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The Buddy Holly Story Details

1978 Certificate PG
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 636 members

A powerful biography of '50s Texas rockabilly phenomenon Buddy Holly who took his band the Crickets to the top of the charts before a tragic airplane accident ended his life. Portrays Holly as regular, hardworking type who struggles with peers and the music industry before he makes it big with the huge hit "That'll Be The Day." .. Read more

Starring Gary Busey, Don Stroud, Charles Martin Smith, Albert Popwell
Director Steve Rash
Genres Drama

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The Buddy Holly Story

A powerful biography of '50s Texas rockabilly phenomenon Buddy Holly who took his band the Crickets to the top of the charts before a tragic airplane accident ended his life. Portrays Holly as regular, hardworking type who struggles with peers and the music industry before he makes it big with the huge hit "That'll Be The Day." Also details the final events leading up to the plane crash, en route to Minnesota in a snow storm on February 3, 1959, which also claimed the lives of Richie Valens and the Big Bopper.

Starring Gary Busey, Don Stroud, Charles Martin Smith, Albert Popwell, John Goff, Conrad Janis, Bill Jordan, Maria Richwine
Director Steve Rash
Studio FREMANTLE HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 54 mins
Certificate Certificate PG
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 21 Apr 2003
Production year: 1978
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (5) of The Buddy Holly Story

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    A stunningly well-made biopic of the legendary rock 'n' roller, who met his tragically premature end in a plane crash in 1959. Gary Busey has never matched his marvellous Oscar-nominated performance as Holly, contenting himself instead with a rogues' gallery of movie cops and psychos ever since. Director Steve Rash has likewise never managed to recapture the verve he conjures up here. The movie is made doubly enjoyable by the knowledge that Busey and the movie's Crickets actually do their own singing and playing, generating their own very palpable raw energy in the process.

    • Radio Times
  • "...[The film] packs solid dramatic and musical punch....THE BUDDY HOLLY story smacks of realism....Gary Busey not only imparts the driven, perfectionist side of Holly's character, but his vocal work is excellent..."

    • Variety
  • Most helpful member's review of The Buddy Holly Story

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  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Great Film

    Really good film reliving the Rise of Buddy Holly to his untimely death, great performace from Gary Busey.

      • A customer from Derbyshire
  • Most recent members' review of The Buddy Holly Story

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Excellent film

    Excellent film, very good part played by Gary Busey. If you like Buddy Holly, you will enjoy this film!

      • A customer from Bromsgrove, England
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Rating breakdown

636 Member ratings
  • 100
91
  • 90
64
  • 80
123
  • 70
125
  • 60
117
  • 50
50
  • 40
23
  • 30
15
  • 20
19
  • 10
9

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