La Bamba

1987
15
1h 48m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

38K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer1:42

3 Videos

83 Photos

Biography Drama Music

Biographical story of the rise from nowhere of early rock and roll singer Ritchie Valens who died at age 17 in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.Biographical story of the rise from nowhere of early rock and roll singer Ritchie Valens who died at age 17 in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.Biographical story of the rise from nowhere of early rock and roll singer Ritchie Valens who died at age 17 in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

38K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 3 nominations total

Videos3

Trailer 1:42

La Bamba: 30th Anniversary

LA BAMBA (UK Dual Format Release) Trailer

Photos83

+ 75

‘Snow White’ Stars Test Their Wits

Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and director Marc Webb take our Ultimate Disney Quiz.

Watch now

9:57

More like this

7.2

The Buddy Holly Story

7.3

6.9

6.3

5.7

7.9

The Ritchie Valens Story

5.2

La Bamba 2: Hell Is a Drag

6.7

7.3

7.1

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
According to Lou Diamond Phillips in the VH1 documentary Behind the Music The Day the Music Died (1999), Ritchie Valens' sister was on the set the day they shot the "coin toss" scene, in which Ritchie wins the chance to fly on the plane with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. Ritchie's sister began to weep uncontrollably during shooting. When Phillips tried to console her, she hugged him and sobbed "Why Ritchie? Why did you get on the plane?"

Goofs
While the scene is true about the coin toss between Ritchie and a member of Buddy's band, Ritchie Valens was not sick as seen in the movie. The Big Bopper was. He begged Holly's band mate (and future country music star) Waylon Jennings for the chance to ride on the plane because he was coming down with the flu. The coin toss took place between Ritchie Valens and Tommy Allsup.

Quotes
Bob Morales: [last line, in agony over his brother's death] RITCHIE!

Crazy credits
Caption starting off the music credits: "We greatfully acknowledge the help and support of the Valenzuela family".

Connections
Edited into Quantum Leap: All-Americans - November 6, 1962 (1990)

Soundtracks
Rip It Up
Words & Music by John Marascalco & Robert 'Bumps' Blackwell (as Robert A. Blackwell)
Performed by Los Lobos
Courtesy of Slash Records
Produced by Steve Berlin

User reviews102

Featured review

Good movie

La Bamba is one of the movies that makes you feel good,cry and think about how life really is short. Lou Diamond Phillps was in top form as Richie Valens who never got the chance to show us what he could do. I'm not really a Rock & Roll fan but this is a good movie and one hat brings a tear every time I watch it.