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La Bamba
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Synopsis
Lou Diamond Phillips plays legendary 1950s rocker Ritchie Valens (born Ricardo Valenzuela), in this musical biography. Before scoring radio and concert success with hits like "La Bamba", "C'mon Let's Go", and "Donna", Valens was a 15-year-old migrant worker who worked with his mother Connie (Rosana De Soto). Valens' half-brother Bob Morales (Esai Morales) is a vitriolic ex-con who roars into the migrant camp on his Harley after his release from jail. Valens' musical talents are encouraged by his family -- though later various members of his family react to his fame with varying degrees of pride and envy -- and he soon earns an audition with legendary record producer and former Artie Shaw clarinet player Bob Keane (Joe Pantoliano). Valens soon appears in an Alan Freed rock n' roll teen exploitation film, lip-synching his blistering recorded version of "Ooh, My Head". When a romance with Donna Ludwig (Danielle von Zerneck) is forbidden by her conservative father, Valens pens the famous ballad that bears her name. Tours follow his chart success until the fatal plane crash that claimed the lives of Valens, The Big Bopper (aka J.P. Richardson), and Buddy Holly on February 3rd, 1959. The supporting cast is excellent with power-pop icon Marshall Crenshaw playing Buddy Holly singing "Crying, Waiting, Hoping". Brian Setzer accurately portrays rocker Eddie Cochran, and Howard Hunstberry plays Jackie Wilson and sings "Lonely Teardrops". Additional music is provided by Los Lobos, a band who traces their musical roots directly to Valens and other Mexican influences. Also making cameo appearances are the real-life Mrs. Connie Valenzuela and Bob Morales. Although not 100% historically accurate, La Bamba is much more accurate than 1978s The Buddy Holly Story. The feature turned a new generation on to the influential Tex-Mex rock that was an inspiration to such later rockers as The Bobby Fuller Four as well as Los Lobos. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Cast

Marshall Crenshaw Buddy Holly
Rosanna de Soto Connie Valenzuela
Rick Dees Ted Quillin
Howard Huntsberry Jackie WIlson
Esai Morales Bob Morales
Joe Pantoliano Bob Keene
Elizabeth Peña Rosie Morales
Brian Setzer Eddie Cochran
Daniel Valdez Lelo
Lou Diamond Phillips Ritchie Valens
Danielle von Zerneck Donna Ludwig

Production Crew

Daniel Valdez Associate Producer
Adam Greenberg Cinematographer
Carlos Santana Composer (Music Score)
Curt Sobel Composer (Music Score)
Los Lobos Composer (Music Score)
Miles Goodman Composer (Music Score)
Sylvia Vega-Vasquez Costume Designer
Luis Valdez Director
Don Brochu Editor
Sheldon Kahn Editor
Stuart Benjamin Executive Producer
Buddy Holly Featured Music
Ritchie Valens Featured Music
Bill Borden Producer
Stuart Benjamin Producer
Taylor Hackford Producer
Alan C. Blomquist Production Designer
Vince Cresciman Production Designer
Luis Valdez Screenwriter
Chuck Colwell Second Unit Director Of Photography
Rosemary Brandenberg Set Designer
Buddy Holly Songwriter
Carlos Santana Songwriter
Ritchie Valens Songwriter
Susumu Tokunow Sound/Sound Designer
Year: 1987
Runtime: 108
Country: USA
MPAA Rating: PG13
Category: Feature

Genre
Drama

Color type
Deluxe color

Sound
Dolby

Produced by
Columbia Pictures
New Visions

Release
July 22, 1987 (USA)
by Columbia Pictures

Awards
1987 - Best Film (Drama) - Golden Globe
1987 - Best Picture - Drama - Golden Globe
1987 - Best Picture - Drama - Hollywood Foreign Press Association