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La Bamba

  • 1987
  • K-12
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
36K
YOUR RATING
Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba (1987)
Trailer for La Bamba: 30th Anniversary
Play trailer1:42
3 Videos
83 Photos
BiographyDramaMusic

Biographical story of the rise from nowhere of early rock and roll singer Ritchie Valens who died at age 17 in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.Biographical story of the rise from nowhere of early rock and roll singer Ritchie Valens who died at age 17 in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.Biographical story of the rise from nowhere of early rock and roll singer Ritchie Valens who died at age 17 in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.

  • Director
    • Luis Valdez
  • Writer
    • Luis Valdez
  • Stars
    • Lou Diamond Phillips
    • Esai Morales
    • Rosanna DeSoto
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    36K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Luis Valdez
    • Writer
      • Luis Valdez
    • Stars
      • Lou Diamond Phillips
      • Esai Morales
      • Rosanna DeSoto
    • 96User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos3

    La Bamba: 30th Anniversary
    Trailer 1:42
    Watch La Bamba: 30th Anniversary
    La Bamba
    Trailer 1:22
    Watch La Bamba
    LA BAMBA (UK Dual Format Release) Trailer
    Trailer 1:41
    Watch LA BAMBA (UK Dual Format Release) Trailer

    Photos83

    Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba (1987)
    Lou Diamond Phillips and Danielle von Zerneck in La Bamba (1987)
    Grande
    Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba (1987)
    Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba (1987)
    Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba (1987)
    Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba (1987)
    Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba (1987)
    Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba (1987)
    Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba (1987)
    La Bamba (1987)
    Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales, and Danielle von Zerneck in La Bamba (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lou Diamond Phillips
    Lou Diamond Phillips
    • Ritchie Valens
    Esai Morales
    Esai Morales
    • Bob Morales
    Rosanna DeSoto
    Rosanna DeSoto
    • Connie Valenzuela
    • (as Rosana De Soto)
    Elizabeth Peña
    Elizabeth Peña
    • Rosie Morales
    Danielle von Zerneck
    Danielle von Zerneck
    • Donna Ludwig
    Joe Pantoliano
    Joe Pantoliano
    • Bob Keane
    Rick Dees
    Rick Dees
    • Ted Quillin
    Marshall Crenshaw
    • Buddy Holly
    Howard Huntsberry
    • Jackie Wilson
    Brian Setzer
    Brian Setzer
    • Eddie Cochran
    Daniel Valdez
    Daniel Valdez
    • Lelo
    Felipe Cantu
    • Curandero
    Eddie Frias
    • Chino
    Mike Moroff
    Mike Moroff
    • Mexican Ed
    Geoffrey Rivas
    Geoffrey Rivas
    • Rudy
    Sam Anderson
    Sam Anderson
    • Mr. Ludwig
    Maggie Gwinn
    • Mrs. Ludwig
    Jeffrey Alan Chandler
    Jeffrey Alan Chandler
    • Alan Freed
    • Director
      • Luis Valdez
    • Writer
      • Luis Valdez
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Lou Diamond Phillips in the VH1 documentary Behind the Music The Day the Music Died (1999), Ritchie Valens' sister was on the set the day they shot the "coin toss" scene, in which Ritchie wins the chance to fly on the plane with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. Ritchie's sister began to weep uncontrollably during shooting. When Phillips tried to console her, she hugged him and sobbed "Why Ritchie? Why did you get on the plane?"
    • Goofs
      While the scene is true about the coin toss between Ritchie and a member of Buddy's band, Ritchie Valens was not sick as seen in the movie. The Big Bopper was. He begged Holly's band mate (and future country music star) Waylon Jennings for the chance to ride on the plane because he was coming down with the flu. The coin toss took place between Ritchie Valens and Tommy Allsup.
    • Quotes

      Bob Morales: [last line, in agony over his brother's death] RITCHIE!

    • Crazy credits
      Caption starting off the music credits: "We greatfully acknowledge the help and support of the Valenzuela family".
    • Connections
      Edited into Aikahyppy: All-Americans - November 6, 1962 (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Rip It Up
      Words & Music by John Marascalco & Robert 'Bumps' Blackwell (as Robert A. Blackwell)

      Performed by Los Lobos

      Courtesy of Slash Records

      Produced by Steve Berlin

    User reviews96

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    One of the best of its genre
    I am not a fan of music biography movies. They are probably my least favorite genre. Sure the music is different but the story is always the same. They all included the scene where the artist does it "his own way". Yawn. "La Bamba", however, is one that I like. I liked it when I saw it in the theater (MovieWorld, Douglaston, NY) and I really enjoyed today. The cast is excellent. They all do a terrific job. The story movie fast. Its payoff leaves not a dry eye in the house. "La Bamba" is one of the few music biographies that I enjoy revisiting.
    helpful•8
    0
    • pmtelefon
    • Feb 23, 2020

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    FAQ20

    • How long is La Bamba?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 11, 1987 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Let's Go
    • Filming locations
      • Fillmore, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • New Visions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $54,215,416
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,651,990
      • Jul 26, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $54,215,416
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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