La Bamba
Born into poverty. Destined for stardom. He lived the American dream.
Overview
Los Angeles teenager Ritchie Valens becomes an overnight rock 'n' roll success in 1958, thanks to a love ballad called "Donna" that he wrote for his girlfriend. But as his star rises, Valens has conflicts with his jealous brother, Bob, and becomes haunted by a recurring nightmare of a plane crash just as he begins his first national tour alongside Buddy Holly.
Fun facts
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Nominations
Nominated for the Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie (1988)
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Box office
Grossed $54.2M worldwide, about 8.3 times its $6.5M budget
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Filming locations
Filmed in California and Los Angeles
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Setting
Set in Mexico
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Music
Music by Carlos Santana
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Cinematography
Cinematography by Adam Greenberg
Details
- Director
- Writer
- Luis ValdezWriter
- Status
- Released
- Release date
- July 24, 1987
- Original language
- English
- Budget
- $6.5M
- Revenue
- $54.2M
- Countries
- United States of America
Streaming on
In the United States
Availability data byJustWatch, opens in a new tab
All options, opens in a new tabProduction
Cast
Lou Diamond PhillipsRitchie Valens
Danielle von ZerneckDonna Ludwig
Elizabeth PeñaRosie Morales
Rosanna DeSotoConnie Valenzuela
Esai MoralesBob Morales
Joe PantolianoBob Keane- Marshall CrenshawBuddy Holly
- Brian SetzerEddie Cochran
- Daniel ValdezLelo
- Howard HuntsberryJackie Wilson
- Felipe CantuCurandero
- Eddie FriasChino
Mike MoroffMexican Ed- Geoffrey RivasRudy
Sam AndersonMr. Ludwig- Maggie GwinnMrs. Ludwig
- Jeffrey Alan ChandlerAlan Freed
Stephen LeeBig Bopper
John QuadeBartender- Lettie IbarraVera
Videos
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