La Bamba Movie Review 1987

A romantic biography of the late 1950s pop idol Ritchie Valens, concentrating on his stormy relationship with his half-brother Bob (Morales), his love for his WASP girlfriend Donna (Von Zerneck) for whom he wrote a hit song, and his tragic, sudden death in the famed plane crash that also took the lives of Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. Soundtrack features Setzer, Huntsberry, Crenshaw, and Los Lobos as, respectively, Eddie Cochran, the Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, and a Mexican bordello band.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 99 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Musical Drama, Rock Flicks, Price of Fame, Teen Angst, Martyred Pop Icons, Airborne, Brothers & Sisters, Biopics: Musicians, Rock Stars on Film, Period Piece: 1950s

Screenplay

Luis Valdez

Cast

Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales, Danielle von Zerneck, Joe Pantoliano, Brian Setzer, Marshall Crenshaw, Howard Huntsberry, Rosanna Desoto, Elizabeth Pena, Rick Dees

Cinematography

Adam Greenberg

Director

Luis Valdez

Music

Miles Goodman, Carlos Santana

Producer

Taylor Hackford, Bill Borden