The Buddy Holly Story main backdrop
The Buddy Holly Story main poster

The Buddy Holly Story

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7.2/10 • 116

1978-05-181h 54m

DramaMusic

His story will have you singing, laughing, crying, cheering, and stomping your feet

A chronicle of the rise and brief career of rock 'n' roll star Buddy Holly, who aspires to play music the way he wants it to sound. Holly and his band, the Crickets, are first invited to record in Nashville, where they encounter creative differences with the producing staff. Later they play a major booking at the Apollo Theater, scheduled there under the mistaken assumption that they're a black band. Holly's career eventually goes solo -- until the tragic day the music dies.

Directors
Steve Rash
Editors
David E. Blewitt

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Gary Busey

    Gary Busey

    Buddy Holly

  2. Don Stroud

    Don Stroud

    Jesse Charles

  3. Charles Martin Smith

    Charles Martin Smith

    Ray Bob Simmons

  4. Conrad Janis

    Conrad Janis

    Ross Turner

  5. William Jordan

    William Jordan

    Riley

  6. Maria Richwine

    Maria Richwine

    Maria Elena Holly

  7. Amy Johnston

    Amy Johnston

    Cindy Lou

  8. Dick O'Neill

    Dick O'Neill

    Sol Gittler

  9. Fred Travalena

    Fred Travalena

    Madman Mancuso

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Aug 6, 2024

7/10

Aside from a passable resemblance to the man himself, Gary Busey also sounds a bit like Buddy Holly in this biopic of a man who blazed a trail through the American music industry. Despite the popularity of his toe-tapping "Peggy Sue" type numbers, he still faced quite an uphill battle to convince the powers that be that his quirky style of lyric writing and performing was not quite as Satanic as some of the more establishment figures thought. With his two best pals - the "Crickets" never far away, we follow the tumultuous process as they fall in and out and Holly falls for the love of his own life - Maria (Maria Richwine). Busey does well here as he portrays a man in love with his music, his audience and the idea of opportunity whilst conflicted with a desire to stay at home and be with his family. Like so many who become alive on stage, there are huge amounts of nerves and a sense of uncertainly about his abilities and popularity - especially when he begins to become idolised and goes solo. There are plenty of opportunities to get into his songs here, and those of the Big Bopper and Eddie Cochran and the film not only serves to illustrate just how pioneering Holly was, but also just how influential he was within a group of musicians who were changing the scene for ever. The supporting roles are rather undercooked, and that can impact a little on the study of his character, but Busey really does own this part and director Steve Rash knew enough to let us watch and judge by ourselves. Sure, there's an element of mimicry here, but it does come across as natural and personable.

Media

  • The Buddy Holly Story poster
  • The Buddy Holly Story poster
  • The Buddy Holly Story poster
  • The Buddy Holly Story poster
  • The Buddy Holly Story poster
  • The Buddy Holly Story poster
  • The Buddy Holly Story poster
  • The Buddy Holly Story poster
  • The Buddy Holly Story poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$1,200,000.00
Revenue
$14,363,400.00
Keywords
rock 'n' rolldisc jockeybiographyrags to richesaffectionsingerairplane crashprice of fameblizzard1950s