The Buddy Holly Story

THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY (PG)

D: Steve Rash

Columbia/Innovisions/ECS (Freddy Bauer)

USA 🇺🇸 1978

113 mins

Biopic/Musical

W: Robert Gittler

DP: Stevan Larner

Ed: David Blewitt

Mus: Joe Renzetti

Gary Busey (Buddy Holly), Don Stroud (Jesse), Charles Martin Smith (Ray Bob), Conrad Janis (Ross Turner), Bill Jordan (Riley Randolph), Maria Richwine (Maria Elena Holly)

Decent B-movie biopic of the rock & roll legend featuring a barnstorming performance from Gary Busey as the singer-songwriter.

Due to budgetary constraints (and not having the relevant cinema rights) there are only two Crickets (Holly's backing group) instead of the real-life three and their names have been changed. It's all cosmetic however as the main focus of the story is on Buddy himself, brilliantly portrayed by Busey who also sang all the classic songs himself.

7/10