Maria Richwine and Gary Busey |
THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY (1978). Director: Steve Rash.
In Lubbock Texas in 1956 Buddy Holly (Gary Busey in an Oscar-nominated performance) and two friends -- Jesse (Don Stroud) and Ray Bob (Charles Martin Smith) -- perform at the local skating rink but their "Negro"-influenced music may be too much for the advertisers on the radio station. Buddy and the "Crickets," as the other two fellows are called, travel to Nashville but discover they will have to sing for a studio band of country musicians who pretty much ruin a great song like "That'll Be the Day." Buddy almost has the same problem in New York, but is able to convince record executive Ross Turner (Conrad Janis) to produce the group's albums and maintain the correct sound. As the group has one hit record after another -- "Love Like Yours," 'It's So easy to Fall in Love' "Oh, Baby!" and others -- Buddy falls for and marries secretary Maria Elena (Maria Richwine) and he and the boys have a falling out. One night on a fateful tour with Richie Valens and the Big Bopper, Buddy meets his tragic destiny ...
Charles Martin Smith and Busey |
Verdict: Upbeat rock biopic with a downbeat conclusion. ***.
2 comments:
Have not seen this one since it came out; I was about 12 years old. Loved it though, and now I must see it again! Busey was great in everything in the 70s, 80s, and into the 90s - love his supporting role in the Tom Cruise thriller The Firm. He really made his personal quirkiness work for him onscreen and was a fine actor.
-Chris
I agree with your summation of his appeal and abilities. Shame that things took a dark turn for him -- I mean, Dr. Phil had to intervene if I recall correctly. He had intensity and talent in equal measure.
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