Biopic about the life of 1950's singing star Ritchie Valens (Lou Diamond Phillips). He was a super star in the early years of rock-n'-roll with several hit songs that are still somewhat popular today. He was the son of a Mexican vegetable picker and farm laborer. His brother, Bob (Esai Morales), co-stars in this film as a total opposite of Ritchie. In and out of jail, alcoholic, and typically blaming all of his problems on his race instead of his attitude and unwillingness to change, Bob, with his bad boy biker ways attracts a laborer girl that Ritchie liked. Soon pregnant, she and Bob are Ritchie and his mom's neighbors. Bob is a garbage man and Ritchie a high school student. Ritchie likes a white girl named Donna, but when her parents find out he is a Mexican, they forbid her to see him. Ritchie carries a guitar everywhere and writes a song, DONNA, which he sings for her. Ritchie gets into a garage band and soon gets popular. A talent agent hears him and cuts several records that make Ritchie a star. But, all was to end when Ritchie died while on tour with what was an all-star line up back then. The tour bus kept breaking down, and it was very cold. After the February 2, 1959 performance in Clear Lake, Iowa, singers Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson, and Ritchie Valens chartered an airplane for a flight to Fargo, ND. Shortly after departure, in a snow storm, the plane crashed killing all four on board. Ritchie Valens was only 17 at the time, and his career only spanned eight months. His most famous song was "La Bamba". His music opened the door to other Latino singers and marked the birth of a Latin movement.Read full review
I Love this film. Classic Great.I Love the music, Actors, story and Characters. Its all about Richie Valenz and his family. From his beginnings to his too early tragic end in the infamous 1955 crash. Thank you
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
The story is based on the short life of Richie Valens. It has a good sound track with a lot of updated oldies.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Love the movie! But I wanted to watch it in Spanish with Spanish subtitles to help with my study of the language. Unfortunately the spoken word is different to the written Spanish which I found very annoying. Most of the time the subtitles have alternative words, phrases and even additional dialogue.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
good movie Lou Diamond Phillips was great a tragic story in real life
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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