La Bamba (film)

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La Bamba
LaBambaposter1987.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLuis Valdez
Written byLuis Valdez
Produced byTaylor Hackford
Bill Borden
Starring
CinematographyAdam Greenberg
Edited bySheldon Kahn
Don Brochu
Music byCarlos Santana
Miles Goodman
Production
company
New Visions
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
July 24, 1987 (1987-07-24TUnited States)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6.5 million
Box office$54.2 million

La Bamba is a 1987 American biographical film written and directed by Luis Valdez that follows the life and career of Chicano rock 'n' roll star Ritchie Valens. The film stars Lou Diamond Phillips as Valens, Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Peña, Danielle von Zerneck, and Joe Pantoliano. The film also covers the effect that Valens' career had on the lives of his half-brother Bob Morales, his girlfriend Donna Ludwig, and the rest of his family. In 2017, La Bamba was included in the annual selection of 25 motion pictures added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and recommended for preservation.[1][2]

Plot[]

Richard Steven Valenzuela is a normal teenage boy who becomes a rock 'n' roll superstar under the stage name Ritchie Valens. He meets and falls in love with fellow high school student Donna Ludwig, for whom he wrote a song that became a number two hit ("Donna"). Donna's father has issues with his daughter dating a Mexican-American, which causes friction between Ritchie and Donna. Ritchie's half-brother Bob Morales becomes jealous of Ritchie's success.

Bob wins an important art contest that helps promising cartoonists, only to throw away his prize because, in his mind, his mother does not seem to care enough. Bob resorts to drinking heavily, which at one point leads him to yelling in a drunken rage in front of his mother's door, "I want to see my daughter!" in reference to the child he sired with Ritchie's first girlfriend Rosie.

When they get an opportunity, Ritchie and Bob sneak out for a good time. On one occasion, they take a road trip to Tijuana, visiting one of the local nightclubs where Ritchie discovers the song that will become his signature song, "La Bamba".

Ritchie suffers from aviophobia, triggered by a recurring dream he has as a result of the mid-air collision that occurred directly over Ritchie's school, in which Ritchie's best friend was crushed to death by one of the fallen aircraft. At first Ritchie avoids flying to his concerts and appearances, but he must eventually conquer his fear when invited to perform his song "Donna" on American Bandstand. Ritchie's record producer and manager, Bob Keane, helps him by giving him a little vodka to calm his nerves during the flight to Philadelphia for the Bandstand appearance.

As Ritchie becomes more famous, his responsibilities change, and eventually he must join the ill-fated Winter Dance Party tour with Buddy Holly (Marshall Crenshaw) and "The Big Bopper" after "La Bamba" and "Donna" reach the top of the Billboard charts.

Valens, Holly, and Bopper take off in an airplane during a snowstorm for their fateful flight on February 3, 1959. Before the ill-fated flight, Ritchie makes a call to his brother, wherein they resolve their differences. He invites Bob to fly out to Chicago to join the tour for family support.

The next day, as Bob is fixing his mother's car, he hears on the radio that his brother's plane crashed without any survivors. Bob darts out of his driveway in an attempt to get to his mother before she hears the news, but is too late. The news hits the Valenzuela family, Bob Keane, and Donna very hard. After Ritchie's funeral procession drives into San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Bob walks across a bridge and screams out Ritchie's name, remembering all the good times they had together.

During the closing credits, Lou Diamond Phillips (as Valens), performs Valens' version of "La Bamba" backed by Los Lobos.

Cast[]

Also featured are several members of the Valenzuela family and director Luis Valdez's family, including:

  • Concepcion Valenzuela (the real Connie Valenzuela, Ritchie's mother) as the older woman sitting next to Ritchie at a party
  • Daniel Valdez (Luis' brother) as Ritchie's Uncle Lelo

Brian Setzer has a cameo as Eddie Cochran performing "Summertime Blues" onstage, while Howard Huntsberry stars as Jackie Wilson in the film, singing a cover of "Lonely Teardrops". Marshall Crenshaw plays Buddy Holly performing "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" at the final concert in Clear Lake, Iowa.

Background[]

All of Ritchie Valens' songs were performed by Los Lobos, whom the Valenzuela family personally requested be involved in the film.[3] The band has a cameo in the film performing in the brothel ballroom in Tijuana.

Distribution[]

The film opened in wide release in the United States on July 24, 1987. In the Philippines, it premiered on September 10, 1987.[4] In Australia it opened on September 17, 1987.

In its opening weekend, the film grossed a total of $5,698,884. La Bamba eventually grossed $52,678,820 in the United States in 12 weeks.[5]

Critical response[]

Roger Ebert liked the film and the screenplay, writing, "This is a good small movie, sweet and sentimental, about a kid who never really got a chance to show his stuff. The best things in it are the most unexpected things: the portraits of everyday life, of a loving mother, of a brother who loves and resents him, of a kid growing up and tasting fame and leaving everyone standing around at his funeral shocked that his life ended just as it seemed to be beginning."[6]

Janet Maslin, writing for The New York Times, was impressed with Lou Diamond Phillips' performance, and wrote, "A film like this is quite naturally a showcase for its star, and as Valens, Lou Diamond Phillips has a sweetness and sincerity that in no way diminish the toughness of his onstage persona. The role is blandly written, but Mr. Phillips gives Valens backbone."[7]

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 82% of critics gave the film a positive review, based on 72 reviews. The site's consensus states: "Elevated by a perceptive performance by a perfectly cast Lou Diamond Phillips, La Bamba distills its subject's creative energy – and reflects his music's enduring appeal."[8]

Accolades[]

Wins

  • Broadcast Music Incorporated: BMI Film Music Award, Carlos Santana and Miles Goodman; 1988.

Nominations

  • Golden Globe Award: Best Motion Picture, Drama; 1988.

Soundtrack[]

Main article: La Bamba (soundtrack)

References[]

  1. ^ "2017 National Film Registry Is More Than a 'Field of Dreams'". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Archived from the original on 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  2. ^ "Complete National Film Registry Listing | Film Registry | National Film Preservation Board | Programs at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Archived from the original on 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  3. ^ Ham, Robert (3 August 2021). "Los Lobos: 'La Bamba gave us an identity crisis'". the Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Opens Today". Manila Standard. Standard Publishing, Inc. September 10, 1987. p. 10. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  5. ^ The Numbers Archived 2007-02-13 at the Wayback Machine box office data. Last accessed: November 27, 2007.
  6. ^ Ebert, Roger Archived 2012-09-26 at the Wayback Machine. Chicago Sun-Times, film review, July 24, 1987.
  7. ^ Maslin, Janet. The New York Times, film review, July 24, 1987.
  8. ^ La Bamba Archived 2008-04-10 at the Wayback Machine at Rotten Tomatoes. Last accessed: August 10, 2021.

External links[]

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