March 13, 1992
American Me is a 1992 American independent crime drama film produced and directed by Edward James Olmos in his directorial debut, and written by Floyd Mutrux and Desmond Nakano. Olmos stars as Montoya Santana, who is loosely based on Mexican Mafia boss Rodolfo Cadena. Executive producers included record producer Lou Adler, screenwriter Mutrux, and Irwin Young. The film is a fictionalized account of the founding and rise to power of the Mexican Mafia in the California prison system from the 1950s into the 1980s.
In 2024, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Storyline
A Mexican-American Mafia kingpin is released from prison, falls in love for the first time, and grows introspective about his gangster lifestyle.
Sound Effects Used
- Sound Ideas, BELL, ALARM - BURGLAR OR FIRE ALARM 01
- Sound Ideas, SKID, CARTOON - BENT SKID (Heard in an excerpt from a Woody Woodpecker cartoon.)
- Sound Ideas, ZIP, CARTOON - BIG WHISTLE ZING IN (Heard in an excerpt from a Woody Woodpecker cartoon.)
- Woody Woodpecker Laugh