La Bamba [WS]

Director: Luis Valdez Luis Valdez

Overview

"La Bamba, Luis Valdez's biopic of rock pioneer Ritchie Valens, comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. A closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1, while a Spanish soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Stereo. English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Thai subtitles are accessible. Supplemental features include a biography of the cast and filmmakers and a theatrical trailer. The sound on the disc captures the rock & roll songs beautifully, making this disc interesting viewing for any fan of rock films."

Product Details

Release Date:	04/06/1999
UPC:	0043396085497
Original Release:	1987
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMT
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:48:00
Sales rank:	4,191

Special Features

Director, Producer and Cast Audio Commentary; Taylor Hackford and Daniel Valdez Audio Commentary; La Bamba music video (Los Lobos); Lonely Teardrops music video (Howard Huntsberry); Remembering Richie featurette; Theatrical Trailer; Bios and Filmographies; Languages: English (2-Channel Surround and 5.1), Spanish 4-Channel; Subtitles: English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Thai; Widescreen Format

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Lou Diamond Phillips	Ritchie Valens
Esai Morales	Bob Morales
Danielle von Zerneck	Donna Ludwig
Rosana De Soto	Connie Valezuela
Joe Pantoliano	Bob Keane
Marshall Crenshaw	Buddy Holly
Brian Setzer	Eddie Cochran
Howard Huntsberry	Jackie Wilson
Rick Dees	Ted Quillin
Sam Anderson	Mr. Ludwig
Maggie Gwinn	Mrs. Ludwig
Daniel Valdez	Lelo,Actor
Connie Valenzuela	Elderly lady at party
Connie Alvarez	Farm Worker
Irma Valcorta	Farm Worker
Elizabeth Peña	Rosie Morales
Eddie Frias	Chino
Mike Moroff	Mexican Ed
Geoffrey Rivas	Rudy
Junie Lowry-Johnson	Actor
Bob Morales	Actor
Jeffrey Chandler	Alan Freed
Stephen Lee	Big Bopper
John Quade	Bartender
Diane Rodriguez	Ernestine
Ernesto Hernández	Garbage Man
Noble Willingham	Howard
Kim Sebastian	Donna's Girlfriend
Dyana Ortelli	Donna's Girlfriend
Tony Genaro	Mr. Caballero
Allison Robinson	Girl at Party
Carlos Santana	Musician,Composer
Miles Goodman	Musician,Composer
Los Lobos	Composer
Curt Sobel	Composer

Technical Credits

Luis Valdez

Luis Valdez	Director,Screenwriter
Stuart Benjamin	Executive Producer,Producer
Bill Borden	Producer
Taylor Hackford	Producer
Kevin Pike	Special Effects
Janet Brady	Stunts
Warren Hamilton Jr.	Sound Effects
Fred Judkins	Sound Effects
Warren Hamilton	Sound Editor
Susumu Tokunow	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

A somewhat syrupy rendering of real-life rags-to-riches rock and roller Ritchie Valens, La Bamba is both heartwarming and tragic. Lou Diamond-Phillips gives an energetic performance as the Mexican-American Valens; his acclaimed work in the film ultimately proved a double-edged sword, as the actor was largely unable to eclipse this performance in subsequent films. La Bamba's script extrapolates freely from the actual life and events surrounding Valens, but the end result is a pretty sound story that makes for a solid film. The music, provided primarily by Mexican-American rockers Los Lobos, helped their re-make of "La Bamba" chart on Billboard thirty-odd years after its initial release. Supporting performances by Marshall Crenshaw as Buddy Holly and Brian Setzer as Eddie Cochran lend the film even greater rock and roll credibility. The story that ended tragically in a plane crash claiming the lives of Valens, the Big Bopper and Buddy Holly informed a new generation of their legacy and was a hit at the box office.