The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
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- PG
- 1h 54min
- Biography, Drama
- 06 Sep 1978 (UK)
- Movie
The story of the life and career of the early rock and roll singer, from his meteoric rise to stardom, to his marriage and untimely death.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Gary Busey | ... |
Buddy
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| Don Stroud | ... |
Jesse
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| Charles Martin Smith | ... |
Ray Bob
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| Conrad Janis | ... |
Ross Turner
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William Jordan | ... |
Riley
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Maria Richwine | ... |
Maria Elena
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| Amy Johnston | ... |
Cindy Lou
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| Dick O'Neill | ... |
Sol Gittler
(as Dick O'Neil)
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| Fred Travalena | ... |
Madman Mancuso
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| Neva Patterson | ... |
Mrs. Holly
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| Arch Johnson | ... |
Mr. Holly
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| John F. Goff | ... |
T.J.
(as John Goff)
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| Gloria Irizarry | ... |
Mrs. Santiago
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Jody Berry | ... |
Engineer Sam
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| Richard Kennedy | ... |
Preacher
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Jim Beach | ... |
Wilson
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| Gailard Sartain | ... |
Big Bopper
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| Albert Popwell | ... |
Eddie
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| Paul Mooney | ... |
Sam
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Freeman King | ... |
Apollo M.C.
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| Matthew 'Stymie' Beard | ... |
Luther
(as Stymie Beard)
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Bill Phillips Murry | ... |
Desk Clerk
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| Joe Renzetti | ... |
Violinist #1
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Rajah Bergman | ... |
Violinist #2
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Alan Peterson | ... |
8 Year Old
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John Waldron | ... |
6 Year Old
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M.G. Kelly | ... |
Avalon M.C.
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Craig White | ... |
King Curtis
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Jerry Zaremba | ... |
Eddie Cochran
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John B. Jarvis | ... |
Pianist - Eddie Cochran Band
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Richard Hayward | ... |
Drummer - Eddie Cochran Band
(as Richie Hayward)
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David Miner | ... |
Bass - Eddie Cochran Band
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Jack Denbo | ... |
New York Cabbie
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Paul Carmello | ... |
Mr. Parker
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Robert Christopher | ... |
Cadillac Salesman
(as Bob Christopher)
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Jack Jozefson | ... |
Stage Manager
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| Buddy Miles | ... |
Tour Musician
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Loutz Gage | ... |
Producer
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Peter Griffin | ... |
Director
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Gilbert Melgar | ... |
Richie Valens
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John Fisher | ... |
Man in Theater
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| Will Jordan | ... |
Ed Sullivan (voice)
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Bill Lytle | ... |
Delbert
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Raoulle | ... |
Barking Dog
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Cora | ... |
Ruby
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Kenneth Caldwell | ... |
Teenager in the Parking Lot (uncredited)
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Mags Kavanaugh | ... |
Sissy Lou (uncredited)
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| Kathryn Le Veque | ... |
Roller skater (uncredited)
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Hope Sage | ... |
Fan (uncredited)
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Eric Voge | ... |
Groupie (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Steve Rash | ||
Written by
