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) (as Dr. Hunter S. Thompson), 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 Shear	...	Billy Kramer (as Jon Matthews)
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 is continually and comically sidetracked by his even more twisted friend Laslow. Allegedly based on actual events.

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Plot Keywords:

gonzo journalist | hotel room | super bowl | journalism | presidential election | 

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Taglines:

I hate to advocate weird chemicals, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone... but they've always worked for me.

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 April 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blast - Wo die Büffel röhren

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles International Airport - 1 World Way, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,750,593, 27 April 1980, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$6,659,377

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hunter S. Thompson was eventually brought aboard the film's production as "executive consultant", but claimed he had no substantial role other than to have "wandered around and fired machine guns on the set".

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Goofs

In 1972 Super Bowl VI was played in New Orleans at Tulane Stadium, not in Los Angeles, as depicted in the film.

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Quotes

Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: [into tape recorder] Forecast is for "bad craziness".

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in Miami Vice: Made for Each Other (1985)

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Soundtracks

Purple Haze
Written by Jimi Hendrix
Performed by The Jimi Hendrix Experience

User Reviews

The man vs. the myth.

Fist of all, as far as the comparison to Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas (1998) goes, these films are completely different beasts. Fear & Loathing is a adaptation of a fictional work based on real events. Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro are playing Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, not Hunter S. Thompson and Oscar Zeta Acosta. They are playing caricatures of real people, indirect representations funneled through HST's imagination and exaggeration. Where The Buffalo Roam is more based in reality. Bill Murray is directly playing Hunter S. Thompson as he writes his writings, Johnny Depp played a character from his writings, there is a massive difference. And as such, in my opinion, both films succeed brilliantly. Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas is a visually dazzling, imaginative, cinematic adaptation of HST's novel and Where The Buffalo Roam is a quirky, splendidly fun quasi-biographical journey and pure snapshot of life.

Bill Murray is fantastic in this film. His portrayal of HST is taken from life, more realistic, more from the man rather than from his text or the legend of HST. The whole film itself, mainly because of Murray's characterization and the realistic structured style of the abrupt interconnected randomness of everyday life, is infused with a undying sense of fun and love for words, imagination, writing, and the whole creative process, which seems to me to get more to the core of HST as a man than the various vignettes of Fear & Loathing.

Where The Buffalo Roam is wildly entertaining, frenziedly hilarious, and immeasurably fun. But when the general viewing audience, who presumably do not have a true passion for HST and his works, views both films and are given the choice between the legend and the man, they more often choose the legend, which is usually the trend in history.

Whereas Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas has a romance for the stories and the myth, Where The Buffalo has a romance for the man and the process, and both have it for his personal style, politics and priorities.