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THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY (1978) (***1/2)

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As you can guess from the title, the film follows the rise to fame of 1950s rock ‘n' roll legend Buddy Holly. The story plays like most rock ‘n' roll biopics, but it’s set apart by a wonderful performance from Gary Busey (LOST HIGHWAY) as Holly and lots of great Holly music performed live by the main actors.

Along with Jesse Charles (Don Stroud, AMITYVILLE HORROR) and Ray Bob Simmons (Charles Martin Smith, AMERICAN GRAFFITI), the Crickets became a sensation. The film follows the controversy their music caused in their Texas hometown to being the first white band to play at the Apollo. It shows Holly as the confident musician who knew what he wanted and how it should sound. At the record studio, Holly meets Puerto Rican secretary Maria Elena (Maria Richwine, HAMBURGER… THE MOTION PICTURE), who he falls for quickly. We watch as the original members part ways as Holly star rises faster than a rocket and the reunion that never happened because of that fateful plane ride on "the day the music died."

What makes the film special is that it doesn’t gloss over the music, but doesn’t bore you with the songs either. Because Busey, Stroud and Smith played the music themselves, there is an energy to the performances that isn’t present in films that have the stars lip-synching. Another surprising element is that the scoring is also so well done. Usually music biopics aren't known for their scoring only the songs, but for his effort, Joe Renzetti took home an Oscar for Original Score.

Before production started, Busey toured the Pacific coast in a Holly cover band to prepare for the film. It was his passion for the music that convinced director Steve Rash (CAN'T BUY ME LOVE) to use the live performances instead of Holly's original recordings. Watch the wave of enthusiasm that comes over the crowd when Holly and the band first play "That'll Be the Day" at the roller rink. The audience is swept up in the energy because they know their witnesses to something special. Busey and the boys are really rocking the house. In retrospect, Busey seems like an unusual choice to play the geeky-looking rock icon, but the performance is hands down the best of his career. His Oscar nomination was well deserved.

One needs to point out that the film does paint Holly the person in broad strokes and many of the facts about the Crickets have been changed, such as the names and number of Holly's collaborators. Holly's short life didn't have much drama so Busey's electrifying performance as the white boy who proved anyone could rock is the center of the story's charm. Additionally, Buddy and Maria's innocent, whirlwind romance is handled with care. But as I've said, the energy of Holly and his music is what the film captures so perfectly. And when making a movie about a rock legend what’s more important anyway?

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Buy The Buddy Holly Story Now!

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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks