La Bamba (1987)
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- PG-13
- 1h 48min
- Biography, Drama
- 24 Jul 1987 (USA)
- Movie
Biographical story of the rise from nowhere of early rock and roll singer Ritchie Valens who died at age 17 in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 3 wins & 3 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Lou Diamond Phillips | ... |
Ritchie Valens
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| Esai Morales | ... |
Bob Morales
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| Rosanna DeSoto | ... |
Connie Valenzuela
(as Rosana De Soto)
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| Elizabeth Peña | ... |
Rosie Morales
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| Danielle von Zerneck | ... |
Donna Ludwig
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| Joe Pantoliano | ... |
Bob Keane
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| Rick Dees | ... |
Ted Quillin
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Marshall Crenshaw | ... |
Buddy Holly
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Howard Huntsberry | ... |
Jackie Wilson
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| Brian Setzer | ... |
Eddie Cochran
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| Daniel Valdez | ... |
Lelo
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Felipe Cantu | ... |
Curandero
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Eddie Frias | ... |
Chino
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| Mike Moroff | ... |
Mexican Ed
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| Geoffrey Rivas | ... |
Rudy
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| Sam Anderson | ... |
Mr. Ludwig
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Maggie Gwinn | ... |
Mrs. Ludwig
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| Jeffrey Alan Chandler | ... |
Alan Freed
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| Stephen Lee | ... |
Big Bopper
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| John Quade | ... |
Bartender
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Lettie Ibarra | ... |
Vera
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| Diane Rodriguez | ... |
Ernestine
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Katie Valdez | ... |
Connie Jr.
(as Kati Valdez)
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Gloria Balcorta | ... |
Irma
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Ernesto Hernández | ... |
Garbage Man
(as Ernesto Hernandez)
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| Noble Willingham | ... |
Howard
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Thom Pintello | ... |
Sound Engineer
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Stephen F. Schmidt | ... |
Tommy Allsup
(as Stephen Schmidt)
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| Rosanna Locke | ... |
Sharon Sheeley
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Kim Sebastian | ... |
Donna's Girlfriend
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| Dyana Ortelli | ... |
Rosalinda
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Andy Griggs | ... |
Mr. House
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Art K. Koustik | ... |
Trucker
(as Art Koustik)
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| Tony Genaro | ... |
Mr. Caballero
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Allison Robinson | ... |
Girl at Party
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Hunter Payne | ... |
Baseball Announcer
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Joe Miller | ... |
Student
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MaryAnn Tanedo | ... |
Student
(as Mary Ann Tanedo)
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Barb Jittner | ... |
Student
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Brian Russell | ... |
Student
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Francisco Aragon | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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| Linda Holdahl | ... |
Featured Dancer (uncredited)
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| Dominic Lucero | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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Yolanda Martinez Olivarri | ... |
Tall Blond Girl on Motorcycle (uncredited)
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Rooney Paris | ... |
Fan (uncredited)
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| Thomas Rosales Jr. | ... |
Man at Party (uncredited)
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Reynaldo Silva | ... |
Student / Party Animal (uncredited)
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| Oliver Theess | ... |
Kid in the Street / kid in the Concert (uncredited)
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Connie Valenzuela | ... |
Elderly Lady at Party (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Luis Valdez | ||
Written by
| Luis Valdez | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Stuart Benjamin | ... | executive producer |
| Bill Borden | ... | producer |
| Taylor Hackford | ... | producer |
| Daniel Valdez | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Miles Goodman | ||
| Carlos Santana | ||
Cinematography by
| Adam Greenberg | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Don Brochu | ||
| Sheldon Kahn | ||
Editorial Department
| Jeffrey James Bell | ... | assistant editor (as Jeffrey Bell) |
| Alana Caudillo | ... | post-production coordinator (as Alana Ackley) |
| Howard Davis | ... | apprentice editor |
| Priscila Giraldo | ... | post-production coordinator |
Casting By
| Junie Lowry-Johnson | ... | (as Junie Lowry) |
Production Design by
| Vincent Joseph Cresciman | ... | (as Vince Cresciman) |
Set Decoration by
| Rosemary Brandenburg | ||
Costume Design by
| Sylvia Vega-Vasquez | ||
| Yvonne Cervantes | ... | (uncredited) |
Makeup Department
| Richard Arrington | ... | makeup artist |
| Lisa Meyers | ... | assistant hair stylist |
| Bill Myer | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| Peter Tothpal | ... | hair stylist |
| La Bamba | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
| Adam Christopher | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Alan C. Blomquist | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Stephen J. Fisher | ... | first assistant director |
| Richard Graves | ... | first assistant director: second unit |
| Michael Katleman | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Jane Brown | ... | lead scenic artist |
| Eduardo H. Esparza | ... | construction supervisor (as Eddie Esparza) |
| Greta Grigorian | ... | stand-by decorator (as Greta Gregorian) |
| Joni Indursky | ... | lead person |
| Lynn A. Johanson | ... | paint foreman |
| Jeff Jones | ... | scenic artist |
| Roger Kelton | ... | construction coordinator |
| Linda Kiffe | ... | assistant property master |
| Randlett King Lawrence | ... | construction foreman (as Randlett Lawrence) |
| Marco López | ... | swing gang (as Marc Lopez) |
| Paul Powers | ... | visual illustrator (as Paul Power) |
| Mike Reiber | ... | painter |
| Pola Shreiber | ... | stand-by decorator |
| Charles Stewart | ... | property master |
| Scott Tabor | ... | art department assistant |
| Todd E. Weisman | ... | swing gang (as Todd Weisman) |
| James Terry Welden | ... | assistant art director (as Terry Welden) |
| Nancy Booth | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
| Bill Holmquist | ... | propmaker (uncredited) |
| Daryl 'Dazz' Reynolds | ... | swing gang (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Albert Aquino | ... | cable man |
| Allan Bromberg | ... | foley editor |
| Richard Friedman | ... | adr editor (as Dick Friedman) |
| Mark Gordon | ... | sound editor |
| Warren Hamilton Jr. | ... | sound editor (as Warren Hamilton) |
| Fred Judkins | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Rick Kline | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Tom C. McCarthy | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Donald O. Mitchell | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Kevin O'Connell | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Joel Shryack | ... | boom operator |
| Susumu Tokunow | ... | sound mixer |
| Jack Keller | ... | sound recordist (uncredited) |
| Bill Voigtlander | ... | adr editor (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Kevin Pike | ... | special effects supervisor (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Janet Brady | ... | stunts (as Janet S. Brady) |
| Steve M. Davison | ... | stunt coordinator (as Steve Davison) / stunts (as Steve Davison) |
| Tim A. Davison | ... | stunts |
| Freddie Hice | ... | stunts (as Fred Hice) |
| Alan Oliney | ... | stunts |
| Ronnie Rondell Jr. | ... | stunt coordinator (as Ronnie Rondell) |
| Thomas Rosales Jr. | ... | stunts (as Thomas Rosales) |
| Cha Cha Sandoval-McMahon | ... | stunts (as Tanya Russell) |
| Dick Ziker | ... | stunts |
| Matthew R. Anderson | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Jimmy Ortega | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Eddie Perez | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Von Babasin | ... | grip |
| Chuck Colwell | ... | director of photography: second unit |
| Alicia Craft | ... | second assistant camera |
| Andrew Dickerman | ... | video playback assist (as Andy Dickerman) |
| Sam Emerson | ... | still photographer |
