Zoot Suit Riots
“Los Angeles erupts in violence”
Synopsis
On August 1, 1942, a 22-year-old Mexican American man was stabbed to death at a party. To white Los Angelenos, the murder was just more proof that Mexican American crime was spiraling out of control. The police fanned out across LA, netting 600 young Mexican American suspects. Almost all those taken into custody were wearing the distinctive uniform of their generation: Zoot Suits. The tragic murder and the injustice of the trial that followed, coupled with sensational news coverage of both, fanned the flames of the racial hostility that was already running rife in the city. Within months of the verdict, Los Angeles was in the grip of some of the worst violence in its history.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Zoot Suit Riots | American Experience | PBSOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2022-03-10
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Joseph Tovares
- Screenplay & Story
- Joseph Tovares
- Original Score
- Claudio Ragazzi
- Original Title
- Zoot Suit Riots
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 53m
- Production Studios
- PBS, GBH
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Joseph Tovares
Joseph Tovares
Claudio Ragazzi
Michael Chin
James Rutenbeck
Department Leadership Roster
Joseph Tovares
Writer
Joseph Tovares
Director
James Rutenbeck
Editor
Michael Chin
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Zoot Suit Riots.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Zoot Suit Riots.
list23
THE BRIEFLY-ACRID CONTUMACIOUSLY-CRAPULOUS FLICKERS PROJECT 2023 🍋💀🍔
Everything I watched in 2023.
Similar Titles to Zoot Suit Riots
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.6
7.5
6.8
6.8
7.5
7.6
7.1
6.6
5.7
7.4
7.0
7.0- 8.0
- 8.0
- 9.0
6.0
6.9
8.3
7.9
More Like Zoot Suit Riots
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zoot Suit Riots
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Zoot Suit Riots about?
On August 1, 1942, a 22-year-old Mexican American man was stabbed to death at a party. To white Los Angelenos, the murder was just more proof that Mexican American crime was spiraling out of control. The police fanned out across LA, netting 600 young Mexican American suspects. Almost all those taken into custody were wearing the distinctive uniform of their generation: Zoot Suits. The tragic murder and the injustice of the trial that followed, coupled with sensational news coverage of both, fanned the flames of the racial hostility that was already running rife in the city. Within months of the verdict, Los Angeles was in the grip of some of the worst violence in its history.
Who directed Zoot Suit Riots?
Zoot Suit Riots was directed by Joseph Tovares.
Who stars in Zoot Suit Riots?
The principal cast of Zoot Suit Riots includes Héctor Elizondo.
When was Zoot Suit Riots released and how long is it?
Zoot Suit Riots was released in 2002 with a total runtime of 53m.
Who composed the musical score for Zoot Suit Riots?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Zoot Suit Riots was composed by Claudio Ragazzi.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Zoot Suit Riots?
Zoot Suit Riots holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).