The Buddy Holly Story
“His story will have you singing, laughing, crying, cheering, and stomping your feet”
Synopsis
A chronicle of the rise and brief career of rock 'n' roll star Buddy Holly, who aspires to play music the way he wants it to sound. Holly and his band, the Crickets, are first invited to record in Nashville, where they encounter creative differences with the producing staff. Later they play a major booking at the Apollo Theater, scheduled there under the mistaken assumption that they're a black band. Holly's career eventually goes solo -- until the tragic day the music dies.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Buddy Holly Story (1978) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]
Type: Trailer • Published 2020-03-27
Top Cast
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Gary Busey
Buddy Holly
Don Stroud
Jesse Charles
Charles Martin Smith
Ray Bob Simmons
Conrad Janis
Ross Turner
William Jordan
Riley
Maria Richwine
Maria Elena Holly
Amy Johnston
Cindy Lou
Dick O'Neill
Sol Gittler
Fred Travalena
Madman Mancuso
Neva Patterson
Mrs. Holly
Arch Johnson
Mr. Holly
John F. Goff
T.J.
Gloria Irizarry
Mrs. Santiago
Jody Berry
Engineer Sam
Richard Kennedy
Preacher
Jim Beach
Wilson
Gailard Sartain
The Big Bopper
Albert Popwell
Eddie
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 18, 1978
Wide Cinema Exhibition
February 21, 2011
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1.2M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$14.4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
11.97x
+$13.2M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Steve Rash
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Gittler
- Original Score
- Joe Renzetti
- Original Title
- The Buddy Holly Story
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 54m
- Production Budget
- $1.2M
- Worldwide Gross
- $14.4M
- Production Studios
- Innovisions, Columbia Pictures, Taurus Film
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Steve Rash
Robert Gittler, Alan Swyer
Joe Renzetti
Stevan Larner
David E. Blewitt
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Gittler
Screenplay
Steve Rash
Director
Joe Renzetti
Original Music Composer
Joel Schiller
Production Design
Stevan Larner
Director of Photography
David E. Blewitt
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Buddy Holly Story.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Buddy Holly Story
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Buddy Holly Story about?
A chronicle of the rise and brief career of rock 'n' roll star Buddy Holly, who aspires to play music the way he wants it to sound. Holly and his band, the Crickets, are first invited to record in Nashville, where they encounter creative differences with the producing staff. Later they play a major booking at the Apollo Theater, scheduled there under the mistaken assumption that they're a black band. Holly's career eventually goes solo -- until the tragic day the music dies.
Who directed The Buddy Holly Story?
The Buddy Holly Story was directed by Steve Rash.
Who stars in The Buddy Holly Story?
The principal cast of The Buddy Holly Story includes Gary Busey, Don Stroud, Charles Martin Smith, Conrad Janis, William Jordan.
When was The Buddy Holly Story released and how long is it?
The Buddy Holly Story was released in 1978 with a total runtime of 1h 54m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Buddy Holly Story?
The Buddy Holly Story had a reported production budget of $1.2M and grossed $14.4M at the worldwide box office (11.97 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Buddy Holly Story?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Buddy Holly Story was composed by Joe Renzetti.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Buddy Holly Story?
The Buddy Holly Story holds official age classifications: GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).