| Reuben David Feldthouse | ... | electrician (as Ben Feldthouse) |
| Claude Fullerton | ... | grip |
| Craig Garfield | ... | grip |
| Jono Kouzouyan | ... | chief lighting technician |
| Thomas Luehrsen | ... | video playback assist |
| Merrick Morton | ... | special still photographer (as Rick Morton) |
| Gary Parker | ... | key grip |
| John Pierce | ... | electrician |
| Vance Piper | ... | first assistant camera |
| R.J. Sharp | ... | best boy grip |
| Jack Yanekian | ... | best boy electric |
| Tom Bookout | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Donald Burghardt | ... | additional second assistant camera (uncredited) |
| John M. Heller | ... | special photographer (uncredited) |
| George Palmer | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Marcy Carriker | ... | casting associate |
| Robert J. Teitelbaum | ... | extras casting (as Robert Teitelbaum) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Yvonne Cervantes | ... | costumer |
| Elizabeth C. Grudzinski-Seal | ... | costumer (as Liz'Beth Gower) |
Location Management
| Richard Davis Jr. | ... | location manager (as Richard Davis) |
| Darryl Harmon | ... | location projectionist: Penthouse Screening |
| Josh King | ... | location manager |
| Marshall D. Moore | ... | location scout (uncredited) |
Music Department
| David Hidalgo | ... | singing voice: Lou Diamond Phillips |
| Los Lobos | ... | performer: Ritchie Valens' music |
| John E. Oliver | ... | sideline musician supervisor |
| Robert & Johnny | ... | music supplier |
| Joel Sill | ... | executive music producer |
| Curt Sobel | ... | supervising music editor |
| George Doering | ... | musician (uncredited) |
| Robert Schaper | ... | music engineer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Kerry Lyn McKissick | ... | script supervisor (as Lyn McKissick) |
| P.R. Tooke | ... | script supervisor: second unit (as Patricia Tooke) |
Transportation Department
| Todd Adair | ... | driver |
| Bob Bailey | ... | driver |
| Thomas P. Donovan | ... | driver (as Tom Donovan) |
| Jerry Gordon | ... | driver |
| Darwin Joston | ... | transportation captain |
| Joe Lanzl | ... | driver (as Joel Lanzl) |
| Gary Littlefield | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Wayne Nelson | ... | driver |
| Craig Scott | ... | driver |
| Danny L. Swanson | ... | driver (as Dan Swanson) |
| Mark Wescott | ... | driver |
| Don Skow | ... | picture cars (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Andrea Asimow | ... | executive in charge of development: New Visions |
| Steve Beckham | ... | craft service |
| Michael Bodnarczuk | ... | production assistant |
| Allen Burry | ... | publicist: PMK |
| Misty Carey | ... | production coordinator |
| Alana Caudillo | ... | assistant: Mr. Borden (as Alana Ackley) |
| Jeff Conroy | ... | production assistant (as Jeffrey Conroy) |
| Miguel Delgado | ... | choreographer |
| David Diehl | ... | production assistant |
| Marylou Eales | ... | assistant: Mr. Sill |
| Lori L. Eschler | ... | production assistant (as Lori Eschler) |
| Phil Esparza | ... | production associate |
| Jim Fox | ... | guitar instructor |
| Priscila Giraldo | ... | project manager |
| Shannon Kane | ... | assistant auditor |
| Sheldon Katz | ... | production auditor (as Sheldon M. Katz) |
| Jerri Lauridsen | ... | assistant: Mr. Hackford |
| Marisa Leal | ... | production assistant |
| Olga Perez | ... | production assistant |
| Dan Perri | ... | title designer |
| Jim Picciolo | ... | animal handler |
| Jane E. Russell | ... | production secretary |
| Carrie Stein | ... | researcher |
| Steve Clayton | ... | security officer (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Marsha Gleeman | ... | special thanks |
| Darrell Hein | ... | special thanks |
| Bob Keane | ... | special thanks |
| Sindee Levin-Small | ... | special thanks |
| Beverly Mendheim | ... | special thanks |
| Bob Morales | ... | grateful acknowledgment (as Valenzuela Family) |
| Jim Pewter | ... | special thanks |
| Fulton Picetti | ... | special thanks |
| Ted Quillin | ... | special thanks |
| Alan Rice | ... | special thanks |
| Janet Roberts | ... | special thanks |
| Gil Rocha | ... | special thanks |
| Stan Ross | ... | special thanks |
| Sylvia Sensiper | ... | special thanks |
| Sharon Sheeley | ... | special thanks |
| Kinan Valdez | ... | special thanks |
| Connie Valenzuela | ... | grateful acknowledgment (as Valenzuela Family) |
| Tim Wienckowski | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
- Columbia Pictures (presents)
- New Visions
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1987) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia-Cannon-Warner (1987) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1987) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1987) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1987) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Films (1987) (Argentina) (theatrical) (through)
