IMDb >
The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
Watch It
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
at Crackle
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Buddy Holly Story (1978) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos |
|
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
3 November 1978 (Finland)
more
Tagline:
Music never felt this good. more
Plot:
A film about the life and career of the early rock and roll star. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 2 wins
&
3 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story Comes To The History Theatre Plays Through 11/1
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 20 October 2009, 6:19 PM, PDT)
Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story Comes To The History Theatre, Opens 10/3
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 25 September 2009, 10:31 AM, PDT)
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 20 October 2009, 6:19 PM, PDT)
Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story Comes To The History Theatre, Opens 10/3
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 25 September 2009, 10:31 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Great Busey Performance, Weak Everything Else
more (44 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Gary Busey | ... | Buddy |
 | Don Stroud | ... | Jesse |
 | Charles Martin Smith | ... | Ray Bob |
 | Conrad Janis | ... | Ross Turner |
| William Jordan | ... | Riley |
 | Maria Richwine | ... | Maria Elena |
| Amy Johnston | ... | Cindy Lou |
 | Dick O'Neill | ... | Sol Gittler (as Dick O'Neil) |
 | Fred Travalena | ... | Madman Mancuso |
| Neva Patterson | ... | Mrs. Holly |
 | Arch Johnson | ... | Mr. Holly |
| John F. Goff | ... | T.J. (as John Goff) |
 | Gloria Irizarry | ... | Mrs. Santiago |
| Jody Berry | ... | Engineer Sam |
| Richard Kennedy | ... | Preacher |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
113 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
In the opening sequence in which the roller rink manager tells the organ player "You're gonna have to quit now, we're goin' on the air." The over-dubbed voice of the manager is director Steve Rash.
more
Goofs:
Factual errors: Buddy Holly's front teeth were knocked out before a performance in the UK, not on US television as shown in the film.
more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Buddy Holly: Hey, Riley, we're all plugged in and checked up... yeah, we're ready.
Buddy Holly: [to Ray Bob] Riley wants to hear you at the mike - that's the one right there; say somethin' into that mike.
Ray Bob Simmons: One, two, three, testing... one...
Buddy Holly: [to Riley] How's that sound?
Riley Randolph: All right, that's a good level, Buddy, hold it right there... Yeah, you better get ready, it's about thirty seconds till eight.
more
Buddy Holly: Hey, Riley, we're all plugged in and checked up... yeah, we're ready.
Buddy Holly: [to Ray Bob] Riley wants to hear you at the mike - that's the one right there; say somethin' into that mike.
Ray Bob Simmons: One, two, three, testing... one...
Buddy Holly: [to Riley] How's that sound?
Riley Randolph: All right, that's a good level, Buddy, hold it right there... Yeah, you better get ready, it's about thirty seconds till eight.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Gary Busey/Eubie Blake and Gregory Hines (#4.14)" (1979)
more
Soundtrack:
True Love Ways
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (44 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Buddy Holly Story (1978) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Ray | La Bamba | Last Days | Coal Miner's Daughter | Sid and Nancy |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Biography section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |
When Gary Busey got nominated for an Oscar for his performance in "The Buddy Holly Story," alongside Robert DeNiro, Warren Beatty, Laurence Olivier, and winner Jon Voight, it turned a lot of heads and made people pay more attention when the film came out on video and cable. Seeing it then for the first time years ago, I was amazed by Busey's powerful dynamism, the way he lives through each moment of the film so authentically. The rest of the film was enjoyable, funny, perceptive, and made me feel like I really understood something about Buddy Holly.
Watching it again years later, I still think Busey is terrific. But the rest of the film feels like a 1970s TV movie, with broad characterizations by the likes of Conrad Janis as a record exec. The Crickets are woefully portrayed, or perhaps a better word might be betrayed, given this shows them to be racist mediocrities who hold their buddy Buddy down. Even when the history isn't wrong, it feels wrong, like the scene of the Buffalo DJ who locks himself in his studio and plays "That'll Be The Day" non-stop until the police break down the door, helping launch the band.
"How'd get that dynamite sound?" the actor playing the DJ asks, hamming it up.
"Well, there's a guitar, drums, a stand-up bass and a cricket," Buddy replies, meaning an insect got in the middle of the recording session and made some background noise.
"Wow, Buddy Holly and the Crickets! What a super name!"
There's some truth behind the anecdote, a cricket apparently did find its way into the studio and inspired the band's name, but it just feels too contrived. Same with Buddy's problems back home in Lubbock, Texas, where his girl wants him to shape up and go to college. The actress playing the girlfriend is cute and winsome, but she pouts like a sitcom actress and says her lines like she's auditioning to play Marsha Brady.
But when the camera is on Busey as Holly, something takes over. He throws himself into every song with utter abandon, losing himself in Buddy's big glasses and pompadoured curls. It's not a note-perfect Buddy, but it encapsulates his spirit in a defining way. The only other actor who so dominated a film was George C. Scott in "Patton."
The fictionalized Crickets, only two instead of three, Don Stroud and Charles Martin Smith, are pretty terrific as backing musicians. I especially liked Stroud as Jesse the drummer, the way he cracks the skins and hammers the high hats with door-slamming authority. All the numbers are performed live, an unusual and brave choice by director Steve Rash that pays off brilliantly, capturing the raw vibrancy of straight-ahead rock 'n' roll.
There's a great opening sequence, done with a swooping camera shot inside a roller rink to where Buddy and his band play some bop for the kiddies and scandalize the community. Just the way the band switches from the soporific "Mockingbird Hill" to the thumping "Rock Around With Ollie Vee," with the audience reacting in comically but believably different ways (kids rushing the stage clapping their hands, adults rushing the exits clapping their ears) is a thrilling capsule commentary on what rock overcame to take over American culture. Also good are the period touches at the rink, like the malt bar, the roller skates, the sad fellow with the combover who plays rinkydink piano until someone taps him on the shoulders in mid-note.
Also good is the Apollo Theater scene, where Buddy and the Crickets become the first white band to play in that Harlem venue, getting a hilariously cold reaction when the curtain goes up, then winning the crowd over. I sort of doubt it happened like that, but there's some funny exchanges with the theater manager, and it's nice seeing Stymie from "Our Gang" in an adult role, complete with his trademark derby.
Basically, any scene where Buddy is performing is good, though his final performance at the Winter Dance Party in Clear Lake, Iowa, by which point he has become a solo act, is a little overdone, what with the over-the-top violins on "True Love Ways" and Ritchie Valens joining him on stage at the end with maracas.
Meanwhile back home, the Crickets come over to Buddy's apartment, and after talking to Buddy's pregnant wife Maria Elena, decide to surprise Buddy at his next tour stop in Moorhead, Minnesota. Yeah, right. Of course Buddy won't be there, he and Ritchie and the Big Bopper having picked the wrong night to fly. All that's left is a freeze frame of Buddy and some sad music over the credits.
We only had Buddy for 18 months, and this film, along with Don McLean's 1972 hit "American Pie," gave him back to us in a small but tangible way. For that, and for Busey's breakout moment, it is worth treasuring, and there are some nice scenes here and there. But playing with the facts is no way to tell a legend's story, especially when it serves sitcom-caliber punch lines. It's a good movie, but the real story behind it is better.