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The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
3 November 1978 (Finland)
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Tagline:
Music never felt this good. more
Plot:
A film about the life and career of the early rock and roll star. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 2 wins
&
3 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story Comes To The History Theatre Plays Through 11/1
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 20 October 2009, 6:19 PM, PDT)
Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story Comes To The History Theatre, Opens 10/3
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 25 September 2009, 10:31 AM, PDT)
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 20 October 2009, 6:19 PM, PDT)
Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story Comes To The History Theatre, Opens 10/3
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 25 September 2009, 10:31 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
set the standard
more (44 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Gary Busey | ... | Buddy |
 | Don Stroud | ... | Jesse |
 | Charles Martin Smith | ... | Ray Bob |
 | Conrad Janis | ... | Ross Turner |
| William Jordan | ... | Riley |
 | Maria Richwine | ... | Maria Elena |
| Amy Johnston | ... | Cindy Lou |
 | Dick O'Neill | ... | Sol Gittler (as Dick O'Neil) |
 | Fred Travalena | ... | Madman Mancuso |
| Neva Patterson | ... | Mrs. Holly |
 | Arch Johnson | ... | Mr. Holly |
| John F. Goff | ... | T.J. (as John Goff) |
 | Gloria Irizarry | ... | Mrs. Santiago |
| Jody Berry | ... | Engineer Sam |
| Richard Kennedy | ... | Preacher |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
113 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
In the opening sequence in which the roller rink manager tells the organ player "You're gonna have to quit now, we're goin' on the air." The over-dubbed voice of the manager is director Steve Rash.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: Buddy Holly's front teeth were knocked out before a performance in the UK, not on US television as shown in the film.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Buddy Holly: Hey, Riley, we're all plugged in and checked up... yeah, we're ready.
Buddy Holly: [to Ray Bob] Riley wants to hear you at the mike - that's the one right there; say somethin' into that mike.
Ray Bob Simmons: One, two, three, testing... one...
Buddy Holly: [to Riley] How's that sound?
Riley Randolph: All right, that's a good level, Buddy, hold it right there... Yeah, you better get ready, it's about thirty seconds till eight.
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Buddy Holly: Hey, Riley, we're all plugged in and checked up... yeah, we're ready.
Buddy Holly: [to Ray Bob] Riley wants to hear you at the mike - that's the one right there; say somethin' into that mike.
Ray Bob Simmons: One, two, three, testing... one...
Buddy Holly: [to Riley] How's that sound?
Riley Randolph: All right, that's a good level, Buddy, hold it right there... Yeah, you better get ready, it's about thirty seconds till eight.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Gary Busey/Eubie Blake and Gregory Hines (#4.14)" (1979)
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Soundtrack:
True Love Ways
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FAQ
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This film set the standard for all rock biopics to follow. It accomplished this through the energetic performances of the leads, the steadiness of the camera-work (avoiding 'rock-video' clichés that were actually invented for the Beatles in their first two films), tight editing, and a non-judgmental presentation of the star as human being rather than symbol or god (or demon). Yes, there are minor holes in the plot, and incidental details that are a little unnecessary, and there will always be debate between families of those personally involved as to specifics. But the issue here, as in the much more recent "I walk the Line" or Carpenter's famed TV Elvis biopic of the same era, is whether the meaning of the performer's life, in its time and place, as a catalyst for fans' ideals and appreciation, is made manifest in the performance, and this is clearly the case here. We come away from this movie understanding not only how Buddy Holly became a star, but why. I don't see what else one could want from the film.