- Columbia Pictures of Argentina (1987) (Argentina) (theatrical) (through Warner-Columbia Films)
- Columbia Films (1987) (Japan) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- LK-TEL (1988) (Argentina) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1988) (West Germany) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1980) (Australia) (video)
- CBS (1990) (United States) (tv) (original airing)
- Fox Columbia TriStar Films (1987) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Sony Pictures Releasing (1990) (India) (theatrical) (as Columbia TriStar Films of India)
- Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (United States) (laserdisc)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (United States) (VHS)
- Egmont Entertainment (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
- Esselte Video (Finland) (VHS)
- Eureka Entertainment (2016) (United Kingdom) (DVD) (Blu-ray and DVD)
- HBO Max (2021) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
- LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Nelonen (2004) (Finland) (tv)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1997) (United States) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1997) (United States) (laserdisc)
- TV3 (1991) (Finland) (tv)
- Twilight Time (2014) (United States) (video)
- VH1 Television (1998) (United States) (tv)
- Video Trade (Finland) (VHS)
Special Effects
- Filmtrix Agency (special effects)
- Sessums & Slagle (miniatures)
Other Companies
- L.A. Casting Express (extras casting)
- Penthouse Screening (location projection)
- Unique Catering (catering)
- Otto Nemenz International (camera equipment: Arriflex camera and lenses)
- Lee America West (production services)
- Lightflex America Inc. (production services)
- Fuji Film (production services)
- Northstar Media Sound Services (production services)
- Shotmaker (production services)
- Warner Hollywood Studios (production services)
- Wyman, Bautzer, Christensen, Kuchel & Silbert (legal services)
- PMK Public Relations (publicity)
- Jack Hooper & Associates (negative cutting)
- Pacific Title (opticals)
- The David Forbes Company (marketing consultant)
- DeLuxe Laboratories (color)
- Dolby Laboratories (sound mix: Dolby Stereo®)
- On Tour Productions (transportation services)
- Warner Bros. Records (soundtrack)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
This is the true story of Ritchie Valens, a young rock and roll singer who tragically died at age 17 in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. The film follows Ritchie from his days in Pacoima, California where he and his family make a meager living working on farms to his rise as a star. The film also focuses on Ritchie's friendship and rivalry with his older brother Roberto Morales and his relationship with his girlfriend Donna Ludwig.
Written by Mattias Pettersson |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The electrifying true story of Ritchie Valens. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
| Also Known As |
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Box Office
| Budget | $6,500,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $5,651,990, 26 Jul 1987 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | According to Lou Diamond Phillips in the VH1 documentary Behind the Music The Day the Music Died (1999), Ritchie Valens' sister was on the set the day they shot the "coin toss" scene, in which Ritchie wins the chance to fly on the plane with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. Ritchie's sister began to weep uncontrollably during shooting. When Phillips tried to console her, she hugged him and sobbed "Why Ritchie? Why did you get on the plane?" See more » |
| Goofs | While the scene is true about the coin toss between Ritchie and a member of Buddy's band, Ritchie Valens was not sick as seen in the movie. The Big Bopper was. He begged Holly's band mate (and future country music star) Waylon Jennings for the chance to ride on the plane because he was coming down with the flu. The coin toss took place between Ritchie Valens and Tommy Allsup. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into All-Americans - November 6, 1962 (1990). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Rip It Up See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Caption starting off the music credits: "We greatfully acknowledge the help and support of the Valenzuela family". See more » |
| Quotes |
Ritchie Valens:
My mom reckons I'm going to be a star. And stars don't fall from the sky. See more » |