Do you want to see ‘The Buddy Holly Story’?

The Buddy Holly Story (1978)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

100

Average Rating: 7.3/10
Reviews Counted: 15
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 0

No consensus yet.

No Reviews Yet...

Release Date: Jan 1, 1978 Wide

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 7,020

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

From the time he was a high-school student in Lubbock, Texas until his tragic death at age 22 in 1959, Buddy Holly ignored the condemnation by townspeople and his conservative relatives and dedicated his life to the new music he became famous for performing: rock 'n roll. Gary Busey stars as Buddy Holly in this widely acclaimed big-screen biography and sings well enough on camera for the film's adapted musical score to win an Oscar. Among the classic songs by Buddy Holly and the Crickets which

PG, 1 hr. 54 min.

Musical & Performing Arts, Drama

Directed By: Steve Rash

Written By: John Goldrosen, Robert Gittler

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1978 Wide

On DVD: Sep 7, 1999

Columbia Pictures

The Buddy Holly Story Trailer & Photos

Cast

Gary Busey
Buddy Holly
Don Stroud
Jesse
Charles Martin Smith
Ray Bob
Maria Richwine
Maria Elena Holly
Conrad Janis
Ross Turner
Albert Popwell
Eddie Foster
Amy Johnston
Cindy Lou
Fred Travalena
Madman Mancuso
Dick O'Neill
Sol Gittler
Matthew 'Stymie' Beard
Luther
Arch Johnson
Mr. Holly
William Jordan
Riley Randolph
M.G. Kelly
M.C.
Freeman King
Tyrone
Neva Patterson
Mrs. Holly
Ken Wahl
Jim Beach
Mr. Wilson
John F. Goff
T.J.
Paul Mooney
Sam Cooke
William Jordon
Bill Jordan

Critic Reviews for The Buddy Holly Story

All Critics (20) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (0) | DVD (4)

Mild bio of '60s music icon with great music, some language.

July 7, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment (1)

Renee Schonfeld

Common Sense Media

[W]hat really puts the movie over is the actor in the title role, Gary Busey.

September 18, 2010 Full Review Source: Parallax View

| Comment

Richard T. Jameson

Parallax View

An exceptionally good musical biopic with a sensational performancy by Busey

February 19, 2005 Comment

Tony Medley

tonymedley.com Source: tonymedley.com

The Buddy Holly Story moves us with the joyfulness of its music and the honest sentiment aroused in us by this gawky, shy rock singer and songwriter.

January 24, 2004 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

Gary Busey's great performance offsets the fact that the script is about 80 percent fiction.

July 26, 2002 Comment

Jeffrey Westhoff

Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Buddy Holly Story

View All

If you want to see the promise and potential of Gary Busey before a drug-induced psychosis enveloped his entire being, this is the film to watch. Busey's portrayal of the legendary rock-n-roll pioneer is absolutely brilliant. He even sings all of Buddy's songs himself. Gary Busey is a walking, talking testament to the

January 18, 2009