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IMDbPro

Where the Buffalo Roam

  • 19801980
  • K-18K-18
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
12K
YOUR RATING
Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
Semi-biographical film based on the experiences of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
Play trailer3:19
4 Videos
65 Photos
BiographyComedy

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

IMDb RATING
6.5/10
12K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Art Linson
  • Writers
    • Hunter S. Thompson(stories The Banshee Screams for Buffalo Meat and Strange Rumblings in Aztlan)
    • John Kaye(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Peter Boyle
    • Bill Murray
    • Bruno Kirby
  • Director
    • Art Linson
  • Writers
    • Hunter S. Thompson(stories The Banshee Screams for Buffalo Meat and Strange Rumblings in Aztlan)
    • John Kaye(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Peter Boyle
    • Bill Murray
    • Bruno Kirby
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 58User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos4

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:19
    Watch Official Trailer
    Where the Buffalo Roam
    Clip 1:12
    Watch Where the Buffalo Roam
    Where the Buffalo Roam
    Clip 2:24
    Watch Where the Buffalo Roam
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 24
    Video 28:59
    Watch Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 24

    Photos65

    Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
    Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
    Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
    Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
    Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
    Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
    Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
    Bill Murray, Marsha Bissler, and Charles Konya in Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
    Bill Murray in Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
    Peter Boyle in Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
    Bill Murray in Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)
    Bill Murray and Bruno Kirby in Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter Boyle
    Peter Boyle
    • Lazlo
    Bill Murray
    Bill Murray
    • Hunter S. Thompson
    Bruno Kirby
    Bruno Kirby
    • Marty Lewis
    Rene Auberjonois
    Rene Auberjonois
    • Harris
    • (as René Auberjonois)
    R.G. Armstrong
    R.G. Armstrong
    • Judge Simpson
    Danny Goldman
    Danny Goldman
    • Porter
    Rafael Campos
    Rafael Campos
    • Rojas
    Leonard Frey
    Leonard Frey
    • Desk Clerk
    Leonard Gaines
    • Super Fan
    Otis Day
    Otis Day
    • Man #1
    • (as De Wayne Jessie)
    Mark Metcalf
    Mark Metcalf
    • Dooley
    Jon Shear
    • Billy Kramer
    • (as Jon Matthews)
    Joseph Ragno
    Joseph Ragno
    • Willins
    Quinn K. Redeker
    Quinn K. Redeker
    • Pilot
    • (as Quinn Redeker)
    Lisa Taylor
    Lisa Taylor
    • Ruthie
    Danny Tucker
    • Narcotics Agent
    Jon Acevedo
    • Hippie
    Phillip L. Allan
    • Kid #2
    • Director
      • Art Linson
    • Writers
      • Hunter S. Thompson(stories The Banshee Screams for Buffalo Meat and Strange Rumblings in Aztlan)
      • John Kaye(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To get into character, Bill Murray spent time with Hunter S. Thompson by drinking, 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 (1975), to the annoyance and consternation of cast and crew members.
    • Goofs
      During the courtroom scene, 21 minutes and 5 seconds into the film, Thompson sets down his glass which is almost full. A second later, a close-up on the glass shows it sitting on the floor, empty. All further scenes in the courtroom show the glass once again almost full.
    • Quotes

      [Thompson is speaking to a crowd of college students]

      Questioner: I was just wondering if you could tell me, um, if you thought drugs and alcohol would make me a better writer.

      Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: That's a good question. Let me see...

      [the audience cheers as Thompson lights a joint. A few people throw joints onto the stage]

      Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: In my case, you know, I hate to advocate drugs or liquor, violence, insanity to anyone. But in my case it's worked.

    • Alternate versions
      The 2017 Blu-ray release from Shout! Factory restores the original soundtrack. Making this the first home media release since the original VHS release to feature the original unaltered soundtrack.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: A Small Circle of Friends, Where the Buffalo Roam, Nothing Personal, Foolin' Around, Ffolkes (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Keep on Chooglin
      Written by John Fogerty

      Performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival (as Credence Clearwater Revival)

    User reviews58

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Not true Thompson, but a fun film.
    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.
    helpful•47
    6
    • jrabbit-2
    • Oct 5, 2000

    FAQ2

    • Is Fear and Lothing in Las Vegas a sequel to this?
    • How many other movies have been adapted from this authors novels?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 25, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tamo gdje bizoni lutaju
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles International Airport - 1 World Way, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,659,377
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,750,593
      • Apr 27, 1980
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,659,377
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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