Semi-biographical film based on the experiences of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
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Title: Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
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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 Shear | ... | Billy Kramer (as Jon Matthews) |
| Joseph Ragno | ... | Willins | |
| Quinn K. Redeker | ... | Pilot (as Quinn Redeker) | |
| Lisa Taylor | ... | Ruthie | |
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
See All (59) »
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 is continually and comically sidetracked by his even more twisted friend Laslow. Allegedly based on actual events. Written by John Rumpelein <usviking@imageek.york.cuny.edu>
Plot Keywords:
gonzo journalist | hotel room | super bowl | journalism | presidential election |Taglines:
Based on the twisted legend of Hunter S. Thompson See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
25 April 1980 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Blast - Wo die Büffel röhren See more »Filming Locations:
Los Angeles International Airport - 1 World Way, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$1,750,593, 27 April 1980, Limited ReleaseGross USA:
$6,659,377Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Marty Lewis: Wait! What do you mean you just got there?
Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: Yeah. Right. Minutes ago.
Marty Lewis: You left on Tuesday. Today's Saturday.
Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: That happened to you, too? That's weird. The same mix-up happened to me this morning!
See more »
Did You Know?
Goofs
On the closing credits, Creedence Clearwater Revival is misspelled as "Credence." See more »Quotes
Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: Besides, I just got here and I haven't...Marty Lewis: Wait! What do you mean you just got there?
Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: Yeah. Right. Minutes ago.
Marty Lewis: You left on Tuesday. Today's Saturday.
Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: That happened to you, too? That's weird. The same mix-up happened to me this morning!
See more »
Alternate Versions
The theatrical and original VHS versions featured the following songs that are not included on the DVD release: "I Can't Help Myself" by the Four Tops; "Highway 61" by Bob Dylan; "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" by the Temptations; "All Along the Watchtower" and "Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix. One song from the original release, "Keep on Chooglin'" by Creedence Clearwater Revival is retained, as well as the "Home on the Range" variations in the score by Neil Young. See more »
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Whether you like this film or not will depend heavily on how big of a Hunter S. Thompson fan you are.
On the plus side, this film is wickedly funny. Bill Murray (an actor who has been both great and terrible in his career) does a phenomenal job as the acid-drenched reporter, bringing chaos into the lives of the rigid and pretentious. The plot is peppered with "respectable" places being dragged into mayhem, and "respectable" folks trying (unsuccessfully) to cope behind plastic smiles.
It even ventures into some higher themes, such as innocent kids being jailed by a heartless criminal system, and Thompson's own struggles between being a practical reporter and a fun-loving idealist (notice how Lazlo repeatedly re-surfaces just when Thompson starts to take on "real" jobs).
It's biggest fault, however, was that it failed to achieve any of the higher accomplishments of HST's writings. What makes Thompson such a powerful writer (to me, anyway) is the way he'll often turn on a dime and deliver stunningly sober dialogs on the human animal and where he's gone wrong. Nestled in the midst of the wine, women, and song are soliloquies that drive home a more positive message, and none of those made it into this film (in fact, no significant chunks of actual text from HST's books appeared at all). It's like they shaved off the surface 50% of Thompson's work and discarded the rest.
Compare this to Fear and Loathing, which was darker and more counter-cultural, and contained whole narrations excerpted from the novel. The latter perhaps has less appeal to the average viewer, but I'd think more to a Thompson fan.
All-in-all, this film is a light-hearted romp into anarchy, and worth watching. But if you've never actually READ Thompson, do so, as this movie doesn't accurately represent him.