| Alan Swyer | ... | (story) |
| John Goldrosen | ... | (book "Buddy Holly His Life and Music") |
| Robert Gittler | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Frances Avrut-Bauer | ... | associate producer |
| Fred Bauer | ... | producer (as Freddy Bauer) |
| Edward H. Cohen | ... | executive producer |
| Fred T. Kuehnert | ... | co-executive producer |
Music by
| Joe Renzetti | ||
Cinematography by
| Stevan Larner | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| David E. Blewitt | ... | (as David Blewitt) |
Editorial Department
| Susanne Gervay | ... | negative cutter |
| Mark Newman | ... | apprentice film editor |
| James Seidelman | ... | assistant film editor |
Casting By
| Joyce Selznick | ||
Production Design by
| Joel Schiller | ||
Set Decoration by
| Thomas L. Roysden | ... | (as Tom Roysden) |
Makeup Department
| Doris Alexander | ... | makeup artist |
| Gerry Leetch | ... | hair stylist (as Gerry Becker Leetch) |
| Marvin G. Westmore | ... | makeup artist (as Marvin Westmore) |
Production Management
| Don Goldman | ... | production manager (as Donald Goldman) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Carol Himes | ... | assistant director |
| Robert J. Smawley | ... | second assistant director (as Bob Smawley) |
Art Department
| Michael C. Ayers | ... | assistant property master (as Michael Ayers) |
| Anthony P. Cellucci | ... | swing gang (as Tony Cellucci) |
| Robert W. Dutton | ... | swing gang (as Robert Dutton) |
| Victor Goldis | ... | construction foreman |
| Jack Holz | ... | construction foreman |
| Ronald C. Jacobs | ... | swing gang (as Ron Jacobs) |
| Ron McCaffrey | ... | labor foreman |
| James A. Rathbun | ... | swing gang (as Jim Rathbun) |
| Ernie Sawyers | ... | property master |
| Mort Zwicker | ... | construction coordinator |
Sound Department
| Allan Bromberg | ... | assistant: sound editor |
| Willie D. Burton | ... | sound mixer (as Willie Burton) |
| Joel Fein | ... | sound re-recordist / special audio |
| Walter A. Gest | ... | sound re-recordist (as Walter Gest) |
| Robert W. Harris | ... | sound assistant (as Bob Harris) |
| Marvin E. Lewis | ... | sound assistant (as Marvin Lewis) |
| Colin C. Mouat | ... | sound effects editor (as Colin Mouat) |
| Tex Rudloff | ... | sound re-recordist |
| Jerry Stanford | ... | dialogue editor |
| Curly Thirlwell | ... | sound re-recordist |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Charlie Albrecht | ... | grip |
| Tom Bookout | ... | grip |
| Garrett Brown | ... | steadicam operator |
| David Dalzell | ... | camera operator |
| John Davis | ... | best boy |
| Allen Facemire | ... | director of photography: second unit (as Alan Facemire) |
| John Falone | ... | grip: second unit |
| Sherman Fulton | ... | lamp operator (as Sherman Fulton Jr.) |
| Michael Goldstein | ... | camera assistant (as Mike Goldstein) |
| Gene Griffith | ... | key grip (as Eugene Griffith) |
| Bob Harkins | ... | grip |
| Elisha Harris | ... | lamp operator |
| Myron Hyman | ... | lighting technician |
| Gemma La Mana | ... | still photographer (as Gemma LaMana) |
| Kyle T. MacDowell | ... | electrician |
| Calvin Maehl | ... | gaffer |
| Jeffrey W. Petersen | ... | lamp operator (as Jeffrey Peterson) |
| Steve Peterson | ... | camera assistant (as Steven Peterson) |
| Randall Robinson | ... | Steadicam assistant / camera assistant |
| Thomas Sands | ... | grip best boy |
| Robert Segars | ... | gaffer: second unit |
| Steve Stafford | ... | assistant camera |
Casting Department
| Sharon Benson | ... | extras casting coordinator |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Michael Butler | ... | wardrobe |
| Bill Flores | ... | costumer: male |
| Thalia Phillips | ... | wardrobe |
Location Management
| John Lytle | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Bud Buschardt | ... | music research |
| Frank Capp | ... | musical contractor (as Frankie Capp) |
| Joe Renzetti | ... | conductor |
| Jack K. Tillar | ... | music editor (as Jack Tillar) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Joyce King | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Rene Baken | ... | driver |
| Norm Benson | ... | Production Van Driver / driver |
| Reed Cohan | ... | driver |
| Donald P. Desmond | ... | driver (as Donald Desmond) |
| Thomas A. Gordon | ... | driver (as Thomas Gordon) |
| Clive Henderson | ... | driver |
| William Jakubecy | ... | driver |
| Darwin Joston | ... | driver |
| Herald Koger III | ... | driver |
| Bob Limon | ... | driver |
| Gary Littlefield | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Jean Spray | ... | transportation captain |
| Fred Stretch | ... | driver |
| Jerry Weiss | ... | driver |
| Janet Woodd | ... | driver |
Additional Crew
| Michael Ackley | ... | stand-in |
| Larry Joe Berger | ... | stand-in |
| Pat Bradley | ... | assistant to producer |
| Suzy Dahl | ... | secretary to producer |
