Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)

Semi-biographical film based on the experiences of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

Director:

Art Linson

Writers:

Hunter S. Thompson (stories), John Kaye (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Boyle, Bill Murray, Bruno Kirby

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Boyle	...	Lazlo
Bill Murray	...	Hunter S. Thompson
Bruno Kirby	...	Marty Lewis
Rene Auberjonois	...	Harris (as René Auberjonois)
R.G. Armstrong	...	Judge Simpson
Danny Goldman	...	Porter
Rafael Campos	...	Rojas
Leonard Frey	...	Desk Clerk
Leonard Gaines	...	Super Fan
Otis Day	...	Man #1 (as De Wayne Jessie)
Mark Metcalf	...	Dooley
Jon Matthews	...	Billy Kramer
Joseph Ragno	...	Willins
Quinn K. Redeker	...	Pilot (as Quinn Redeker)
Lisa Taylor	...	Ruthie

Storyline

The deranged adventures of Gonzo journalist Hunter Thompson and his attorney Oscar Acosta, referred to in the movie as "Laslow". Thompson attempts to cover the Super Bowl and the 1972 Presidential election in his typical drug-crazed state, but it continually and comically sidetracked by his even more twisted friend Laslow. Allegedly based on actual events.

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Plot Keywords:

gonzo journalist | presidential election | super bowl | journalism | cannabis | 

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Taglines:

Based on the twisted legend of Hunter S. Thompson

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 April 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ahol a bölény dübörög

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

To get into character, Bill Murray spent time with Thompson, drinking and shooting and generally having a great time at Thompson's Colorado ranch. After filming ended, Murray continued to act "Gonzo" through the beginning of the next season of Saturday Night Live, to the consternation/annoyance of cast and crew members.

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Goofs

When Dr. Thompson goes to college to "lecture" the students, he lights up a joint, takes a few hits off of it and then moments later lights up yet another joint before finishing the first one (or passing the first one along to anyone else) basically showing that he lit the same joint twice.

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Quotes

Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: You couldn't invent someone like Carl Lazlo. He was a... he was one of a kind. He was a mutant. A real heavyweight water buffalo type... who could chew his way through a concrete wall and spit out the other side covered with lime and chalk and look good in doing it.

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Connections

Referenced in Futurama: Where the Buggalo Roam (2002)

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Soundtracks

"Ode To Wild Bill"
Performed by Neil Young

User Reviews

Not for the casual Fear and Loathing Fan

I finally watched this movie after watching Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas about 50 times and reading almost all of Hunter S. Thompson's books. I have to say that while I enjoyed the movie, most people won't. Unless you have a pretty thorough knowledge of HST's work, it won't make much sense, and its comedic value will not be enough to make it worthwhile. However, if you have read FNL on The Campaign Trail and Strange Rumblings in Azatlan, then the movie will probably be of interest to you. One area where this film is far superior to FNL in Las Vegas is in its depiction of Oscar Zeta Acosta, the attorney who is the basis for Carl Lazlo here and Dr. Gonzo in FNL. Acosta was actually a prominent civil rights attorney in the 60's and 70's, especially in the Chicano community in Southern California. He also was a notoriously hard partier by most accounts. This movie does a much better job of capturing his odd duality than FNL does, and Peter Boyle is quite sharp in the role - interesting to watch for those of you who only know him as the father on Raymond.