The Buddy Holly Story (1978)

Director:

Steve Rash

Writers:

Alan Swyer (story)
John Goldrosen (source material "Buddy Holly His Life and Music")

Release Date:

3 November 1978 (Finland)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

Music never felt this good.

Plot:

A film about the life and career of the early rock and roll star.

Plot Keywords:

Star | Song | Rock Music | Blizzard | Rock Star

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

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

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

West Germany:o.Al. | Australia:PG | Netherlands:AL | Finland:K-12 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

ECA

Trivia:

Madman Mancuso, played by comedian/impressionist 'Fred Travelana', is based on a true story about DJ Hall-0f-Famer Dick Biondi. Travlena even managed to look and sound like the real Biondi.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the final concert scene, Gary Busey is shown playing a CBS era Fender Stratocaster. CBS bought Fender in 1965 (ie six years after Buddy died). CBS Strats are easily identified by the larger style headstock and the different style headstock decals. Also, the guitar Busey is seen playing has a rosewood fingerboard, which wasn't introduced until 1959. Buddy's Strats (he owned at least three) all had maple fingerboards.

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.

Movie Connections:

References "Bandstand" (1952)

Soundtrack:

True Love Ways

I was there!

I was fortunate enough to be an extra in this movie when I was about 13 during the roller rink scenes. My junior high school drama class was invited to participate. It was a fantastic experience.

Gary Busey, Charles Martin Smith and Don Stroud played the music live, all day! As a musician, I can appreciate the tireless work and dedication these guys put in to their roles. They must have played those songs 20 times. It's very difficult to maintain consistency and energy under those conditions. This is visible during a cut to a close-up on "That'll Be the Day," but fortunately the unsuspecting public probably wouldn't have picked it up.

Skating around all day, getting the day off from school and being transported back in time was a incredible thrill. I also had my first "date" on film. I had to walk a girl up to the ticket booth. Woo hoo! Even with an out-of-date haircut and hot lights melting the vaseline in my hair, it was still worth it. Fun stuff.

The movie is top notch and is highly satisfying as a whole. Busey delivers his best role ever and the supporting cast is superb. I'm glad to have participated in a great film of the day. To think I could have been in Corvette Summer or something. Not.

A funny ironic ending to this is that years later I was in a video store in Malibu looking at the movie the week it was released on video. Gary Busey walked in and stood right next to me. I showed him the cover and babbled on how great he was and how I was an extra and whatnot. Pretty weird, but very cool, for what it's worth.