| Douglas Dean III | ... | production assistant |
| Kate Groobin | ... | stand-in |
| Alex Klinsky | ... | craft service |
| Kelly Marshall | ... | unit coordinator |
| Maggie Rash | ... | project coordinator |
Thanks
| Jim Afflick | ... | special thanks |
| Herman Avrut | ... | special thanks |
| Ave Butensky | ... | special thanks |
| Stu Chalfin | ... | special thanks |
| Joe Diaz | ... | special thanks |
| Buddy Epstein | ... | special thanks |
| Bob Fain | ... | special thanks |
| Maggie Fain | ... | special thanks |
| Len Hodes | ... | special thanks |
| Ella Holley | ... | dedicated to (as Mrs. Lawrence Holley) |
| Lawrence Holley | ... | dedicated to (as Mr. Lawrence Holley) |
| Maria Elena Holly | ... | dedicated to |
| Sue Lesser | ... | special thanks |
| Joe Lipshur | ... | special thanks |
| Jan McCormick | ... | special thanks |
| Harry McMahan | ... | special thanks |
| Frank Mooney | ... | special thanks |
| Clifford Neschky | ... | special thanks |
| Ralph Peer | ... | special thanks |
| Ralph A. Rash | ... | special thanks |
| Ralph R. Rash | ... | special thanks |
| Norman G. Rudman | ... | special thanks (as Norman Rudman) |
| Allen Sanders | ... | special thanks |
| Bobby Schiffman | ... | special thanks |
| Bobbi Silver | ... | special thanks |
| Jon Sirlin | ... | special thanks |
| Joe Weiss | ... | special thanks |
| Louise Zuckerman | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1978) (United States) (theatrical)
- Entertainment Film Distributors (1978) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Syncron Film (1978) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Sandrew Film & Teater AB (1979) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Concorde Film (1979) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (1980) (Australia) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1983) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- In Video (1985) (Norway) (VHS)
- Another World Entertainment (2007) (Denmark) (DVD) (2 Disc Edition)
- CBS/Fox (West Germany) (VHS)
- Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- EuroVideo (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
- Fabulous Films (2004) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- MORE Music and Media (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
- Roadshow Home Video (1983) (Australia) (VHS)
- Twilight Time (2014) (World-wide) (Blu-ray)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2013) (Australia) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Ballantine Books (book publisher: 'The Buddy Holly Story')
- Charter Financial Group (financial services)
- Epic Records (original soundtrack album)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (film printing)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (titles)
- Neiman-Tillar Associates (post-production sound services)
- Panavision (lenses and Panaflex camera)
- Samuel Goldwyn Studios (sound re-recording)
- Sound Advice Inc. (location recording facilities)
- The A.M. Keating Corporation (financial services)
- The Robert C. Hugley Company (financial services)
- The Village Recorder (soundtrack album mixing)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The musical career of rock and roll pioneer Buddy Holly is chronicled, from the days when "Peggy Sue" was "Cindy Lou", a song about his first girlfriend, to the meteoric run of "That'll Be the Day" up the charts, to his marriage, breakup with the Crickets, reunion with the Crickets, and untimely death.
Written by Jason A. Cormier |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | He changed the sound of music with "Peggy Sue", "Oh Boy", "It's So Easy", "That'll Be The Day", "Rave On", "Maybe Baby" and many, many more... See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,200,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | According to Little Richard, the Apollo theater performance by Buddy Holly and The Crickets in front of an all-black audience is pretty accurate. Holly and his band were booked "sight unseen" because the owner thought they were black. The audience was shocked to see white performers on stage, but they embraced Holly and his band. See more » |
| Goofs | Buddy's parents were not against the music as the movie said. Mrs. Holley even helped Buddy write "Maybe Baby". See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Movies We'd Book If We Owned a Movie Theater (1982). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Mockin' Bird Hill See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Caption shown after the end credits are over: "This film is dedicated to those who loved him first - Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Holley, Maria Elena Holly" See more » |
| Quotes |
[last lines]
Buddy Holly: Thank you, Clearlake! C'mon... we love you, we'll see you next year. See more » |