Key West's Own Capt. Tony

Cuba Crossing

Cuba Crossing is one of those films with a great cast (Robert Vaughan, Stuart Whitman [seen above with Captain Tony,] Woody Strode, Sybil Danning) that ends up to be not very good. The plot mixes it up between the mob, boating denizens, an anti-Castro faction, and a bar-owning boat captain named Cap'n Tony. Filmed in Key West in 1978, the film finally got released in 1980 under the title Cuba Crossing, though it underwent many name changes before release (one title, Assignment: Kill Castro, is even invoked in the voiceover narration that begins the movie­ another title Sweet, Dirty Tony, is certainly a classic in the annals of shlock titles.) When the movie premiered in Key West on May 8th, it was actually named Assignment: Kill Castro­ when the title changed to Cuba Crossing can't be discerned. During filming, the movie was expected to be titled Key West Crossing. It is not unusual for film projects to undergo name changes­ sometimes several­ up until opening day. This one seemed to take longer.

The filming experience must've been great fun for everyone. Locals came out to work as extras and even tourists were pulled off the street to stand in the background. Lots of scenes were shot on the water and those that weren't took place primarily in the cleverly named Cap'n Tony's Tavern.

That voiceover narration at the start of the movie? It also claims the film is a true story. On that point, only our REAL Capt. Tony Tarracino knows for sure.