IMDb > The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
The Buddy Holly Story
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The Buddy Holly Story (1978) More at IMDbPro »

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The Buddy Holly Story (1978) -- Gary Busey received an Academy Award nomination for this biopic where he sings and swings as the single most influential force in early rock and roll, Buddy Holly.

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Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   2,790 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 21% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Alan Swyer (story)
John Goldrosen (source material "Buddy Holly His Life and Music")
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Buddy Holly Story on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 November 1978 (Finland) more
Genre:
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
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations more
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
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Additional Details

Runtime:
113 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

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. more
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. more
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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Soundtrack:
True Love Ways more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful.
set the standard, 13 December 2008
9/10
Author: (winner55) from United States

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.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Who's that Guy? sweetshizzler
Would Buddy Holly been bigger than Elvis in time? jblassio
The dedication at the end? gabadabadoo
Marshall Crenshaw would have been perfect jja11576
Niki Sullivans's character mrube56
Favor: How Does It End? ComedyChick19
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