THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY

The Buddy Holly Story
Columbia, 1978, Color, 113 minutes, ***
Released May, 1978

The Oscar-winning biodrama of one of rock's first and most influential stars. Gary Busey stars as the horn-rimmed hero from Lubbock, Texas, who blended country and blues in hits like "That'll Be the Day," "Peggy Sue," and "Maybe, Baby"; he also performs the soundtrack. With Charles Martin Smith, Don Stroud.

Those of us who remember the day the music died will find this film very enjoyable. It's about the short but explosive career of Buddy Holly . Busey, Stroud and Smith are totally believable as Buddy Holly and The Crickets. All the great Buddy Holly music is sung by the principal cast, and they do an excellent job. Lots of old memories here.

Producer: Fred Bauer
Associate Producer: Frances Avrut-Bauer
Executive Producers: Edward H. Cohen and Fred T. Kuehnert
Director: Steve Rash
Screenplay: Robert Gittler (based on the book by John Coldrosen)
Music Director: Joe Renzetti
Song Score: various
Choreography: Maggie Rush
Production Designer: Joel Schiller
Special Effects: Robby Knott
Director of Photography: Stevan Larner
Film Editing: David Blewitt

Cast: Gary Busey [Buddy Holly], Don Stroud [Jesse], Charles Martin Smith [Ray Bob], Bill Jordan [Riley Randolph], Maria Richwine [Maria Elena Holly], Conrad Janis [Ross Turner], Albert Popwell [Eddie Foster], Amy Johnston [Jenny Lou], James Beach [Mr. Wilson], John Goff [T. J.], Fred Travalena [Madman Mancuso], Dick O'Neill [Sol Zuckerman], Stymie Beard [Luther], M.G. Kelly [M.C.], Gailard Sartain [The Big Bopper], Jerry Zaremba [Eddie Cochran], Paul Mooney [Sam Cooke], Bill Phillips Murray [Desk Clerk], Freeman King [Tyrone], Steve Camp [Cook], Jody Berry [Engineer Sam], Bob Christopher [Cadillac Salesman], Arch Johnson [Mr. Holly], Neva Patterson [Mrs. Holly]

Musical Program: [0:03] Mockingbird Hill (Buddy Holly and his Band at the Lubbock roller rink); [0:05] Roller Rink Medley: Rock Around with Ollie Vee / That'll Be the Day (Buddy Holly and his Band at the Lubbock roller rink); [0:10] When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder (Church Choir); [0:19] Cindy Lou (Buddy Holly and his Band composing Peggy Sue in the car as they drive to Nashville); [0:20] That'll Be the Day (Buddy Holly and his Band at Nashville recording session); [0:31] True Love Ways (Buddy Holly and his Band); [0:45] You Send Me (Sam Cooke with Girls Chorus); [0:47] Oh Boy (Buddy Holly and The Crickets at the Apollo); [0:49] It's So Easy (Buddy Holly and The Crickets at the Apollo); [0:51] Rave On (Buddy Holly and The Crickets at the Apollo); [0:56] Words of Love (Buddy Holly and The Crickets at recording session); [1:10] Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On (Eddie Cochran and Buddy Holly); [1:18] Maybe Baby (Buddy Holly and The Crickets on the Ed Sullivan Show); [1:32] Well All Right (Buddy Holly singing to two little boys); [1:37] Chantilly Lace (The Big Bopper at Clear Lake); [1:41] True Love Ways (Buddy Holly at Clear Lake); [1:45] Clear Lake Medley: That'll Be the Day / Oh Boy / Peggy Sue / Maybe Baby / Not Fade Away (sung by Buddy Holly at Clearlake); [1:51] True Love Ways (instrumental version played behind end credits)