and Nadine
40. American Roulette (1988) .... Carlos Quintas
41. Stand and Deliver (1988) .... Dr. Ramirez (Educational Testing Service)
42. The Untouchables (1987) .... Agent George Stone/Giuseppe Petri
43. 8 Million Ways to Die (1986) .... Angel Moldonado
44. "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"
        - Breakdown (1985) TV Episode .... Alejandro
45. The Mean Season (1985) .... Ray Martinez
46. The Murder of Sherlock Holmes (1984) (TV) .... 1st White Tough
47. "Hill Street Blues"
        - Hair Apparent (1984) TV Episode .... Ernesto
        - Hill Street Station (1981) TV Episode (as Andy Arthur) .... Street Kid
48. The Lonely Guy (1984) (uncredited)
49. "Brothers"
        - Christmas Episode (????) TV Episode .... Jose
50. A Night in Heaven (1983) .... T.J. The Bartender
51. Guaguasi (1983) .... Ricardo
52. "For Love and Honor"
        - For Love and Honor (Pilot) (1983) TV Episode .... Medic
53. Blue Skies Again (1983) .... Ken
    
    
54. "Archie Bunker's Place"
        - Building the Restaurant (1979) TV Episode .... Manuel
55. "¿Qué pasa, U.S.A.?"
        - Here Comes the Bride (1978) TV Episode .... Carmen's Boyfriend
    
    

Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Director, Miscellaneous Crew, Composer, Self, Archive Footage

Producer - filmography
(2000s) (1990s)

1. The Lost City (2005) (executive producer)
2. Modigliani (2004) (executive producer)
3. The Man from Elysian Fields (2001) (producer)
4. The Unsaid (2001) (executive producer)
   ... aka The Ties That Bind (USA)
5. For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (2000) (TV) (executive producer)
   ... aka The Arturo Sandoval Story (USA)
   
   
6. Swing Vote (1999) (TV) (co-executive producer)
   ... aka The Ninth Justice (Australia: video title)
7. Just the Ticket (1999/I) (producer)
   ... aka Gary & Linda (France)
8. Cachao... Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos (1993) (producer)
   ... aka Cachao... Like His Rhythm There Is No Other
   
   

Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Director, Miscellaneous Crew, Composer, Self, Archive Footage

Director - filmography
(2000s) (1990s)

1. The Lost City (2005)
2. Nuestra Navidad 2003 (2003) (TV) (segment director)
3. ¡Ahora sí! (2003) (V)
   
   
4. Cachao... Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos (1993)
   ... aka Cachao... Like His Rhythm There Is No Other
   
   

Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Director, Miscellaneous Crew, Composer, Self, Archive Footage

Miscellaneous Crew - filmography
(2000s) (1990s)

1. The Inspectors: Clues to the Crime (2004) (V) (special thanks)
   
   
2. The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca (1997) (singer: "Garcia Lorca Suite", "We Will Remember You (Te recorderamos) ", "Samarra" and "Rumba a Lorca")
   ... aka Death in Granada (USA)
   ... aka Desaparición de García Lorca, La (USA: Spanish title)
   ... aka Lorca
   ... aka Muerte en Granada (Spain)
   
   

Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Director, Miscellaneous Crew, Composer, Self, Archive Footage

Composer - filmography

1. The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca (1997) (songs "Garcia Lorca Suite", "We Will Remember You (Te recorderamos)", "Samarra" and "Rumba a Lorca")
   ... aka Death in Granada (USA)
   ... aka Desaparición de García Lorca, La (USA: Spanish title)
   ... aka Lorca
   ... aka Muerte en Granada (Spain)
   
   

Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Director, Miscellaneous Crew, Composer, Self, Archive Footage

Self - filmography
(In Production) (2000s) (1990s) (1980s)

