Where the Buffalo Roam (1980)

Director:

Art Linson

Writers:

Hunter S. Thompson (stories)
John Kaye (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 April 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Comedy

Tagline:

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

Plot:

Semi-biographical film based on the experiences of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

Plot Keywords:

Gonzo Journalist | Presidential Election | Super Bowl | Journalism | Cannabis

Cast

Peter Boyle	...	Lazlo
Bill Murray	...	Hunter S. Thompson
Bruno Kirby	...	Marty Lewis
Rene Auberjonois	...	Harris
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 Matthews	...	Billy Kramer
Joe Ragno	...	Willins (as Joseph Ragno)
Quinn K. Redeker	...	Pilot (as Quinn Redeker)
Lisa Taylor	...	Ruthie

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-18 (2004) | UK:18 (1984) | USA:R | West Germany:16

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Ralph Steadman, who did illustrations for Thompson's books, drew the title cards for this movie.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: On the closing credits, Creedence Clearwater Revival is misspelled as "Credence."

Quotes:

[Thompson is speaking to a crowd of college students]
Questioner: I was just wondering if you could tell me, um, if you thought drugs and alcohol would make me a better writer.
Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: That's a good question. Let me see...
[the audience cheers as Thompson lights a joint. A few people throw joints onto the stage]
Dr. Hunter S. Thompson: In my case, you know, I hate to advocate drugs or liquor, violence, insanity to anyone. But in my case it's worked.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Curse of Blanchard Hill (2006) (V)

Not for the casual Fear and Loathing Fan

I finally watched this movie after watching Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas about 50 times and reading almost all of Hunter S. Thompson's books. I have to say that while I enjoyed the movie, most people won't. Unless you have a pretty thorough knowledge of HST's work, it won't make much sense, and its comedic value will not be enough to make it worthwhile. However, if you have read FNL on The Campaign Trail and Strange Rumblings in Azatlan, then the movie will probably be of interest to you. One area where this film is far superior to FNL in Las Vegas is in its depiction of Oscar Zeta Acosta, the attorney who is the basis for Carl Lazlo here and Dr. Gonzo in FNL. Acosta was actually a prominent civil rights attorney in the 60's and 70's, especially in the Chicano community in Southern California. He also was a notoriously hard partier by most accounts. This movie does a much better job of capturing his odd duality than FNL does, and Peter Boyle is quite sharp in the role - interesting to watch for those of you who only know him as the father on Raymond.