Frank G Perez

The film addresses two of the most important and controversial events of the 1940s. During World War II, a group of Mexican American youths were arrested and placed on trial, en masse, for the murder of a young man. We now know that the victim may have been hit by a car, may have tripped and hit his head on a curb, or may have been beaten to death. The Sleepy Lagoon Murder Trial of 1942 caused a great degree of social unrest because of its racial elements. The film also addresses the "Zoot Suit Riots," when US sailors attacked zoot suiters in East Los Angeles from June 3 -10, 1943. The sailors poured into taxis, roved East LA, and beat and stripped Mexican Americans in zoot suits. Universal Studios allowed less than 3 weeks to shoot the film and on a miniscule budget. Thus, director Luis Valdez shot the musical from three angles and edited it into a film. It is worth watching because it is fairly accurate and addresses a forgotten WWII Era injustice.