1. Celia: The Queen (2007) (post-production) .... Himself
   
   
2. AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Sean Connery (2006) (TV) .... Himself
3. "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson"
       - Episode dated 28 April 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
       - Episode dated 27 April 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
       - Episode #2.131 (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
4. Sacred Waters (2006) .... Himself
5. "The Hollywood Greats"
   ... aka Hollywood Greats (USA: new title)
       - Marlon Brando (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
       - Jack Lemmon (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
6. Class Act (2006) .... Himself
7. "Magacine"
       - Episode dated 28 October 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Himself
8. "All-Star Cup 2005" (2005) TV Series .... Himself
9. "Jimmy Kimmel Live"
       - Episode dated 11 May 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Himself
10. Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope (2005) (TV) .... Himself
11. The 10th Annual Critics' Choice Awards (2005) (TV) .... Himself - winner
12. "Dennis Miller"
        - Episode dated 14 December 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
13. "The View"
        - Episode dated 6 December 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
        - Episode dated 25 February 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
14. "HBO First Look"
        - The Making of 'Ocean's Twelve' (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
        - The Making of 'Ocean's Eleven' (2001) TV Episode .... Himself
15. "Tout le monde en parle"
        - Episode dated 25 September 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
16. "Grand journal de Canal+, Le"
        - Episode dated 20 September 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
17. Creating a Twisted Web of Intrigue (2004) (V) .... Himself
18. "Late Night with Conan O'Brien"
        - Episode dated 25 February 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
        - Episode dated 19 February 1999 (1999) TV Episode .... Himself
19. "Tinseltown TV"
        - Episode dated 7 February 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
20. San Francisco: Scene of the Crime (2004) (V) .... Himself
21. "Biography"
        - Kevin Costner (2003) TV Episode .... Himself
22. "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn"
    ... aka The Late Late Show (USA: short title)
        - Episode dated 7 November 2002 (2002) TV Episode .... Himself
23. "Festival Pass with Chris Gore" (2002) TV Series .... Himself
24. 2002 MTV Movie Awards (2002) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself
25. 'Ocean's Eleven': The Look of the Con (2002) (V) .... Himself
26. I Love Lucy's 50th Anniversary Special (2001) (TV) .... Himself
27. America: A Tribute to Heroes (2001) (TV) .... Himself
28. A Galaxy Far, Far Away (2001) .... Himself
29. The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards (2001) (TV) .... Himself (presenter)
    ... aka 2001 Grammy Awards (New Zealand: English title: cut version)
30. "The Rosie O'Donnell Show"
        - Episode dated 17 November 2000 (2000) TV Episode .... Himself
        - Episode dated 18 February 1999 (1999) TV Episode .... Himself
        - Episode dated 3 February 1998 (1998) TV Episode .... Himself
        - Episode dated 14 May 1997 (1997) TV Episode .... Himself
31. 2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (2000) (TV) (uncredited) .... Presenter
32. "Inside the Actors Studio"
        - Episode #6.8 (2000) TV Episode .... Himself
    
    
33. The 71st Annual Academy Awards (1999) (TV) .... Himself - Co-presenter: Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score Award
34. "The Directors"
        - The Films of Andrew Davis (????) TV Episode .... Himself
        - The Films of Ridley Scott (????) TV Episode .... Himself
35. "Caiga quien caiga"
        - Episode dated 23 February 1997 (1997) TV Episode .... Himself
36. "Lo + plus"
        - Episode dated 19 February 1997 (1997) TV Episode .... Himself
37. Intimate Portrait: Gloria Estefan (1996) (TV) .... Narrator
38. "Showbiz Today"
        - Episode dated 4 December 1995 (1995) TV Episode .... Himself
        - Episode dated 2 May 1995 (1995) TV Episode .... Himself
39. Somos un solo pueblo (1995) (TV)
40. Gloria Estefan: Everlasting Gloria (1995) (V) .... Waiter (in 'I See Your Smile')
41. Cachao... Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos (1993) .... Himself
    ... aka Cachao... Like His Rhythm There Is No Other
42. The 63rd Annual Academy Awards (1991) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Supporting Role & Co-Presenter: Best Sound Effects Editing
43. The Godfather Family: A Look Inside (1991) (TV) .... Himself
44. The Making of 'The Mean Season' (1985) (TV) .... Himself